Year: 1942

3 January 1942

Dear Folks:

Well, here it is 1942 and I hope and pray that it is a great year for all of us and that the US will soon win the war.

Again, I have a new address.  It is now Co “C” 2d TK Bn, 2d Mar Div FMF Camp Elliott, San Diego, California.  They have split up old Company “B” and half of us are the nucleus for the new copany.  I am in the Captain’s office of the new company.  His name is Captain Swensceski.  He seems as if he will be a good skipper.  Don’t be surprised if I don’t go up another notch in about two or three weeks.  I bid my other pals in Co “B” goodbye today.  They boarded ship and God only knows where they were going or when they will return.

Mother, I got the stamps in your letter and thanks.  I also got the cigars from you today and they surely do taste swell.  I am enjoying one of them now.

I got to spend New Years Eve with the Whitemans.  Got there at seven and left at seven the next morning.  One of the fellows in the company drove up and I rode with him.  He goes to visit the Vice president of the bank where Bob works.  I even went up in my kakhis and field shoes as we had been loading ship that day.  Bob & Sara both acted like they were tickled to death to see me.  Barbara went to a party at the church that evening and she was to cute fixing her nails getting ready to go.

The way things look now I won’t ship out of here for at least three more months as they are forming a new streamlined outfit and Co “C” of the tanks will be one of the units of combat.

Got my dog tags today.  There were two of them which I have to wear around my neck at all times.  It has my name, serial number, finger print and the date I received my tetnus shots on it.

It has been very rainy, muddy and chilly out here.  But, I have found out that one can live in a tent and enjoy it.  I now have two kerosene stoves going, a sweatshirt and a GI issue jacket on and I am just comfortable.  GI means government issue.

My Bunkie, the fellow who lives with me is a Spanish fellow by the name of Jose “T” Sepulveda.  His mother sent him the most delicious Mexican candy and what I mean we both have enjoyed it.  She also sent him some panesitos de maizena (ask Libby what it means) they surely are good.  He is going to get some recipts from his mother for me to send you and Libby.  He is 21 years old and a very clean fellow to live with.  He comes from Larado, Texas.

Received a cute letter from Anne and a picture or rather two pictures of Anne, Bobby and Mary Alice.  Golly: has she ever grown.

Got a Christmas card from Pearl today with a little letter in it.  I guess the letter has been chasing me as she sent it in c/o Platoon 112 to the MC Base at San Diego.

Tomorrow I have the duty for the new company.  By that, I mean I march them to chow, have roll call and etc.

In the afternoon I am going to write some letters and in the morning I am planning on going to church and I will go unless something unusual happens.

Dad, that church magazine the Lookout has some interesting articles in it.  Also, I get quite a kick out of the jokes in it.

Surely was sorry the aunts couldn’t get over to Roberts Christmas.  Poor Aunt Ella must surely have her hands full.

Sorry the telegram didn’t reach you on Christmas day.  They told me it would. That is the reason I sent it care of Roberts.

Now that we are getting organized I’ll get back on my regular return of writing you.

Love to all,

Leo

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9 January 1942

Dear Folks: 

Well I have just received another promotion.  I am now Corporal Leo J. McLoskey of the United States Marine Corps.  I don’t mind telling you that it makes me very happy.  I am enclosing my warrant and I know that you will take good care of it for me.

My new duties are as follows:  I am tank commander of tank #5, in the day time and at night I have to help them out in the office making out reports and so forth.  As it is now I also have to attend various schools in between time such as the sub-machine gun, the Thompson, the 37mm, the pistol, the rifle, camoflauge and so forth.  So you can readily see that I am quite busy.  Golly I haven’t heard from you for some time. I trust that all of you are well.                 

Out of the next 30 days I only get 48 hours liberty so you can see that we area really getting ready to kick the devil out of those Japs.  Wish you could have been here to see me receive my Corporal Warrant.  Well I will keep right on hustling and who knows as they say I might be President some day.

The first Sergeant of this company is a fellow from Minneapolis.  He is just about my age and I like him very much and I believe that he would say the same for me.

