Starting on the last phase of maneuvers

March 30, 1944

Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Mom

We are starting on the last phase of maneuvers tomorrow. It will be over the 4th of April and I expect we’ll be shipping out pretty soon after. I don’t know where we’ll go but I don’t think we’ll stay in Louisiana any longer because the maneuvers are over for good down here.

We have come back into Louisiana now. We worked back about a hundred miles into Texas and now we’re back close to Alexandria. It’s a little cool here now. It rained all night, night before last, and then turned out cool.

Earl’s letter was ver interesting. I guess he must still be in Sicily, and I see from his address that he is in the same kind of outfit that I am in, only his are probably 90 millimeter guns.

I’m glad that I’ll be able to go back to work for the N&W when I get back. I expect there’ll be a lot of men without a job after the war and a lot of confusion when they start coming back. It would be hard to get started unless I could get that job back.

Guess I’ll close for this time.

Love to all, Tom

An invasion about to start

March 22, 1944

Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Pop

I had a bunch of cards from you waiting for me when I got back. But I think I answered about everything when I was home.  We have been on a rest period since I’ve been back. We’re a good ways into Texas and I think we’ll be going to the Gulf to do our firing pretty soon. I don’t know where we’ll go from there.

I was reading something on the fourth army news bulletin about how they thought an invasion was about to start. I hope the war with Germany will soon be over ’cause I believe it will take a lot to beat the Japs. About the only news we get around here is a little paper the fourth army puts out and that is usually old news when we get it.

Guess I’ll quit for now as I got a lot of other writing to catch up on.

Love, Tom

P.S. I got the N&W magazine today.

I have to do what you see on this card

There's always K.P. wherever the Army goes, as Camp Haan rookies soon learn.

January 17, 1944

Camp Haan, California

Dear Pop,

I hope we do get the raise from the railroad. I’m glad it won’t cost so much to come home when I get to L.A. I’m glad you all liked the dates. I have to do what you see on this card about every two months.

Love, Tom

We captured 5 gun positions out of 8

December 4, 1943 (16 more days to furlough)

Camp Haan, California

Dearest Mom

I didn’t get a chance to write on the way in from Irwin but we were on the field all the time and didn’t get into any town. We ate K rations (dehydrated food) all the time. We had a lot of fun though and I enjoyed it very much. A couple of guys got some pretty hard knocks and busted noses but we came through pretty well. We captured 5 gun positions out of eight.

I’ve got a big stack of letters to write as I got pretty much mail while I was out. I got a real nice Christmas box from the N&W. It had shaving creme, blades, tooth paste, and several other toilet articles besides a Bible, writing paper, candy, peanuts, and etc. I haven’t got Aunt Emma’s box yet. I don’t think you all had better send me a box for Christmas because I’m pretty sure I’ll be home and if I don’t get home it won’t hurt to get it a little late.

I think it is the best thing to move our membership to the Virginia Heights Methodist. If you all like it and dad does, I will too. I’m glad dad and you can go together. I think it’s a lot nicer and I would want my membership moved there too.

I am on guard this week – and so I wasn’t able to get a pass but I want to get back over to Aunt Bess’ as soon as I can. I think we will stay here for a pretty good while. Training is over in a couple of weeks and then we’ll have a pretty easy time and if we stay in the U.S. furloughs might not be so far apart. I will have plenty of money for my furlough so don’t you all worry about that.

Guess I’ll close for tonight as I’ve got to walk post in a few minutes.

Love to all, Tommy

Never dreamed I’d be traveling across the U.S.

November 3, 1943

Camp Irwin, California

Dear Pop

I have a very special request to make of you. Without beating around the bush here it is: I want you to cash in my other two bonds and lend me $10. I have $60 here and that would give me about $46 more. That way I can be sure of having enough money whenever we get our furloughs. I think we will get them sometime soon and I want to have the money ready. They talk about a troop train going to Washington but the fare on that would be about $70. I am going to map out a way so I can ride the pass from Cincinnati on in. One of the fellows who went to Roanoke on an emergency furlough made it in 3 1/2 days.

What do I have to do to get the pass on the N&W? Or can I use the annual pass? I used to think about traveling across the U.S. but I never dreamed I’d be doing it. But still, it’s worth anything to get back home.

Love to all, Tom