Moss Letters

WWII Letters

  • Letters
    • Pre-War
    • The War Begins
    • Last from the States
    • Jungle Combat Training
    • Saipan
    • Tinian
    • Philippines
    • Okinawa
    • The War is Over
  • About
  • Photos
  • Timeline
  • Reflections
    • Short Stories
      • Mercy or Mission – June 1944
      • Beach Mission Preparing for the Mindoro Invasion – December 1944
      • Easter Mourning – April 1945
    • Enlisted Personnel at the End of the War
2 November 1942

2 November 1942

Dear Folks:

After reviewing two of your letters guess it is high time I took up my pen again.  I think my mail is arriving okay—for many of yours have been received and hardly a mail call goes by without my getting at least one but then I never get enough to suit me.  Gram is behind I believe.  Perhaps if I scan over your letters, I can find something to write about.  The news about Eilad Horshman is news—it was time she flew the coop though—or perhaps the coop never was much of a cage.  Haven’t received the Free Press yet but they’ll get here.  My tooth is yet unfixed although I had a dental appointment but it fell through.  Believe they intend to pull it.

And the subscription is just the ticket—we subscribe to it but it isn’t always available and I like to read it through.  I’ve answered the rest of the questions.

Tonight in the dayroom the radio is crashing on every table—there’s a game of pinochle going on, two or three books being read and plenty of letters being written and the smoke is like a blanket of clouds.

About this time every nite I turn over a leaf or two on an old memory album and look at each picture slowly and catch a glimpse of the privileges that made them possible.  Guess I’ll stop with that.

Goodnite and a bomber load of love,

Harold Moss Signature
21 October 1942

21 October 1942

Dear folks:

Here is another letter before I blow out the candle for another day.  As I do about every night, I’m sitting in the day room with one ear on the radio and reading a little.  I’ve been working on Sandburg’s Lincoln for about three weeks but have it about read.  With the Red Cross books I’ve a long way to go yet.  Also we have a mobile library that makes the camp about once weekly.  Hope we’re beginning to look up in this war situation.  I think so and hope I’m right.  Think something will happen this winter.  Sunday a card to June and Loyd yesterday.

Guess I’ll have to throw in the towel on this letter.  I’m out of news.  Should write Kathleen again soon although she hasn’t answered my last letter yet.  Suppose she’s walking around on a magic carpet.  Goodnight until next letter.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature
20 October 1942

20 October 1942

Dear Dad:

Your V letter caught up with me so to end up another day will answer it now.  I’ve been waiting for a letter to tell you that you had received mine and probably by the time you read this you will have a room full.  As usual I can’t think of much to write about.  Days are about the same with the same routine.  I’m acting as correspondent of our battery for the island Army newspaper and spent part of the day writing news and the ballgame last Sunday.  We were defeated 15-0 but we’ve just begun to practice.  Perhaps yesterday was memorable-my first hot shower since my stay on the island.  Received a letter from Gram about Sonny Bennet—have been writing her about twice weekly.  Sent a card.  Waiting for Bob Hope to come on.  Had a letter from Mrs. Carroll giving me Duane’s address.  Perhaps I’ll write him.  Don’t worry about your literary style, Dad and wear out a few typewritten ribbons.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature
10 October 1942

10 October 1942

Dearest Folks:

I don’t know how I’m going to fill two pages but at least I’m going to attempt it.  I suspect the number one issue is the wedding.  Received your letter before I did Katie’s about the event, so it wasn’t until tonight that I answered it.  Things like this are inevitable, but now that they are coming into reality for some darn reason, I begin to get sentimental about it all.  I wish Katie the very best and I hope their venture turns out with the same success as you and Dad enjoyed.  All our squabbles and disagreements don’t strike me as something to be regretted, but rather as something that colored our lives and made the family circle binding and effective.  Really regret (that) I can’t be there for the wedding and especially to put my arm around you when you begin to cry after the ceremony, and not least to meet Tommy and get in on the festivities.

I’m the same guy you kissed goodbye in [Camp] Stoneman. Was on pass yesterday and aside from a swim accomplished exactly nothing.  Ate a casserole of steaks and sat in the USO building, squalling in the layroom tent now, listening to some football scores to the hit parade.  Got my GI specs today—look like an insect with bulging eyes.  Good glasses though.  Another sheet would exhaust me.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature
6 October 1942

6 October 1942

Dear Mother and Dad:

In order to write a little more I’m not using V-mail but hope you will get this in decent time.  Yesterday was a boom day for mail so I’ll have plenty to answer although I’ve been writing almost everyday.

