US Bonds Archives - Page 2 of 3

2 July 1943

Dear Folks:

Having the night to myself I hope, perhaps I can catch up with a little bit on what I have let slide too long. I’m on duty tonight with nothing to do but reinstate myself with my correspondence and do a little reading perhaps. Several of your letters have come, and all of them unanswered. One of the letters contained the money order and the amount was for so much more than I expected that I will be in the chips this month. I intended and hoped that you would take it from my funds and didn’t want you to send it personally. Dick and I were well supplied with money on the vacation and we didn’t hesitate to spend it if we had a notion to do something, but I know that everything we did would meet your approval, as a matter of fact, I think our conduct was very exemplary.

I imagine you are experiencing no little difficulty trying to get the book that I asked you and I’m sorry that I can’t name them especially so that you would have no trouble. If by chance you haven’t found one yet here is one that I came across and hit my fancy; ‘Richardson on Evidence’. Very frequently I have several hours to spend leisurely and I may as well put them to good use, but I hope this request isn’t putting you out of your way too much. If you have already sent one, forget about the one above.

Sunday is the fourth, hard as it is to believe, and I’m looking forward to a pass and a first visit to the new army recreation center that from what I hear is about the last word. The center is right on the beach and has about every facility from writing to wrestling. It has a large dance floor, library, bar, showers and other appurtenances that make it a worthwhile place to go and should cut down on so much trouble that the army has with it’s GI’s on off-days. I hear the library is well stocked with new books so I want to stick my nose in there for awhile. Having a few more shekels than I thought I would have, perhaps I will also buy a bond. Starting this month (July) I am buying a full bond and the first one should reach you by the fifteenth or twentieth of August. I don’t know exactly how I stand on the last bond deal. The last one of $12.50 was stopped in order to put into effect a better system of payroll bonds and not because I wanted it that way.

I hope Dad’s prediction of an early end is right but I’m more inclined to agree that Mother’s idea has a better chance of coming true. Whenever I try to figure the basis for all this mess I run into so many angles that I begin to doubt if there is anyone who can ever find a solution. It’s a little hard to see myself coming and going again as I pleased and that there will be a day with no priorities and government regulations, but I guess you just got to tell yourself there will be. Anyway the end looks many moons away to me, but I hope I get a surprise and probably I will.

Thanks again for the pictures. I’m getting a real collection that I go over often and keeps me know(ing) (if) it is worth fighting for. I will answer Nancy and Phil’s letters. I guess it is adios for another night and one night less until the end.

Love,

10 April 1943

Dearest Folks:

Just finished a losing game of bridge and now feeling cozy and comfortable in the chilly night air. I will look forward with a inner relief when Saturday night rolls around although the days are all the same. Katie had written me about my new title of uncle and of course I was really surprised, but at the same time glad to hear it and know that I will have someone new to meet. It hardly seems real that she will be a mother and you a grandmother when I recall our petty squabbles that made so many memories and makes a family happy. All these years seem to have gone by like a flash of light although they would never end at the time. The poorer news was Dick’s new move but perhaps by some chance he will be transferred to the islands. If he should be, I believe we could arrange a meeting. A few days ago I mailed you a bond and about a dozen photographs. I hear Wylma is working in Denver, in fact, I write to her often. I guess it’s goodbye for tonight and I do my share of the praying too.

Love,

7 April 1943

Dearest Folks:

I just returned from pass and before I do anything else I’m going to write you tonight. During the afternoon I had a bit of vigorous exercise with several sets of tennis that left me with two blisters on each foot and consequently I’m limping around like an octogenarian. But it was well worth the while even if I feel pretty tired tonight.

Yesterday I had a tooth pulled and my gum has been aching since but not too bad. The tooth pulled was the broken one. They won’t replace it. The only work I need done now is a filling.

I bought the bond during a drive on Army Day although it took quite a bit from my wallet. I want to buy all I can.

Most of the pictures are taken during the sight seeing trip two weeks ago that I wrote you about. You can put them away for me. Most of the scenes suffer from their real beauty because of the color and distance and especially the hills that are cut with deep valleys and painted in deep purple hues.

