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12 October 1942

Dear Folks:

Just two days since my last letter to you but here I am again writing another. Your letters have been arriving regularly and I hope mine have begun to catch up with you. I have (been) writing volumes almost and I suppose you are a little surprised. Recently I sent you a double deck of cards that you said you wanted in (Camp) Stoneman. Things are very high here although we can make most necessary purchases at the Army PX at mainland prices. Also men in Hawaii have been granted the use of trans-Pacific radio telephones and sometime I’m going to call you. The charge is approximately twenty dollars for three minutes, it won’t be collect as those are not accepted. Well the war news is taking a brighter hue and perhaps the end will come next year. Really hate to miss Katie’s wedding and I hope it will be only one I miss. Think about all of you all the time.

Love,

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,

18 January 1942

Dear Folks:

The end of another Sunday and a new week about to begin. Strangely though I kind of like to see Monday come because there is so little to do all day. Went to church this morning which made me feel much better all day. Was off yesterday afternoon of course so slept but in the evening went to town and ordered a big meal of everything I wanted regardless what it cost. We had T-bone steaks and peas and all the rest. It cost me a buck twenty but it was worth it. Later went to the show which finished the day. Sunday I was latrine orderly which means digging holes. All of the battalions live in tents now in the park. It’s something new to learn the first time a guy uses a trench. Our showers and washroom are in the old ladies restroom and the medics are in the bathhouse of the swimming pool. Living in tents isn’t bad, a good plan to sleep and a good airing in the daytime, but a little inconvenient to use a latrine with no roof in a cat and dog rain. Guess I’m seeing a little more Army life now.

Called up June tonite but Gram wasn’t there. We talked a long time and June said they would try to come up next Sunday.

Of course I’m disgusted about the box. I went to the post office here and they checked all they could but said that without the number of the insurance slip they could do little. Guess it must be at San Luis Obispo someplace. Guess maybe you better get a claim on it. Must be something wrong to keep no better account of an insured box than that.

Got Dad’s nice long letter and a joy to read. You are doing very good. My ribs are okay now but taking off the tape was no joke.

Got a letter from Glen Chambers and Jim Sandison today. Especially good to hear from Sandy. He’s a right guy if there ever was one.

This is about everything. I’m getting heavier all the time and feeling better. I get pretty depressed trying to wonder when all of this will be over, but when it is, coming back will be all the better.

Don’t you worry and soon again we’ll all eat popcorn and apples around the fire.

Love,

2 November 1941

Dear Folks:

I just got off duty a few minutes ago so I’ll have time to write you a good long letter. Today is Sunday again and a very dull one it seems but I guess most of them are. Today I was table waiter in the mess hall so work during the eating hours. I would get it on Sunday. Have been here two weeks so had a pass last night. My buddy and I went to Paso Robles about 15 miles from here. It all turned out very badly. I was looking for some entertainment but there wasn’t a thing, not even a dance. Every store and building was crammed to overflowing with soldiers and the only thing to do was go to the show or roller-skate. And everything seems priced very high. Hamburgers 15 cents, show 35 cents, and roller-skating 40 cents. Two fellows with us bought a couple sandwiches for 52 cents. With so much business it seems things would be cheaper. Anyway we roller-skated until 10 o’clock then came back to the camp. Perhaps if I can get into Los Angeles or San Francisco things will be different. Have written several letters to Grandma and hope to get down if I can get three days off. Round trip is only eight, eighty-five but I would have so little time with a day and a half that it would be hardly worth the time. They want me to come down badly.

My actual radio training hasn’t started yet but will soon. First we must get the basic fundamentals of marching and firing. Two days ago last week were spent on our very latest and modern rifle range. We fired our rifles from a distance of two and three hundred yards. About 100 men can fire at one time. Two way telephone connections are set up from the firing line to the fellows in the pits that run the targets. I pulled targets one day—that is, was in a deep concrete trench and raised and lowered the targets and flashed back the score by means of flags and dices. Boy those bullets whistle overhead; also some bullets hit the dirt in front of the pit and spray dirt all over. In my firing I made ninety-nine out of a possible one fifty. Hope to do better next time.

Last week also had our periodic physical exam for lice, etc. It’s what the boys call a ‘short arm’ inspection. It was very funny. We all lined up with just our overcoats and shoes on, and with a cold wind blowing we shivered plenty. Some fellows lined up, then bent over, and pulled their coats up over their buttocks and had their picture taken.

My buddy and I have decided to try for officer’s training school, after our first six months are up. I think we have a good chance to make it.

So Bill Emick’s home? I just got a letter from him about a week and a half ago telling me of his roommate and the course he was taking. I’m very surprised. He did say though he was flat broke and couldn’t see how he was going to get there. I didn’t think he would ever come back to Minatare. And Wilma with another baby; another surprise. She must like ‘em. How is Duane getting along and what about the marriage scandal?

I have all the mail you sent. I got the shirt and the package and the two dollars. All very much appreciated and thanks so much. Mail call is the most important time of the day, and everybody jumps when the sergeant yells.

The fellow next to me is a very funny and fastidious fellow and about once a week thinks he must have an enema. You’d die if you knew his nickname.

Don’t know anything about Berg or the other fellows. Saw long lines of infantry marching back from a long hike and watched for him but didn’t see anything. Boy those guys in the infantry take a beating. They also have bayonet practice and of course they don’t hit the dummy squarely. A long pole swings around and smacks them. Also saw them throwing hand grenades and practically flattening out on the ground.

No my laundry is not $1.50 a week, but a buck fifty a month. There is no limit on the amount we can send. By the way if you want you can send my slippers and couple pair of shorts and skirts. I like plenty for Friday inspections. I will just about have everything then. We will be issued another suit; a field jacket and two more pairs of shoes so will always have clean clothing. Last week got up at four thirty to go to the rifle range but effective yesterday we operate on a winter schedule with reveille at six and retreat at four thirty in the afternoon. To sleep until six seems like a Sunday morning.

Last Tuesday nite went to a show ‘Camel Caravan’ sponsored by Camel cigarettes and saw some darned good entertainment. My buddy got in without tickets on the pretext of using the library. Guess tonight I’ll go to the show (14 cents).

I guess this is everything that’s been happening to me. Did you get the camp paper I sent? Should get a letter from Kate tomorrow. My buddy and I are going to buy a cheap camera to take some pictures so I’ll be sending some. I will get paid the tenth so will send you some money.

Write soon.

Love,