Got Dan’s letter and I’ll answer it tonight.

Today had the opportunity to get away from camp and ride around in a jeep to different parts of the island.   If you could get a look at these flowers along the road and the beautiful landscape you’d think you were in a greenhouse.  Guess I get a little daffy over the sights and the ocean is really blue seen from a high point.  I’m so drastically awkward with words that you’ll have to use your imagination.

Expecting a pass tomorrow or the next day—it will give some diversion, a show, a swim and perhaps a round of golf.  Theatres are quite modern with good films-in fact the towns near would be likened to any small town on the mainland, excepting the coconut trees and vegetation.  Liquor is rationed to a quart a week for civilians but is not available for soldiers.  Beer is plentiful but weak.  On pass we must carry our gas mask and helmet and have it with us at all time.  Civilians have them too but many

[missing last page of letter]

Harold Moss Signature
3 October 1942

3 October 1942

Dear Folks:

While I’m killing time until chow I might as well be writing you a paragraph or two.  Yesterday was riding around in a jeep in town on various errands and tried to find something suitable for you but the stocks are so limited and with the short time I had came, back empty handed.  Hope I get a pass soon.  Listened to the third game of the World Series this morning—still pulling for the Yanks.  We have a day room, or a blackout tent, now that gives some diversion after hours, stocked with Red Cross books and magazines. That reminds me don’t forget the Free Press.  Read the one in the box. I’m fine and not in the least worried or downhearted.  Don’t get that way.  It isn’t all agreeable but then should it be?

Love,

Harold Moss Signature
20 September 1942

20 September 1942

Dear Folks:

It’s getting pretty dark to write but perhaps I can get it done before it is completely dark.  I sent you a letter about a week ago by regular mail and I’m afraid you won’t receive it for some time, so thought I better write another.  Well I’m a couple of thousand miles more away from home across a stretch of Pacific in the Hawaiian Islands and what a pretty place—lots of flowers, sugar cane and pineapple.  Haven’t seen any hula dancers yet although they gave a show for the troops today.  Last night heard a program of real Hawaiian music by some native Hawaiians and it seems much nicer to hear it over here.  You’d go nuts Mom over all these flowers and shade trees.  For the last few days have been swimming almost daily and this afternoon was no exception.  It’s about two miles to the pool but it’s worth it, I mean the walk.  Yesterday afternoon there was a dance in a big USO building in a nearby town and to my surprise we were granted passes so we took a bus in and swang a few.  Boy what a conglomeration of people—Japs, Chinks, Hawaiians, Puerto Ricans and plenty of half breeds.  I think I danced with about one of each.  The USO has plenty of facilities for sports so not  lacking on that issue.  There are several tennis courts, swimming pools, dance halls, bowling alleys and ball diamonds and we’ve had access to them quite often lately.  I just got back from swimming about an hour ago and after a big supper feel pretty good.  It just started to rain so I had to pull this typewriter into a tent so from the cramped quarters you’ll have to accept a few mistakes.  The day after we got here I received a letter from Gladys Davis and of course it was full of news as is Gladys. She told me all about the fellows and the Davis’.  Then I also had a letter from you—one you had written before you visited me at (Camp) Stoneman.  And a few days back had a letter from Patsy and her flamboyant style makes her letters worth reading. Also had one from Gram that I’ll have to answer tonight.  I suppose there are plenty of details you’d like to know about such as crossing and place I’m at but that’s on the verboten list so you’ll have to ask me when I get back.  Anyway the important thing is that you have a general idea of my whereabouts.  Of course our letters are now censored but that shouldn’t be too much of a stigma although some of the fellows don’t exactly like to have some of their letters read.  I’m as well as ever getting plenty of sunshine and exercise and a pass occasionally and all in all it reminds me a little bit of being back in California.  Blackouts are every night so I hit the hay early unless I get a show pass.  Beer is two bits a bottle and about as weak as pop, but it’s beer.  Sleeping on the ground and boxing mosquitoes isn’t exactly home but there are plenty of places that could be worse. Anyway I’m getting used to it after the tenderness left my hips and I got to carving out some hip holes before laying down on my bed.  Suppose Nancy and Phil are well along in school by now, with Nancy crazy about it and Dan taking it a little grudgingly.  This is a little disjointed and unorganized but for lack of time I’m writing on something that comes to me.  Now I’m back in the open again since it’s stopped raining but suppose it will start again.  This is the first time I’ve thought about Christmas in September but we better be doing it in order that our packages arrive somewhere near the holiday.  I shouldn’t have much trouble finding things over here that you would like.  It hardly seems possible that winter is almost here again and that I’ve another birthday coming up but I guess it is.  Looks like two Christmases away from home and if I could look forward to being home for it in 1943 I’d be as happy as if it were a furlough.  There are some rumors of furloughs after a certain duration in the tropics, if this is considered the tropics, but I know little about it.  That’s quite a ways away anyway.  It was swell to see you for a few days in (Camp) Stoneman and it doesn’t seem it was a month ago.  Bet I had an awkward look on my face when I met you in the visitor’s building.  It didn’t seem like it was really you.  Is Kate still in Denver and has she heard anything about the navy yet?  In a way I hate to see her in the navy but I think it’s a pretty good deal for her.  Running out of paper so better pull the curtain.  See you in the next letter.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature
6 August 1942

