ww2letterproject

“You see mom war or no war I never lose my love for pretty things. And believe me when I have my own home I plan to raise all kinds of flowers. And do I have some swell plans.”
–April 15

Bill and the 337th bivouac near Mondragon, Italy, on April 8, and begin to train for going to the front line. The move to the front line is completed by April 14. From April 14th to the 30th the 337th engages in active defense of an assigned sector between Minturno–Santa Maria Road and the Ausente River on high ground overlooking Reali Creek. Ambush and reconnaissance patrols are conducted each night.

Enemy activity is confined to occasional artillery fire, self-propelled gunfire, small arms fire, machine guns, and mortars. Unit casualties include five killed in action, 60 wounded and one missing in action. The troops of the 337th get two hot meals daily. A shower unit is established.

Bill celebrates his 23rd birthday on April 29.

Eva and May are in Camp Pinedale, near Fresno, California. Ruth, who is 19 years old, travels alone by bus to visit her sisters in California. She stops in Utah to spend time with some of Bill’s friends from his CCC days.

Abe and his unit depart from Boston, Massachusetts by ship and arrive in Liverpool, England on April 16th.

 

 

April 6, 1944 — Italy

Dear Mom & all

Just a few lines to say hello. And to tell you that I am well and as contented as could be expected. Am getting plenty to eat but still can’t quench the feeling that I’d like to taste your home cooking. I hope everyone is well. How is Dad. Have you heard from the girls lately or Abe. And where is Abe. Well it looks as though I’ll be seeing a little action in the near future. But, I don’t mind saying it doesn’t seem to worry me a bit.

This place called Italy is sure some hangout. I still rather have the old wooded mountains at home. The hill and mountains here are all bare of trees except for a few olive orchards. And very few at that. Well I’d better go Mom and anytime you feel like you can send a package do, because I sure love to get them. I haven’t received the first one yet. Still looking.

By now

Lots of Love to all

Bill

 

April 8, 1944 — Italy

Dear Dad

I just received your very wonderful letter and gee it was swell to hear from you. Tonight was the first mail call we have really had for quite some time and I sure hit the jackpot. I got ten letters 5 from home and one for a friend in Utah, one from Philadelphia, 2 from Ruth, and I guess after all it was six I received from home. Boy mail call is even better than chow call here. I’m certainly glad to know that you are still getting along as well as possible.

As for me Dad I’m in wonderful health, I believe I’m in much better condition then have ever been. This Army life is doing me plenty of good. My only trouble is that I’m hungry all the time. But that’s not unusual. I was that way at home. I’ll sure be glad though when this thing is over and I can get home to a drink of some really good old American beer & whiskey. This infernal stuff they sell over here isn’t fit for a dog to drink and so I leave it strictly alone. Besides business and pleasure don’t mix. And this is strictly business. I’ll be glad when it’s over though. Say Dad don’t ever worry about my bothering the women here. They aren’t fit to fool with and I’m patiently waiting till I get back where American women are to be found. And as for being capable of taking care of the things that come my way on the front Dad, I’ll be in there pitching with both hands. I’m just like the rest of the Irish, I’ll be there in any fight. (and watch my smoke!)

I hope Abe had the good luck to stay in the States. As for Velma, well maybe one of these days she’ll learn. She’s strictly a nuisance.

You said it was almost time to go milk. That’s sure a good old familiar saying. Wish I were there to help you. Tell you what though, I’ll bet a round of drinks that by the time I get home I haven’t forgotten how to milk a cow. It is a bet? Be sure to raise a good big flock of chickens & hogs and when I get home we’ll celebrate in the good old fashioned way. Just as soon as we get rid of the rats here we’ll be back. Give my best love to Pat, Sam, Vic, Annie, Dick, Fan and all of them. And say hello to Grandpa. Please thank Sam & Dick for their swell letters. Oh yes, I’m going to send Johnny Fable a letter in care of you, will you please see that he gets it. And take good care of yourself & everyone.

Give Mom my love
And to all

Lots of Love
Your son & good pal

Bill

 

April 15, 1944 — Italy

Dear Mom & Dad

Just a few lines to say Hello and to wish everyone a Happy Easter in spite of the fact that Easter is long past. I quite enjoyed Easter day. Had a swell meal for breakfast and like a good boy I did the unusual thing I partook of Easter Services. I certainly enjoyed going. Believe it or not mom I think this war is doing me a world of good. Not only am I getting a broader outlook on life but I find that life never is quite as bad as it seems and it could always be worse. When I’m dead tired I just look at the guy next to me and I find that always there is someone who is having a tougher time then I am. And it makes my job just twice as easy. I’m not finding a thing to complain about anymore.

I’ll take it all back I did get pretty sore about something. I got a letter from Velma the other day and I proceeded to answer it with a lot of rough, meaning I fairly told her off. And I don’t care in the least bit how she takes it. She was telling me how Her and Abe get along and how things are going down home as she calls it and what should be done and what not. (My home and she tells me how it should be run. And she also tells me that when Abe gets over here and we happen to meet, that she doesn’t want me to start him running around and drinking again. Of all the brass nerve!