This afternoon I have to go out on Tank Inspection.  As they only cost $36,000.00 each one has to take good care of them.  And, what I mean my crew and I are going to take good care of Tank #5.

Tell all the family hello for me and I trust that you are all well.  For a change we are having wonderful weather out here.  In the day time you run around in your shirt sleeves.  Well when I am working in the tank and we are out I wear coveralls.

Will write you again this week end.  I am sending this Special so you will get it Sunday.

Love to all,

Leo

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10 January

Time 2130

Dear Robert, Libby, Anne, Bobby and Mary Alice:

Well, I suppose by the time you have received this the folks will have shown you my corporal warrant.  Don’t mind telling you I am plenty proud of it and also that I expect to go higher.

My new duties also made me Commander of Tank #5.  Will give you the schedule of schooling I had today and what I have for tomorrow.  Also, please take note I have to instruct the subjects to my tank crew.

10 January 42:

0700-0800 – Driving signals

0800-0900 – Identify enemy planes

0900-1000 – Double clutching

1000-1130 – BMG Caliber 30

1130-1300 – Chow and rest period

1300-1400 – Ammunition safety precautions and etc.

1400-1500 – Identify enemy tanks

1500- 1630 – BMG, TSMG nomenclature

11 January 42:

0700-0800 – Map & compass reading

0800-0900 – Caliber 45 Pistol, safety precautions and nomenclature

0900-1000 – Weapons, cleaning, adjusting, repairing and etc.

1000-1130 – Same as above

1130-1300 – Chow & rest period

1300-1400 – Elementary tank driving

1400-1500 – same as above

1500-1630 – First aid & field sanitation

(As you can see I am quite busy, besides studying for all this I also am breaking a fellow in the Majors & Captains office.)

I will have 30 days of such a schedule (if I last that long physically) but I believe I am built well enough to take it.

Got a letter from the folks this evening and I surely was glad to hear from them.  Dad also sent me some stamps which I always appreciate..

If you will please let all the family read this letter as I know I am going to be darn busy for awhile.

When I get my 48 hour furlough I am going to call on the Whitemans.

Bobby, I wish you were out here so I could take you for a ride in my tank.  You would get a big thrill out of it for sure.  As far as that goes I believe all of you would get quite a thrill out of riding with me.

Golly, I often wonder what is in store for all of us.

Remember I love all of you and think of all of you all the time.

Hope all of you are well.  I am going to crawl in my bunk.

Love to all,

Leo

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January 17, 1942

Time – 7:15 pm

Quarters – Barracks

Dear Folks:

Received the paper this morning with the notice in it and I was proud to have it in the paper.  As a matter of fact I was quite proud to receive the promotion.  

This week John Key and I had our 48 hour liberty so we went to Long Beach.  I saw the Whitemans and he visited his friends.  His friend is Vice President of the chain of banks that Bob works in so it surely makes it nice for me as I can ride to Long Beach and back with him.  We left Camp Elliott at 11:30 pm Wednesday evening, arrived in Long Beach at 2:30.  Spent the night in a hotel and went to see our friends the next day.  We left Long Beach then Friday afternoon at 1 pm and got back to Camp Elliott at 4 pm.  We were due back at 5 pm.  As we have school Wednesday evening until 10 pm we couldn’t leave until late that evening.  You see on Mondays, Wednesday & Fridays we go to school at the base.  We are studying airplane motors.  You see the tanks are equipped with airplane motors.  The Whitemans were just fine and said for me to give all of you their regards.

Golly, the time surely does go fast with all this school.  Today we had a field problem.  We drove the tanks out in the mountains through the woods orienting ourselves by compass and map.  Then we also had target practice with the 45 caliber pistol and classes in preventative maintenance, map reading, starting, warming and stopping of the engine, and demolition.  Demolition is the use of TNT in blowing up obstacles and in laying field mines.  

I wrote down Wilda’s address and the next time I am in Long Beach I’ll be sure to look them up.

Golly I do hope that the children are soon over their colds.