6 August 1942

Dear Folks:

I’ve been pounding this machine like a cub journalist at a Democratic convention but now that things are quiet possibly I can use it for my own ends.

Well contrary to my expectations we are still here in Fort Lewis, but sitting on pins waiting for the day to leave.  I didn’t think we would be here this long but we are and possibly we may be here for another week, but it surely won’t be long before we leave for ‘Frisco.  By the way we have been advised to give our new address, so here it is, but it isn’t to be used until we change our station and I’ll let you know when we do:

Pvt. H G Moss 37086474
Btry. C 222 FA Bn.
APO 1288 % Postmaster
San Francisco, California

Got your telegram with the money and I really do appreciate it because I know what it means to you.  Also got your airmail letter today.  I hope you will feel free to use the money that I have allotted if you need it very bad.  Someday soon now you should also be getting the bonds.  As soon as we are overseas we are given a 20% increase in pay so I will have enough cash to get along on.  Also if anything should happen to me the government makes a gratuity payment of six months wages which would amount to about three hundred sixty dollars.  Things are still humming around here like an aircraft plane getting ready to leave and schedules have been made out for training on the boat so it can’t be far off.  Yesterday I mailed my sleeping bag home and also rolled up in it is my sweatshirt, OD sweater and civilian shoes.  Better give the bag to Dan for his long gone birthday—it would come in handy to use on all night camping trips and the like.  It needs cleaning and there are a couple of small holes in it on the inside that can be easily mended.

Suppose you both had a little blue spell after the telephone call and I wasn’t any different.  I guess the telephone is the next best thing to a furlough but I still didn’t say what I wanted to and like I wanted to.  Mom you acted very bravely and you held the tears to a minimum.

The girl (Mattie) I have been going with on and off on the Post gave me a nice diary and a small book to use for memories and that sort of thing.  She’s a swell gal but nothing to arouse my more tender instincts.  She hated to see me leave though.

There isn’t much else to write about.  I’m going to do a little laundry tonight so that all of it will always be clean then take a shower and hit the hay.  About the glasses you mentioned—the government furnishes one pair of GI’s free of cost so that with my own I will have two pair.  Also I am issued a pair of gas mask glasses.  Got a letter from Katie yesterday and I answered it right away.  Should also write a letter to Grandma although she hasn’t answered my last one.  Took more shots today.  They are getting to be like a cup of coffee for breakfast.  You may not hear from me for sometime after we leave Fort Lewis, because I understand all of our mail is held up until after we arrive at our destination so don’t think it is my neglect.  Also we are supposed to leave a couple of postcards in Frisco that will be mailed you when the convoy arrives.

I’m going to hate to go because it will mean such a long way from home and for as long as I’ve been away it will seem all the farther, but then we’ll just have to do what you said and hope for a quick end to it all.

Well goodbye for another letter.  Minatare would look like Shangri-la in springtime right now even if maybe it is just a whistle stop.  Don’t worry about me, that’s what the government is doing, and I’ll yet be making you pick up my scattered clothes.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature
29 July 1942

29 July 1942

Dear Folks:

Well back in Lewis again and it seems good-very good, but we won’t be here for long.

Among two important things to come in this letter the first is that those elusive things called furloughs are definitely out.  So make no plans on that count or any count.  Next is I’m going overseas soon perhaps next week.  I believe it will be a long trip for our CO said we were drawing canned rations for one hundred days.  Incidental to this has been inspections and cleaning of material and loading trucks.  All day has been a fast one, checking all equipment and turning some in and getting some.  Most of our shots will be taken over, and I must have my eyes examined so I can secure extra pairs.  I will send my sleeping bag home.  We even had to go thru our billfolds and obliterate any identifying printing.  Suppose it will be like this till we leave.