A few minutes ago I submitted Katie’s picture in a “Sweetheart of APO 961” contest that is going on, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it brought back some bacon.

The envelope is pretty full now so I’ll let this suffice for tonight.

Love,

6 March 1943

Dearest Folks:

I really am ashamed of myself for not writing sooner and oftener but it seems that something comes along every night to put off until tomorrow. And secondly, it is so hard to write a letter that I give up in disgust. Whether I write or not you know that I am always thinking of you. Artie Shaw who plays regularly in Honolulu at a service inn, was here today but as I expected it was impossible for me to see him, and I would have given two days wages. Tomorrow being Sunday I hope I can make it to the dance at the USO. I have increased my allotment, that is the cash allotment, to thirty-five dollars, or twenty dollars more than what it was, that was effective March 1, but it may be awhile before it begins to arrive. I hope the bonds have been coming regularly, and I understand that the government is putting into effect a new plan whereby so much of the delay and error will be eliminated. Until now it was impossible to get a pass for longer than about eight hours but lately longer leaves have been authorized, and I hope that soon I can take a three day pass to Honolulu by plane, or at least sleep in a full-sized bed for one night. In my new job I do office work, and occasionally use my shorthand although it’s hardly as good as it was when I was in the bank. A few days ago I used it in a court session, and I must have looked like a stockbroker during a slump, but I got most of it down and what is more important, transcribed. I hope you have received the things I sent by now. I really hope that you like the bridge covers, although regardless you would write in the affirmative. I received a letter, the two page one, from you yesterday and I was glad to hear that you went to Denver for a few days, but sorry, in a way, to hear that Tom was rejected. I hope and I really mean it, that Katie is very happy, that Tom is truly a right guy. I suppose that it is impossible to send the Free Press any longer considering the new mailing restrictions, so your letters should be twice as long. I hope you will forgive me for my carelessness, because I know the anxiety that you must feel. So long for a while.

Love,

18 February 1943

Dear Dad:

I received your typewritten V-mail today and to attest to my vow of early reply, here I come. Your letter was very interesting and I took a long time reading it. Your free style manner of detail and continuity add a punch of zest and life. Anyway I like ‘em bushels and you should write more often. In case you haven’t guessed, to write a lengthy and appealing letter over here is quite a task and often I quit in disgust. I hope you liked what I sent a while back but I think you will go more for what I sent yesterday. As a result I am on a precariously balanced budget for the rest of the month, but that is nothing new. And I had a great deal of satisfaction in sending them. I’m drawing seventy-nine bucks every thirty days now so I plan to increase my allotment to about thirty-five dollars. By the way I’m a corporal now. That’s where the extra dough is coming from. I hope the bonds have started to come regularly now. Tonight, or the forepart of it, was very unusual. For the first time in the Army I got into a bridge game and by a real stroke of luck came out on top. It was contract so I did more guessing than anything else. My partner and I worked together like a pistol and a wheel. Today two Free Presses came but I couldn’t figure out the handwriting on the wrapper. The Reader’s Digest also came. Since the latest postal regulations, mail has been slower and not so frequent but on the whole it is pretty good. Perhaps you wouldn’t think it would get very chilly here but I’m using an overcoat and raincoat along with three blankets. If I had a mattress it would seem much warmer though. In my estimation a bed is man’s best friend and when I get home I’m going to stretch in all four directions at one time. The war news seems to be changing color every day and I’m earnestly reviving hopes of a homecoming in early 1944. This is the end of the communiqué tonight. In a way I hate to stop but I couldn’t think of anything anyway. I’ll buy you a banana leaf hat for your garden this summer.

Love,

31 January 1943

Dear Folks:

Now is a swell time to get off a few lines to you when everything is quiet and another day is done. As usually happens I just got back from the show and saw a World Series game in the newsreels. Today was Sunday but I spent most of it behind a typewriter or in the office. It was a beautiful day to get out with a camera but I didn’t but in lieu of that, here is a picture that was taken when Joe E. Brown was here last week. Of course you can spot him in the center and if you look close in the left upper corner you can see me. I’m standing almost in front of the guy with the open jacket. I think it is a good shot don’t you? The portion of the building in the center background is our projection booth.