I received a nice letter from Mrs. Hayes.  You tell her hello and I’ll try and drop her a line in between classes on of these days.

Tomorrow we arise at 5 am to go out tank driving.  This time in convoy.

When you see news reels of tanks your son is the man who rides in the turret of the tank and gives the commands.  Would like to take all of you for a spin.   

Mother, I don’t want you and Dad to worry as I think it will be a long time before I am sent anywhere.  And tanks are safe as anything else and we are learning more every day how to defend ourselves.

Dad, it seems as if every time I read the paper you have been appointed on some committee.  I believe they are taking advantage of your good nature.

I see by the papers where the State of Illinois pays the National Guard men better than Uncle Sam pays his boys.  Well we must all unite together and put an end to this war business once and for all.

Hope this finds all of you in the best of health.  I am feeling just fine.

Love to all,

Leo

Ps I think of all of you all the time.  I am now going to keep on working hard for another promotion.

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January 23 1942 – Western Union Telegram

Send birth certificate notarized by county clerk soon as possible am up for promotion and need it will drop you an air mail tomorrow.  Love Leo

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24 January 1942

Dear Folks:

1. I expect that you were rather surprised to get the wire from me.  Well I am enclosing a letter which should be self explanatory as to why I need the birth certificate.  I surely will be surprised if I do get the Commission.  I would just as soon be a Sergeant.  Oh well I will just have to wait and see what happens.  I am rather proud of the letter that the Major wrote and I was more surprised when he called me in and ask me if I would like to become an officer.  You see one copy of the letter went in my service record book and that is something.  The grade of 4.9 means this: They grade 1-2-3-4-5, so you see my grade is almost perfect or a 5 in all my grades.
2. I am again spending the day with the Whitemans.  I rode down with Johnie Key who came down to visit his friend.  They gave us the week end off as we start in training new recruits this coming Monday.
3. This week we were down in Mexico and all over the southern half of California on maneuvers.  Surely did have a great time.  We parked out evenings and had all our food out in the field.  We also fired all week long and now for the great surprise.
4. The Presidents son James who is a Captain in the Marine Corps came out to watch us fire the 37mm gun from the Tanks.  With him was General Feagan and Colonel Holcomb.  Your son had the honor of explaining the functioning of the weapons plus taking Captain Roosevelt, Captain Swenceski (our Company Officer), and the General for a ride in the Mountain where we fired.  Captain James did the firing and the pay off was him firing on our own tanks which were parked at the bottom of the mountain.  If the Captain and the General hadn’t of been along I would have gotten his autograph for you Dad as I know that you would be glad to have a Roosevelts autograph.
5. It looks as if the Japs are putting all their eggs in one basket.  One of these fine days they will fine themselves annilhated by the U.S. Marines.
6. You don’t need to mention anything about the above incident except to the immediate family and also nothing about the Commission until I get it.  I’ll bet some of the people in Monmouth will be surprised to know that by hard work and no pull one can succeed.
7. Believe it or not I got sunburned on the maneuvers this week.  My nose is even peeling.
8. Sara tells me that her Mother is coming out.  Golly how I would like to see all of you.
9. I see that the politics is getting hot in the old home town again for the primary this spring.  Dad, find out if I can vote.
10. Sara wants to write a receipt for Libby on the bottom so I will close for this time by saying that I miss all of you and I only hope that all of you are as in good a health as I am.

Love to all,

Leo

Sara says that I can type the receipt on a card, and that you folks also better come out.  Would I ever like that.  Oh yes I got a letter from Anne telling me about the cookies and I also got the cookies yesterday and I also got your letters this week and do write often. 

Save the copy of the letter written by the Major so I can put it in my scrap book.