I can imagine how you will feel when you first know but we’ll just make the most of it and hope it’s over soon.  Most of us feel low not getting any leave at all and I’m foremost among them.  I’ll send you letters steadily and let you have my new address as soon as possible.  I’ll be expecting a stream of letters now and some pictures once in a while—they will be everything.  Your letters will not bear any foreign address but will go to an APO in San Francisco.  Suppose I won’t be able to say much but enough to let you know about me.

If you want me to call, you can wire me for the date.

Now you keep your mugs in the breeze Mom and Dad and I’ll bring back some sweet trophies.  Nothing will happen to me.  I’ll write very soon again.

Always,

Harold Moss Signature
13 July 1942

13 July 1942

Dear Folks:

It’s lunch time now and I feel inclined to write so here goes before one o’clock comes around.

I took some pictures a few days ago that show the camp and thought you would be interested. The tent is our orderly room (1), two and three are general pictures of the camp with our battery in the foreground.  In the background is Yakima Valley and beyond that is Mt. Rainier that didn’t show up in the picture.  Number four shows our guns, the nearest one being camouflaged with sagebrush, five is our kitchen—looks like a lonely outpost on the desert doesn’t it?  The stoves and ranges are in the back of the truck barely visible.  Six is me in front of my boudoir and in the background is a truck tarpaulin under which we put our barracks bags and hang our clothes.  Seven is our washstand—notice the bleak background.  The other picture shows a gun the same as ours, it shows three of the crew of eight.

Well everything else is normal.  Something really funny happened yesterday in the field.  A slap happy dodo that you find in every outfit was wanting a match for a cigarette very badly and not finding one promised he was going to stop the next person and get the match.  Well it was the general himself on a visit so he was the victim.  He was a little taken back but obliged with a grin.

So long for now.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

Enclosed in this envelope was another 2 page handwritten letter, signed only “Mother” (Harold’s grandmother, Gram Waid):

Friday PM

My dear children:

It seems so long since I heard from you folks.  Jim got Dick’s letter and we all enjoyed it a lot, coming from him.  Am glad he got work so quick for know he isn’t happy sitting around. I intended sending his clothes this week but have been pretty busy with my little girl.  Her mother isn’t getting along very well.  We insisted on her being taken home Wednesday evening.  We loved the little thing.  Too much for me.  One of those little folks that had a way of getting into things.  Well Jim’s vacation hasn’t ended yet.  He really needed the rest and lighter work.  He has some prospect of getting on for the City commencing Monday morning.  We expect to hear from Howard Jackson every day to say when he can get off to come and see us.  Am making some cookies to send to him tomorrow.  Will make some for Harold soon but haven’t heard from him for some time.  A letter would sure look good and relieve my mind a lot.  I do love him so.  I wish things had turned out so you could have come out this summer but we must go on hoping for a meeting later on.  Phillip Grave is sorry I forgot your birthday.  Will make it good soon.  Dick and I talked about it just before he left and I can’t understand how I forgot it.  Just to show you how scarce rooms are here.  I’ll tell you we rented the garage to two fellows to sleep in.  In order to lawfully do it, must offer them use of bath and toilet.  They haven’t been in yet.  They both stay at North Island and only want garage to sleep in.  There isn’t anything to rent on the island and lots of building going on, houses for sale but not to rent.  When this is over people will be leaving here like rats.  Of course you get all the war news so I can’t add anything to it.  To say the least, it’s awful.  We have found it hard to get by with so little sugar.  They tell us we can use our no. 7 tomorrow.  This will save the day for me.  Not much baking these days. If one could feel it was necessary, it wouldn’t hurt so.  They tell us coffee will be rationed next.  June and I have a little canned goods stored away.  Am getting some more next week.  Russia is in for it.  Guess Hitler gets them all doesn’t he.  Let’s hope we don’t have him to deal with.  Hope the second had business is increasing.  Guess Dick told you about my new furniture. It’s at least a little improvement on the old.  And we must be thankful for small favors.  Junes are all well.  She lives very easily of course.  Karen is anxiously waiting her little baby brother’s appearance. Mrs. Johnson hasn’t mentioned anything about taking Karen and I hope she doesn’t for I would like to keep her of course.  I wonder about Kathleen.  How she is and must write her sometime.  Seems to go so fast.  Maybe it is a good thing.  Well think I have told you all the news and will write to Laura tonight.  I do get homesick to see you all, but must be patient.

Love,

Mother

Glad Virgil enjoyed his wine.

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • Next Page »

Categories

  • Letters
  • About
  • Photos
  • Timeline
  • Reflections
  • WWII Map
  • Dedications
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us

Copyright 2025 mossletters.com

 

Loading Comments...