‘A Little Yankee Ingenuity the Papers Are Always Talking About’

February 22, 2012 Leave a Comment

The address book ("Compliments of the American Red Cross") that was among Babe's personal effects. This is likely not the one he asked to have sent.Dated Nov. 15, 1943; postmarked Nov. 22.

Dear Folks,

I am well, happy and safe and I hope you all are the same.

Just about everyone around here has received at least one package except me, so I guess I’ll have one within the next few days and I hope it has candy in it.

By the way, in the next package you send, enclose one good address book and a lot of pictures of everybody including, of course, one from Vince. I need the address book because I lost the one I had and in doing so, lost all communication with the outside world.

Say, do you know if anyone from Kisco in the army, navy or marines is on this side of the Mediterranean besides me? If there are, I might meet up with some of them if I knew where to look.

Furthermore, you never told me where my cousins live, but that could be because you haven’t received my letter yet. Read more of this post

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Putting in His Order for a Package of Stuff; Living High off the Natives

February 21, 2012 Leave a Comment

Dated Nov. 11, 1943; postmarked Nov. 14. There is a “parcel post” stamp from Mount Kisco, N.Y., on the letter itself, not the envelope, dated Dec. 11.

Dear Mom and Pop,

I am well, happy and safe and I hope you all are the same.

I still haven’t received any packages yet or letters from Mr. Morgan. While I think of it, you can send me another package or two. You can send me about three pads of writing paper just like the kind I am writing on now. Send about a dozen pencils, a couple of bottles of ink, about a dozen pair of the heaviest woolen socks you could find, and I mean heavy; about a dozen handkerchiefs; 4 or 5 big Hershey or Nestle bars, either with or without; a fair sized box of tea leaves, not tea balls, but tea leaves; a couple of pounds of cookies all double with cream between the cookies; also a bottle of blackberry jelly. Read more of this post

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‘The Influential Politicians Drafted Only the Poorer Class of People’

February 20, 2012 Leave a Comment

'The Baily Bridge' in Italy, by Tom Craig, from 'A Brief History of the U.S. Army in World War II,' from the Government Printing Office. This painting is from the Army Art Collection. It's a challenge to find illustrations for all these posts, with no pictures of Babe.

Dated Nov. 2, 1943; postmarked Nov. 7.

Dear Folks,

I am well, happy and safe and I hope you all are the same.

I haven’t received any packages yet or letters from Mr. Morgan and I am still waiting.

So Vince is flying now, is he? I’ll bet he is having a lot of fun right now, and I’m glad of it. In the letter I received from him, though, he said he wouldn’t be flying until December and that’s a little way off yet.

These Italians around here can’t understand how we have washing machines back there for only two or three people in a three-room apartment. They think a washing machine would take up a whole room with a lot of equipment and pipes and other miscellany.

Another thing they can’t understand is how everyone back there, rich or poor, is in the same social class. Over here, they say the influential politicians drafted only the poorer class of people for this war.

Well, that’s about all, so I’ll sign off with love and kisses to all,

Babe

PDF: ‘The Influential Politicians Drafted Only the Poorer Class of People’

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A Lovely Description of All the Fruit Trees Near Him

February 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

Olives. Taken by Nick Fraser in 2005. The fruit of an Olive Tree by the Dead Sea in Jordan. Via Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Olivesfromjordan.jpg

Dated Oct. 31, 1943; postmarked Nov. 4. His division is likely still based in Caserta, Italy.

Dear Folks,

I am well, happy and safe and I hope you all are the same.

I received four of your letters and one from Aunt Mary yesterday and before I go any further, I would feel a lot better if you wouldn’t worry about me so much.

I haven’t received any packages or letters from Mr. Morgan yet, but I am still waiting patiently.

I’m glad to hear you started paying for the house; now Rosemarie can cry all night.

By the sound of Bib’s letters, he is doing all right for himself in the economic and social worlds, isn’t he? I like to receive letters from Bib; tell him to keep writing.

Right now, I am parked under an olive tree full of olives, which are not edible right now. On my left is a fig tree full of green figs. A few miles to my rear is an orange grove full of ripe oranges. A little to my right are plenty of grapes, all dried up. All in all, this is a pretty nice place, not at all unlike the climate and environment of Mount Kisco.

Here come some more little Italian kids with their hands outstretched for candy and cigarettes. I swear I gave them more cigarettes since I’ve been here than I’ve smoked myself.

That’s about all, folks, so I’ll sign off now with…

Love and Kisses to all,

Babe

PDF: A Lovely Description of All the Fruit Trees Near Him

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‘I Received a Couple of Birthday Cards from Bib and Rosemarie’

February 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

The last few letters have had this return address. Note that it now includes "A.T. Co." (or Anti-tank Company), which is the unit he served for the duration. He mentions the distinctions between division, regiment and company in this letter.

Dated Oct. 27, 1943; postmarked Nov. 4.

Dear Folks,

I am well, happy and safe and I hope you all are the same.

I received a couple of birthday cards from Bib and Rosemarie and although they’re a little late, they are still welcome.

I didn’t receive any packages or letters from Vince or Mr. Morgan yet, but I’m still sweating them out.

You gave me the name of a fellow whom you said was in my outfit, but you neglected to tell me what part of the outfit. I don’t know whether you mean my division, regiment, or my company. Please let me know. Read more of this post

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