Mrs. Davis Archives - Moss Letters

22 July 1945

Dear Folks:

Sitting on my bunk in a pair of drawers trying to keep cool and trying to decide whether to write or just be lazy. Well I decided to do both – write a while then relax. Today is Sunday and it is a day off. A few days ago we moved into our permanent area which means rehabilitation and taking it fairly easy. Afternoons will be given to baseball or some kind of athletics. This morning I went to church at eleven o’clock in the artillery chapel. A simple but impressive altar was built by a couple of carpenters. It makes a better place than out in the open as it was before. Now we have a PX and a choice of four movies in the evening, also the Red Cross has a canteen but I haven’t been down yet. Having lights in our tent I hope to get some reading done also. We don’t black out in the evenings as you might think but it blacks out fast if a red alert comes in.

Had two letters today one from Dad and one from Gladys Davis who is now Mrs. W. R. Johnson. She’s pretty happy. I certainly think you and Dad should go to Denver and take a good vacation and just do nothing or whatever you feel like and the longer the better. I hope you go. Dick and I will not be in combat and you shouldn’t be disturbed as you were last year. So you better be sure and do it.

Sent you a check for $108.00 about a week ago so let me know if you get it. You should also get four bonds for the months of March, April, May, and June.

Nothing new to report on getting home although my hopes are still high.

Glad to hear you are better Mom and perhaps the vacation will do you some good.

This is about all I have so until next time.

Love,

3 July 1945

Dear Folks:

Plan to go to the show after supper so maybe I better scratch out a letter before chow. When I returned this afternoon found a letter from Mom waiting for me – a good one too.

I’m glad you like the idea of my going back to school and I’ve made up my mind that will be my postwar plan, and still go in with Dick on his plan. I hope it is possible that I can get home this fall and begin after Christmas, and even get my old room back with Mrs. Davis. I’ll really go in for it. Keep praying it will happen.

You always tell me to be careful and you are right about snipers still being around but I assure you I don’t take any chances. As a matter of fact when we have an air raid or something happens, I’m always the one who wakes up first. But things are very quiet now and what few Japs that remain are being rapidly rounded up. I’ve seen too many guys get hurt when they didn’t need to.

I hope too that Phil will remain in the states for some time. I’ll bet Carol is all excited about getting married.

I’m glad General Stilwell took over – he seems to have a good reputation and the guys talk good about him.

It’s chow time and besides I’m out of any more news so I’ll let the big one I wrote last night excuse for this one.

Love,

23 May 1945

Dear Folks:

Fulfilling my prediction of last night, the weather has turned rainy and so today the area is a big mud pond. Don’t do much walking around now and while I’m sitting here just as well utilize the time.

Had a letter from my old landlady in Lincoln today – Mrs. Davis. She lives at the same place and really misses the old gang. And how I miss them too. I hope she is making it alright. Don’t know whether I told you or not but some time ago I had a letter from my roomy Kenny Miller. Remember him? He is the law student who graduated in ’41. He is in England and wanted to whip up a correspondence with me. He was a great guy.

I’m certainly in love with the pen you sent me – it’s such a beauty and I’m always using it.

Received a January Free Press yesterday, and though it was old, it still offered some good, homey news. If my envelopes look beat up and opened it’s because of the weather. The flaps always stick so I have to lick each one and soak it off, and that takes most of the glue off.

Well believe I’ll plow through the mud and go down to listen to Bob Hope on the radio. But I have to do a few things before then so I better sign off.

I (am) feeling very good and sleeping dry and good despite the wet weather. After the campaign will probably have movies and a little beer ration which will improve our lot. If I can just stay on this island until my time comes to go back I’ll be satisfied. It isn’t a bad place at all.

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,

10 January 1942

Dearest Folks:

A quiet Saturday nite is probably about the best time to write so here goes.

I have the bed sack and it is just the thing I was expecting. They are very warm and perhaps now I can shake off my cold. Luckily I have it now because tomorrow nite I begin sleeping outside in a tent and it will really feel good then.

Last week busted a couple of ribs when I fell against a box in a truck but they didn’t bother much except when I lay down on my back or lift anything heavy. I think they are about healed now though.

The weather is really swell and haven’t seen much rain yet. As I said today is Saturday so another fellow and me went to the park and loafed awhile then went to the afternoon show with all the kids. It was just like the one in Minatare. Last nite the 20-30 Club had another dance for us which was a relief to attend. There was a lot of girls there and I had a good time.

Last week the battery was saddened when one of the fellows was shot to death thru the heart, accidentally. The guy that shot him was almost crazy after it happened and I feel very sorry for him.

Tomorrow the churches have extended a special invitation to all soldiers to attend church and also get in on a big dinner. The Episcopal church here is typical of most. Small but very pretty.

Grandma’s visit was a big help to my flagging morale. She brought plenty for me to eat and already it is gone. We all had dinner downtown and spent a couple of hours visiting. They left at two so they weren’t here very long. Now I am worried and disgusted about the service and on the box you sent. I’ve been looking for it everyday and have written about it but so far have heard nothing. Have received the cigarettes from Kate and Dick. Also I received the letter from Pvt. Mason with the two bucks in it. He is from St. Louis and a fellow with wit like Bob Hope. A very swell guy. He stayed in Roberts as an instructor.

Got a number of Christmas cards from the Reddings (one for birthday and one for Christmas), Farley, Flowers Sr, Jim Sandison, Wylma N., the Davises (by the way they have written me three letters), and several others.

Suppose you have the pictures by now. I think they are pretty good and if they are retouched and framed they will look much better.

January 18 I will begin drawing $30.00 a month and the extra nine will seem like velvet. Have no idea still about where we will go but looks like we will stay here for some time.

I think this covers about everything. Wait a minute. I got the letter from Dad and soon I’ll write you a personal one. I’d almost give my right arm for a furlough to come back for a few days and especially tonight. My morale is low. Let’s hope all the Japs die of the plague or something.

Lots of love,