Letter from Home
Have You Got the Army Under Control?
February 10 and 12, 1943. A letter from the office and a postcard from a friend. Before Dad left for the war, he worked at Interstate Plumbing Supply in Albany as an office clerk. We get the first letter from the gang at the office dated February 10, 1943. Six folks from the office write, … Continue reading
Only God Knows How Much I Want to See You Boys
February 10, 1943. Anna writes from home. She is not having the best of days and is frustrated that her husband Eddie has been spending time reading comics. “Cursed be the man or woman who invented funny sheets and funny books and all the ten cent trash that he buys all the time. He doesn’t … Continue reading
Daddy Says I Should Send You Golombki
February 6, 1943. Anna writes to Dad. “Today is Eddie’s birthday and he is 24 years old. What an old man he is already.” They are experiencing temperature swings in Albany; one day it is freezing cold and the next day it is warm, muggy and rainy. Little Theresa Marie has a sore throat and … Continue reading
Mama and Pop Watch the Baby
February 1, 1943. Two letters from home. Both Anna and Eddie (her husband) write. True to form, Anna’s letter is the longer of the two. We’ll start with Eddie’s. He confesses that he is not the best letter writer around, “I can sit and talk for hours but when it comes to putting it in … Continue reading
Send Coconuts
January 28, 1943. Anna writes from home. As much as letters from home are valued by the troops, letters from family in the service are valued on the home front. The news that Dad will be assigned as a clerk is welcomed at home, “We are all so glad that you are sending more letters … Continue reading
If You Want to be a Gunner They Make You a Welder
January 20, 1943. Dad reports a slow day during which they are being classified. He learns that he is being placed in the ordinance department and believes they will be assigned to the Air Corps. He is disappointed that he was not assigned to radio work, but instead is being classified as a clerk (stenographer) … Continue reading
An Eyefilling Panorama
January 19, 1943. Dad is settling into Army life in Miami Beach and his taste buds are adjusting. He is “getting along fine” and “the food here is at times somewhat better.” The big news of the day is that in the afternoon they got their gas masks and an extra summer uniform complete with … Continue reading
The First Letter from Home
The first letter from home comes dated January 13, 1943. Dad’s sister Anna reports that his letter arrived at noon and that she is writing her reply at ten of one so her father could mail the letter when he goes to work. This detail necessitates a note on the living arrangements. The house where … Continue reading