Before we wrap up July of 1944 with the last letter from Stanley for the month, there are a few letters catch up on from both Stella and Vince Morawski. Stella and Vince are cousin Edward Morawski’s sister and brother respectively. They share a few more details about the Eddie’s wedding and Vince tells about what happened to him when he got back to camp after being AWOL (absent without leave) for two days when he extended his furlough to attend his brother’s wedding. There is also a letter from Dad’s friend Joe Damusis.
Stella Morawski writes on July 4th. Apparently she and Dad have been keeping up a correspondence as she mentions that “I have received your letter and Eddy was the first to read it. He wishes to thank you for your hearty congratulations.” She writes that it is “…the second day after Eddy’s wedding. Although it was not a very large wedding, everyone had a grand time.”
As far as when her brothers are slated to leave town, she writes, “Vincent left for camp yesterday, Eddy walked him down to the train station. Eddy has two more weeks to go before he leaves.”
Vincent Morawski writes on July 18. Based on what I was able to find out through internet research, Vince was with the 12th Armored Division, 17th Armored Infantry Battalion, Company A. Eventually, the 12th Armored Division will be shipped overseas, but for now Vince is very much stateside and in training.
Vince notes that “I received your last letter while I was in the field.” He remarks about how well Dad is doing in the Army. “I see that you are making out okay by yourself. What I mean is you being a S/Sgt. I was a P.F.C. until the other day. I was home a couple of weeks ago and I had the good fortune of seeing my brother Ed. I was to start back for camp on July 1, and he was getting married on the 2nd. I wired for an extension, but the C.O. disapproved of it. So all in all I stayed for the wedding. I wound up being 2 days a.w.o.l. The C.O. had me demoted and restricted for one week. In my opinion I would have stayed for my brother’s wedding no matter what would have happened.”
Enough of the past and present, Vince also looks towards the future, writing, “It certainly will be a grand day when we all can get together and have a little reunion party. Many is the day when I thought of this. By the way the allies are doing, it really shouldn’t be long, I hope.” He closes “…hoping to hear from you soon and wishing you the best of health and may the good Lord bless you always.”
12th Armored Division letterhead from Vincent Morawski’s letter dated July 18, 1944.
July 1944 also sees Joe Damusis writing a letter to Dad on the 13th. Joe is now at Great Bend, Kansas. From Joe’s letter it looks like he and Dad missed meeting up in Kansas City. Joe writes, “Been to Kansas City already, Tony, but I sure want to go there again. Received you letter before I left on pass, and I didn’t cancel it because it was the only one the 1st Sgt. would give me this month… In August I should be able to get another 3 day pass. Perhaps we’ll be able to get together then. Kansas City is the place to go. There’s plenty to do there.”
Joe details how he traveled on his three day pass. “I went to Kansas City via Missouri Pacific Lines which has a streamline stop at Hoisington which is 10 miles from Great Bend. So I hitch-hike out there and get the train at 1:33 AM and arrive in Kansas City at 7:20 AM. That’s not bad time.” Yes, you read that right, Joe was hitching a ride from Great Bend to Hoisington, Kansas a little after Midnight. I’m not sure many people would try that nowadays.
Finally, being that Joe and Dad are both from New York State and two New Yorkers are running for President, Joe asks, “Well, do you think Dewey is going to win? If there wasn’t a war going on, he might have a good chance, but right now it looks like Roosevelt.”
Joe closes the letter wishing Dad “Lots of Luck”