Year: 1941

11:05 a.m.

Dear Folks:

This morning we arrived at five a.m.  Had chow at seven a.m.  Went to church at 8:30 a.m.  Got back to the barracks at ten a.m. and then drilled until just now or rather until eleven a.m.

Tomorrow morning we really start on our training.  It is known as boot camp and we have seven weeks of it.

So far I like it very much.

We have to wash and iron our own clothes and what I mean one must be neat and clean at all times.

I also received a new testament at church this morning.  The sermon this morning was very good.

Yesterday I had my teeth cleaned, and also a shot in the arm.  We have the same shots in the arm as Robert had to take.  Some of the fellows got awful sick.  Mine didn’t bother me in the least.

Last evening we went to a movie here at the camp.  It was concerning  

the health of the body.  It surely was very interesting and one that everybody should see.

Climate here surely is odd.  Last evening we wore an overcoat.  You see the movie is an outdoor amphitheater.  At night we use two army blankets on us.  It doesn’t get warm until about eleven in the morning.  Then I mean it really gets hot.

Dad I got your letter and the stamps.  Thanks a lot for them, you were absolutely correct.

Mother I surely do enjoy hearing from you and Dad.  Hope you are feeling fine.

I will close for this time as I want to write to Robert’s today.

Love to all,

Leo

P.S. When you address my mail don’t forget it is 

Private L.J. McLoskey

112^th Platoon

R.D.  M.C.B.

San Diego, Calif

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Tuesday Evening

8 pm

Dear Folks:

Well here is what I have done so far today – Got up at 4:30 am – chow (meaning food) 5:30 am – Drill from 6:30 am to 8 am – got rifles at 8:30 am – spent until 11 am learning it – chow again at 11:30 am – picture taken at 12:30 pm – washed clothes until 4 pm – (I had charge of the whole platoon this afternoon of 63 men) – chow at 4:30 pm – been marching since then.

I am squad leader of squad 5 consisting of 10 men.  I have charge of all the men—see they get up—shave, bath, dressed properly and etc.

Incidentally, Band and Leonard of Monmouth are in my platoon.

Believe me they really put you through the paces here but it is one of the best things that could ever happen to anybody.

As yet I haven’t heard from any of you—I trust you are all well—I am feeling great—a little sunburned but I’ll soon get over that.

Please pass this letter around.  I have been so darn busy I just haven’t had time to write.

Monday we go to boot camp for 7 weeks.  Their we live in tents.

Incidentally we have to make our beds a certain way every morning upon getting up.  Mother I’ll show you how it works.

Hope all of you are well—I do miss all of you.

Love to all,

Leo

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Hello Folks – Send all my mail to the following address:

Private L.J. McLoskey

112^th Platoon, M.C.B.

San Diego, Calif.      Love, Leo

August 18, 1941

2:55 pm

Place: Quarantine Barracks

(Don’t get excited, they keep us here a couple of days after the shots.)

Table – My locker trunk

Dear Folks:

I will have to agree that this California weather is something.  It is hot in the day time but very cool at night.

Yesterday after arrival we had dinner at 4:30 pm.  They put us in our bunks at 8 pm after we all took a shower.

This morning we arrived at 5:15 am.  Made our beds, shaved and went over to breakfast.

After breakfast we had another medical including a shot in our left arm, blood taken from our right arm, and a shot in the right tail cheek and I don’t mind telling you they really shove that needle in.  Four fellows fainted before arriving at the tail puncture but I survived the details so far.  As a matter of fact my tail bone isn’t even sore.

The meals so far have been excellent.

Today we also received our locker (a wooden trunk) 3 towels, 2 cakes of soap, scrub brush, shoe brush and polish, a bucket to wash our clothes in, stamps, stationery, sewing kit, and a clothes line.  I imagine we will receive our first clothes tomorrow morning.  Oh yes we also received a padlock and two keys for our locker.  They charge us $13.00 out of our first pay for these incidentals and gave us $3.25 in coupon books for the Canteen.  Believe me we have plenty of work to do but I love it thus far.

Oh: yes you should see me.  They clipped all of our hair off after lunch and we now all look like convicts.

Please pass this on to Libby & the kids & aunts.  I will write them but will have to wait till we get more settled.

Won’t be able to send my clothes until we get our others.

My proper address until you hear further from me is;

Private Leo J. McLoskey

Recruit Depot

Marine Corp Base

San Diego, California

I miss all of you.

Love to all,

Leo 

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Weather – Heat terrific Time 9:50 am

Place – Somewhere in New Mexico

Dear Folks:

We left Chicago at 10:25 pm Central Standard Time.  All of us have upper berths and the meals on the train are very reasonable.  Breakfast – 35 cents, Lunch – 40 cents, Dinner – 75 cents to $1.00.

It is rather hard for me to write as we are now going across the desert and the road bed is not so good.  As a result the train is plenty rough.

As I look out the window now all I see is sage brush, cactus, sand, and mountains on both sides.

The trip has been very interesting so far.  Have met some very interesting people in our car which is car 7.

Believe me Kansas is surely plenty flat but the crops looked very good.

Surely do hope you have gotten a break in the weather.  If it is as hot as the desert Mother, you would lose some weight.

First night out I had a hard time sleeping.  I want you to know that I miss you but I do think the military discipline will do me good.

Be sure to tell the gang at the park Tuesday evening hello for me.

We arrive in San Diego at 12:20 pm tomorrow (Sunday).  I have in my possession a sealed envelope to give to the Corporal of the guard who will be on the gate at the base in San Diego.

I  am going to send the kids, the aunts, and the neighbors some cards from Gallup, New Mexico.  We will arrive their at 2:20 this afternoon.  Then from their we go through Arizona and on in to California.  All you see in New Mexico is Indians and their doby huts.  Don’t see how they make a living.  Although, I have seen thousands of cattle and sheep grazing.

Believe me this is a trip I will never forget.

Hope all of you are well.  Drop me a line when you have time and give my regards to all.

Love, Leo

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Dear Folks;

Arrived here 8:20 this morning.  Having my breakfast in the station as we have one hour and 15 minutes stop off here.  Hope you arrived home safely and that you had a pleasant trip.  Surely did appreciate you going to Chicago with me.  

Love, Leo