In a couple of days I will be on pass and will get the table set you mentioned. I’m glad my bonds have been arriving. I was beginning to get a little worried. Soon I will send you a Honolulu paper. Perhaps you would like one and on the other hand, maybe you can get a little more scope of the islands. I hope you have received the other things by now.

I really can’t think of much to write about except anything very perfunatory (?). Today we had a very swell dinner centered around delicious ham. Last night I attended a party at my old battery and was even called upon to give a speech. It was a good deal with lots of beer and the other accessories of cheese, etc.

Guess this is quits tonight. Wished I could think of something to end this properly but I can’t, but I do think about you all the time.

Love,

7 December 1942

Dearest Folks:

I’ve let you go for three days now, about the longest yet, so I better redeem myself.

Yesterday I got the Thanksgiving box and it was swell. And in the book I found the pictures and the wedding invitation. I’ve been looking at them both about every fifteen minutes—there’s nothing like pictures. And the stationary was just the thing. Then today got a carton of cigarettes from Pat making a total of eleven boxes received. I’m certainly not being neglected. Three days ago I mailed you two boxes, small ones, and a coconut. I’m afraid you might not know what it would be so thought I better tell you. They sell them in the PX and it’s kind of a novelty. Many of the guys paint hula girls and Hawaiian scenes on them.

Well today was the anniversary of the war and the day that shattered my hopes of getting out in a year. Here on the island, as everywhere I suppose, a bond campaign is underway with soldiers and sailors doing the selling. A booth has been set up in the square. I hear the islands doubled their quota. My bonds should be reaching you by now and after December should have, or will have $87.50 worth and $105.00 in allotments. About the most I ever had in a lump sum.

On the island the weather is very good but when the wind begins to blow from the south, it’s a warning that a rainstorm or a cona, as they call it, is ahead. Then it really rains, but with all the rain we had in Nebraska I still like it.

Tonight is a typical night except that we have an unusual duet for entertainment. A guy got a piccolo sized instrument from his wife and another has a beat up Hawaiian guitar—they’re trying to collaborate on “Old Black Joe’. Occasionally they attempt to sing and they aren’t too terrible—now it’s ‘Daisy’.

I took some pictures yesterday of my ball team and some other and I’ll send you them when they are developed. And our team won for (a) change too.

Well this is enough for tonight—let’s hope the war doesn’t have more than one anniversary.

All of you sure seem close to me tonight.

Love,

16 November 1942

Dear Dad:

I guess it’s been a long time since I’ve pinned a letter exclusively for you and now is a good a time as any to get off another. Received your long typewritten V-letter—a lot of news in it and I’m afraid I can’t reciprocate too well. I have had a couple of (letters) from Kate recently so apparently your prompting accomplished it’s purposes—but she’s pretty busy with the jump so near. It seems odd to hear about cold weather when it’s nice here—although I use my two blankets fully in the nights.

About the bonds—the deal is still on and has been since June at the rate of $12.50 per month. They should reach you soon and they will after the red tape and processing has been cut.

It seems like every letter has a little about a box and I can account for five or six now—three from you, one from gram, one from Mrs. Carroll, one from Kate and the girl in Washington. It is a darn swell feeling to know you all think of me so much. I hope you can use what I sent you and I believe you can. Maybe I should send you some sugar—there is no rationing here.

I’m really very fine and sleeping and eating like a retired postman.

Received a card from Mrs. Peters—I will answer it soon and a box from Gram that I think I told you about.

I’m up a blind alley for anything else so here’s the finis. Keep the typewriter stuttering.

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,

1 August 1942

Dear Folks:

Just a line or two from Tacoma while I’m in the Service Club whiling away a little time. Well we are about ready to leave. Most of our stuff is packed and crated ready for shipment. Troop trains have been leaving regularly and suppose we will be next week. The place has been a regular beehive and this little respite on the weekend feels good only I feel pretty tired tonite.

Now that we are going I am making an allotment of $15.00 a month that will be sent you by the government. This is in addition to the bonds of $12.50.

There isn’t a single thing I need to take with me. We can’t take much. I probably have told you all that over the phone.

Well this is pretty short but it’s something of a letter.

Love,