Mrs. Carroll Archives - Moss Letters

3 March 1944

Dear Folks:

Longhand isn’t my specialty anymore but maybe I can scratch out a letter if I use a little patience. Little to write about but maybe something will come up. Had a letter from Mrs. Carroll – said Duane might be taking a European trip. That situation over there doesn’t appeal to me. I can imagine that every time you hear of action in the Pacific you wonder if Dick and I are there but so far so good. Many ‘veterans’ can be seen in Honolulu with their bronze stars on their Asiatic-Pacific ribbons and the 7^th Division with two – for Atter and Kwayelein.

Dick called up last nite and we will probably get together in a few days. We’re having a tough time getting the shells you wanted. The beach isn’t too accessible and where it is, many others have been there before. But we’re still looking and we’ll get them as reasonable facsimiles.

Pretty quiet and peaceful in the billet tonite – most of them are doing what I am – writing letters. Three of the fellows are married and one has a 22 month old son who he is itching to see. I can well imagine. The radio is the biggest morale builder in the evenings and we would be lost without it. Practically all the mainland programs are broadcast so we don’t miss much (in) that respect.

People over here really buy bonds. Hawaii’s quota was $15 millon and at the end of the campaign sold $32 million. Quite a record and earned them the best record in the US. Perhaps the people feel the war more having gone though the blitz. Quite an assortment of stories and almost humorous but tragic episodes about that morning of the December 7. The confusion and frustration that was going on everywhere must have been terrific. Downtown Honolulu has many contrasts. In one section are the big modern business houses and a few blocks away the Jap fish and fruit markets with their disagreeable odor. And all kinds of people on the streets. All the ‘kaaminas’ (old timers) talk with rapidity and an oriental twang. Newcomers are known as ‘malakinis’. The Hawaiian words might look hard to pronounce but actually they are very easy. All words end in vowels and all vowels are pronounced. I think the words and names are picturesque. A short time ago I had the opportunity to visit a part of the island more scarcely populated and saw some real scenery. Steep green hills came down to the sea and the heavy surf put a mysterious mist over the whole thing.

This is Friday nite and the time I should be devoting to polishing up for inspection. Had a letter from Gram today saying they had arrived and were getting ready to start work. I surely hope they will be happy. Now you will have to be something of an intermediary between me and them.

Well until the next time keep the Moss Manor in good shape and remember there’s no place I’d like to see so badly.

Love,

22 November 1942

Dear Folks:

This is my first attempt in several days in writing a letter—but it wasn’t neglect—it was lack of illumination. Now that I have a faint flicker to aide me I’ll try to keep up again. I have received three packages from you and all in first class shape. I can use everything in them to good advantage especially the flashlight. These blackouts are nothing to crow about. I at once feel like a heel and a sentimentalist—getting so much from you and the Christmases before Tajo got tough. I really got bleary-eyed when I opened them. Thanks for every one of them. Thanks to every one of you from a way down where it means something. The V-mail is the first I’ve had in a long time. It is hard to get here. This is written from Dick’s pen and it works perfectly.

Besides your packages I’ve received one from Gram, from Mrs. Carroll, one from KSKY and one from Washington and one from Mrs. Davis in Lincoln to a grant total of eight. Surely I can’t complain. Mrs. Carroll sent a Bible and box of cigars, KSKY, a towel, cigarettes, toothpaste and pocket-knife and Mrs. Davis two decks of cards and a combination flashlight and pencil. With this array of equipment and supplies, I can eat and smoke for three months at least. They all came in the last three days so you can imagine what I’ve been doing. My bed looks like a canteen.

I’ll write again tomorrow to compensate for this short one—if Nancy thinks she’s got the best brother in the world I know I’ve got the (best) folks.

Love,

7 November 1942

Dear Folks:

I don’t know how long I can hang on but here goes nothing. My mail has been pretty good lately and I want to keep it that way. Among others had a letter from Mrs. Davis–she sounds like she’s a little better off than when I was there—boy how I long to get back there. Another letter, V one was from Nancy and I’ll get busy on that one pronto.

I had forgotten about the battalion pictures but I’m glad you got them—guess that will always be a shining relic. It isn’t too good a picture but that’s not important.

Glad Mrs. Carroll liked my letter—I like to get one from her occasionally too—she gave me Duane’s address but I lost the letter.

I haven’t received the Free Presses yet but expect they’ll be here soon. I’m anxious to see one of them.

Answered a letter of Katie’s last nite—sounds like she’s bouncing around in the blue.

Your letters are very readable. I mean the V-mail—it shows up well. Well the war news has been looking up lately and I think it will until it’s over—news like that makes me feel better all over. The current bit of lingo is buying a ticket on the “A” train for home.

This has got to be it for another letter I guess—Sunday—tomorrow and hope I make it to church —there is an Episcopal one in town and a nice one too.

Goodnite and keep your eyes off the dark clouds—they’ll just be niches in a lifetime someday.

Love,

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,

23 November 1941

Dear Folks:

I’ve been a little slow in writing this time—last week seemed a very fast one. Thanksgiving Day was the hi-spot of the last fast week. Everything was in traditional Turkey Day setting and food was more than plentiful. To give the layout of menu we had of course all the most delicious turkey we could push down, potatoes, candied sweet potatoes with marshmallows, celery, ham, corn, beans, two kinds of pie, two kinds of cake, nuts, cranberry sauce, ice cream, dressing and probably other things I’ve forgotten about. It was all beautifully laid out cooked just right. Unfortunately I was on KP duty all day so had to work the holiday. I ate, as we all did, leftovers and I was almost waddling instead of walking.

Probably the thing that added most to the hurried flight of the week was that our radio training began in earnest on Monday. The first thing of course is to master the international Morse code. We sit at long tables opposite each other and listened by the hour to the code as it comes from the tape. Almost all of the fellows, after the first horn, feel they can’t tell a dot from a dash and will never learn the d— stuff. It does become depressing to hear the constant taboo of the sounds. Also we have classes in map reading, organization and duties of message center personnel, and the different kinds of code used by radio operators. We have three textbooks and a notebook. It’s all very interesting.

But of course what was most looked forward to and what made you all seem closer was the overflowing box. I certainly have a grandiose array of supplies and eats. It was so much appreciated especially when the work and care and money that you put into it was considered. It was a real delight to open it and wonder what each grab would produce. To get such a show of love from home, makes me recall times when my own conduct was anything but appreciation and gratitude in return for the deprivation and care that goes into the building of twenty years in a boy’s life. Anything I could write would be inadequate. But the candy and cookies were really swell and the rest of the items are all necessities that almost certainly are needed.

I guess this covers my past week’s activities, so so long for a while. And I still think I should say thanks again for the box. Mrs. Carroll sent a box of candy so I had 3 in all.

All my love,