Author Archives: John
This is Quite the Place Now
May 28, 1945. We have a V-mail from Dad to his family back home in Albany. Also, in a departure from the usual, we have a letter that Dad wrote to his brother Stanley. A far as his note home, he mentions that he is “getting hot meals and they taste pretty good.” He also … Continue reading
Out of a Clear Sky
May 23, 1945. There are two documents from Anna to Dad; one a V-mail and another three page typewritten letter. In the V-Mail she confirms receiving the first two V-mails that Dad sent since “he has landed on dry land.” She notes that “We are all very glad that you got there safely Anthony and … Continue reading
I Have to Laugh Now
May 23, 1945. Dad is settling in at Northwest Field on Guam and has a chance to write a letter home to share a few of the details of his trip to the Pacific Theater. He notes that he is “fine and things are improving…by the day. I am now getting a suntan and getting … Continue reading
On Land in the Pacific Somewhere
May 13 and 14, 1945. Having finally arrived at his destination, Dad writes two V-Mails home. It looks like a letter from home dated April 10, 1945 was waiting for him and he received a letter from Stanley which he “read by the campfire”. He reports “I have my two feet on dry land” and … Continue reading
You Probably Never Heard of the Place
May 18, 1945. Now that VE Day has come to Deenethorpe, certain restrictions on the 401st Bomb Group have been relaxed. Among them, is the censorship of letters. As such, in the first letter that Stanley writes to Dad after censorship requirements have been diminished, Stanley is able to share some of the details about his … Continue reading
Nothing Like the Real Thing
May 15, 1945. Anna writes to her brothers, once again apologizing that it’s been some time since her last letter and stating that “Getting letters from me nowadays is like waiting for a good Sunday dinner. I am doing my best and I can’t guarantee how things will be after the new baby comes. Probably … Continue reading
The News Has Greatly Improved
April 26 and May 5, 1945. Stanley wraps up the month of April with a short one page letter to Dad “to let you know that I’ve received your change of address. Based on Dad’s San Francisco APO, Stanley surmises “Looks like I won’t see you for a while. Maybe someday in the future I’ll … Continue reading
Three Day Pass
April 21, 1945. Stanley writes to Dad and details some traveling that he did while on a three day pass. It was the first chance he had to get away since the furlough that he took in October 1944. He explains, “I kept postponing the pass as anytime I was ready to go on pass … Continue reading
Get Out of the Camp
April 20, 1945. After not writing for a while, Anna has some pent up news. She writes a four page single spaced typewritten letter to her brothers. She acknowledges, “It is three weeks since I have written to you last. …between the house and the baby and ahem the condition the I am in now … Continue reading