April 14, 1943. Dad writes home from the Savanna Ordnance School in northwestern Illinois. The weather is still wavering between winter and spring. He comments, “The last two days we have had winter weather…we did have a few snowflakes in the air.” He also says that he has been able to keep up with the news in Albany as another fellow from his hometown that is stationed with him (Joe Cherma) has the Albany Times-Union sent to him. He writes, “I saw practically every Sunday Times Union”. He offers his observations on some Albany News, “So Reginka got engaged. It looks as if there are still a few men left in this world.” …and on another wedding announcement, “I also saw the picture of Malek in her bridal gown. I am still wondering whether her father is a lieutenant on account he has a bar.”
With Easter coming, he has been preparing by getting to services more often. “I made a Mission on Mon. and Tues. missing Sun. We had Mass at 6:30 in the evening and on Tues. we made the vows with lighted candles. That night I went to confession and this morning (Wednes.) at 6:15 A.M. I went to Mass and communion.” He mentions that some of the other fellows (Joe Cherma, Joe Damusis, Carucci and Sheehan) have all made the same mission.
The Army routine continues. He reports that “two more guys got the measles on our floor” so they get daily inspections “they look at our mouths every morning and chest at times.” He also says that he has “one more test tomorrow and I will be through with this course.” It also looks like reveille is starting to come earlier “The guys around here now will have to get up at 5:30 A.M. and have exercises in the morning. We are just about getting out of this place to miss all this stuff.” He is still waiting for the picture of him in his garrison cap and hopes to get it soon so he can send it home.
He says, “I still hope to get more good breaks. We don’t have to fix our beds the fancy way so now I sleep under the covers. I still haven’t sewed my stripe on. When I get to a base I probably will have to plaster it on.”
He comments on one of Anna’s recent letters, “So your daughter is sticking her tongue out at everybody. I’ll bet Papa, Mama and Eddie just stand around and laugh while you try your best to discourage same. I would laugh too.” He also says, “I am glad the daddy loves Theresa-Marie because that will help him love mama more. You see how God arranges things!!! You never figured on having a daughter at this time, but God figured for you. He knows what is best.”
Before wrapping up his letter he indicates that he is thinking about the future. “I seem to be running out of words except to tell you that I am working on a plan of how I can best carry out civilian life after this war is over. I haven’t gotten too far but it keeps me busy trying to find out what I think I would like to be trained for so I can stick to it and make good.”
He signs off, and then adds a P.S. suggesting that when Anna writes she uses carbon paper and just writes one letter to both him and Stanley. That way she can add separate notes if there is something she needs to address on an individual basis. “It would save you time and we would both have the same information. It wouldn’t be laziness.” It’s interesting that he makes this suggestion after Alex Kosinski suggests that he should have done the same thing in his letter dated the day before, especially since Dad had likely not received Kosinski’s letter at this point.
He adds one more P.S. on the 15th that they hand in their books that evening and tomorrow (the 16th) they graduate. He commits to writing one more letter before shipping out.