I told her what I thought about her & Abe and that I didn’t want either one of them trying to step in at home and run anything. They can jolly well keep their noses away if they don’t like it. I don’t think I have any reason to doubt the fact that you and Dad can do a good job. But, I guess I’ve said enough on that. How are things at home, mom. Velma said you lost an awful lot of chickens lately. That sure is bad. How’s the money situation getting along. I’ll see if I can’t get some money for you by the end of next month. Maybe that will help. I won’t say that it will be a whole lot but it may smooth down some of the rough spots. Oh I received a Easter card from Eve & a v-mail from Ruth. And I got a letter from Ardis the other day and she is gone up to Washington to stay with her folks for a while. She said she wanted to make some thing for a Hope Chest. Sounds encouraging doesn’t it. No kidding mom if any guy was ever stuck on a girl I’m sure it. And some of the knowledge I’ve gained during this war will certainly be a big help when I start my own home.

Did I tell you mom that right next door to my [censored] I have a lemon orchard and this place is covered with all kinds of fruit trees, peach, apple, cherry, plum, fig, orange and chestnut & walnut trees. Some stuff eh! And there’s plenty of vineyards everywhere. And flowers. Gee there are some of the prettiest ones, Today I found some of the prettiest white flags I’ve ever saw. Pure white. And lots of star flowers.

You see mom war or no war I never lose my love for pretty things. And believe me when I have my own home I plan to raise all kinds of flowers. And do I have some swell plans.

How are all the kids getting along now mom. I hope they’re all well. And tell each and every one I said hello and give them all a kiss for me. Tell dad to that [censored]… say hello to Ruth for me mom.

And Good bye. Good luck and lots of Love to all

Bill

 

April 18, 1944 — Italy

Dear Mom

Am writing a few lines to tell you I’m well and that I received a package from you today. The little one with the candles in it. And believe me I was really glad to get them. Last night I used the last of my old candles and was wondering where I’d get anymore. There about the only source of light we have in the dugouts so any time you send a package always include some candles. If their not to hard [to] get. Yesterday I got another letter from Abe, another from an old pal of mine that used to run around together. Maybe you remember his name, Richardson. The guy I used to be in camp with out west.

Oh yes! I got a letter from you yesterday to. The one you wrote on March 24. You said it was fairly warm there now. Have you started any garden of any kind. I guess not though its pretty early for yet for that. How are the baby chicks coming along. I hope they do well. And how’s the cow doing these days. Do you still get plenty of milk & eggs. Hope so. Sure wish I were there to help you eat. It’s been ages since I tasted fresh milk and eggs.

What sort of work is dad doing these days. Is Dick still working and whats he doing. He should try to get a job in one of the factories in Dayton. Anyway how is the financial problem at home now. Do you need money for anything. Maybe I could help you out if you need anything. How’s Ruth doing at her job. She didn’t say in her last letter so I guess everything is ok. Oh! Did I tell you mom that I gave Velma a telling off the other day. She sent me a letter and told me a few things that made me mad so I took the opportunity to speak a few things I’d been storing up in my mind. And she can take it any way she likes it. Well I’d better be going so say hello to all the kids for me. And the next package you send mom put in some raisins or some raisin cookies and any other kind of candy and cookies you happen to make. They’ll always get here sooner or later and nothing tastes better than something from home.

Give my regards to grandpa and the rest. Tell Mr Quinn hello.

Lots of Love to you & dad

Bill

 

April 23, 1944 — Italy

April 24, 1944 — Italy

Dear Mom

A few lines Mom to tell you that yesterday I received two packages from you and they were wonderful. Those doughnuts were the best I’ve ever tasted mom. And believe me they certainly didn’t last long. And the knife is swell.

It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but as long as it serves the purpose then it’s tops with me. I’ll take that back about the two packages from you. One of them was from Ruth. The one I got from you was mailed on March the 13th and Ruth’s was mailed on March the 3rd. They were both wonderful. Ruth’s had some candy in it and my favorite cigarettes, some Vmail paper and Handkerchiefs. And boy I really needed the Handkerchiefs. So thanks a million Mom. How’s everyone at home doing. I hope you are all well. Are the kids getting along in school O.K. How’s dad doing. Is he well. Tell Dad I wrote a letter to John Fable and put it in care of dad. So when it comes tell him to see that Johnny gets it. How’s things on the farm coming these days. I hope you’re having better luck with your chicks. And how’s the new calf getting along. Is Dick still working and what’s he doing. How is Fanny making out in school. Tell her I’ve written a couple of cards to Her, Dick and Sam. Let me know if they receive them.

I received a letter from Ardis again yesterday. She’s sure swell mom. She always keeps the mail coming my way. And I know just when to look for her letters. She’s in Kennwich, Washington. I think she plans to work on her hope chest this summer and then go back to work in the winter. The factory where she worked shut down. I got a letter from Eve the same day I got Ardis’s letter. And she told me all the new of camp. She said she had received her glasses.

Gee just think I’ll be another year older in a few days. It sure doesn’t seem like it. But I can assure you I’ll celebrate my big day, probably in a way I’ll never forget. Those packages made ideal Birthday gifts mom. Well mom old dear you can send me another package just like that last one if you wish. Say mom did you ever hear any more about the pictures you sent away for. Are you going to be able to get them I sure hope so cause I want Eve and the girls to have one & Ardis. Let me know how you come out with them. I’ll send you some money this month.

Now I’d better get on to other letters. So give my hello to Mr Quinn and my love to dad and all the kids. I’ll be seeing you soon. If this letter seems hard to read it’s because I’m a little jumpy this morning.

I’ll see you again

Lots of love & good luck to all.

Bill

Send me some of this kind of writing paper if you can.

* “Italy Defense Lines South of Rome 1943 4” by By Stephen Kirrage [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
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