Censorship and Protecting Military Information in Letters Home

January 5, 2012 Leave a Comment

In his last two letters, Babe makes note of the care the military took in World War II to protect military information. Soldiers in the army were apparently trained about what they could and couldn’t say in their letters home. As a result, Babe notes, they’re not as interesting as he would like his letters to be.

“Do you think I can tell you everything that goes on down here?” Babe asks his brother Vin in the last letter. “There are a lot of things I’d like to tell you, but I just can’t. Every day we get an army circular issued by the War Department read to us on preserving military information.”

He tells his parents in the previous letter, “A couple of days ago, we were given another lecture on safeguarding military information. They tell us not to tell you anything that would be of any value to any spies.” Read more of this post

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Scolding His Brother About Safeguarding Military Information

January 4, 2012 Leave a Comment

My Uncle Vin, visiting us on vacation at the Jersey Shore, circa 1998. My brother Steven is on the right.

Dated May 15, 1945; postmarked May 16 from Camp Wheeler.

Master Vincent Mauro
491 Lexington Avenue
Mount Kisco, New York

Dear Vin,

What the hell do you think I am in, the Boy Scouts? Do you think I can tell you everything that goes on down here? There are a lot of things I’d like to tell you, but I just can’t. Every day we get an army circular issued by the War Department read to us on preserving military information.

Some day I’ll be going across and if I found out how, when and where I was going, someone else is sure to find out and don’t forget I’ll be on that ship that someone will know about. You wait until you get in there and find out that there are a lot of things you’d like to say but you can’t. I don’t know whether or not these letters are censored, but nevertheless, I’m not going to take any chances. Read more of this post

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On the Protection of Military Information and Boring Letters

January 3, 2012 Leave a Comment

Image of Camp Wheeler from Babe's stationery.

Dated May 9, 1943; postmarked May 10 from Camp Wheeler.

Dear Folks,

I hope you are all fine and feeling good because I am.

I just got off guard duty and as soon as I got into the barracks, it started pouring rain. The men who relieved my shift are soaking wet already and they didn’t even get their rain coats on yet.

I don’t know why I am writing this letter; I have nothing to write about. A couple of days ago, we were given another lecture on safeguarding military information. They tell us not to tell you anything that would be of any value to any spies. Read more of this post

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