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28 January, 1942

Time 1705

Dear Folks:

1. As I have a few minutes before I shove off to the base this evening for airplane engine school I will drop you a few lines.
2. We have been very busy again this week as we have in the past except that now I am so tired at five in the morning that I can hardly get out of bed.  Will be glad when this training cycle is over.
3. It will no doubt be some time before I hear about me getting a commission as it has to be acted on by a board that convenes in Washington.  Anyway that was a nice letter that the Major wrote about me don’t you think so?
4. Am sending you a picture of me in my field hat I thought it was pretty good.  Hope you will like it.
5. I got a letter from Wilda and I will try and see them in the near future.  I will also write to them.
6. Oh yes this morning we all had to go through the gas chamber and they made us take our masks off to give us a good whiff of the gas and I am telling you that my eyes still burn as well as my face and neck.  Gas must be horrible.
7. Tomorrow we will be out in the field again all day long as we have some maneuvers with the tanks in Platoons.  I thought my driver was going to upset me the other day but he pulled out of it in time and it made me feel very happy and he and I both were complimented.
8. I had to write for   some more references so I wrote to Bill Bardens, Curly Brooks and Mr. Wagner.  I should hear from them this week end.  They surely do want a lot when they start to promote you.  Oh well I guess that it is worth all the trouble.
9. Had to change typewriters so I hope that you don’t mind.  Golly I know that I surely would like to see all of you and that I do miss all of you.
10. Tell Libby that I got the cookies o.k. and that they were fine and that I will drop them a line as soon as I have time.  Mother, I am sorry that you didn’t get a chance to go to Chicago I mean that you didn’t feel like it.  I hope that you are feeling better.
11. I have gotten all your letters and I am always glad to hear from all of you.  If it wasn’t for the Whitemans I think I would loose my mind out here.  They surely have been swell to me.
12. Was that ever fast service on my birth certificate.  I got it the next Monday.  Oh yes I will now draw $54.00 per month less my Insurance, Hospitalization, which amounts to $4.25 per month.  Believe it or not I am buying defense Bonds and I soon will have my book filled which I will send to you and you in turn can get a bond.  I have the 25 cent book type.
13. Well, I must hurry up and get dressed to go down to the base.  Hope that this finds all of you feeling fine.  Say hello to all the family and friends.

Love to all,

Leo

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4 February 1942

Hotel Del Camino

Laguna Beach, California

Dear Folks:

My pal John and I spent last evening here.  We are going back to Camp this afternoon.  Got 24 hours off so we drove up here.  This is a beautiful beach.  We have a swell room with twin beds and a bath for $3.00 or $1.50 a piece.  Our room is right on the ocean.

Guess what, we were eating lunch yesterday noon at Birds Café a girl came up and kept looking at me.  She was formerly Kathyrn Thomas, her uncle is Charley Thomas.  She thought I was Robert.  Nothing must we do after I told her I was Roberts brother but come out to her home last evening for dinner.  She married Mr. Bird’s son and this fellow helps his father in the café.  They have a little boy about a year old and they also have a very nice home.  We had quite a visit about Monmouth and all the kids.  So I had quite a pleasant surprise.

I want to thank you for my birthday gift.  Golly!  You people are always doing something for me.  Well I took the $2.00 and bought postal saving stamps.  The $2.00 the kids sent me I sued on this trip.

Be sure to tell Libby I got the package and the money ok and I’ll write them a letter latter this week.

Tonight we have to take 15 Tanks out on a night convoy and drive without any lights.  We had some practice Saturday and Sunday evening.  It gives one quite a thrill going down a mountain slope in the evening with no lights on.  The driver in my tank obeys my signals very good and we get along swell.  The two other fellows in my crew the radioman and the assistant driver are also nice boys.  One of them is from New York, one from Texas, and the other from Alabama.

I also received a nice letter from Aunt Ella this week.  

All of you write whenever you find time.  Thanks a lot for the stamps, papers, and letters.

Tell Libby also that the fudge and cookies were swell.

Hope all of you are feeling fine.

Love to all,

Leo

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6 February 42

Dear Folks:

Today we are having what is known as Field Day in the Marine Corps and I am surely glad.  Field Day is when you clean the barracks, clean your locker box, wash and clean all your gear such as your pack and etc.  Tomorrow we have an inspection by the General.

Never in my life have I had such a cold.  You see we have been going night and day on maneuvers and I’m telling you it almost has me whipped.

Received the nice letter all of you wrote out to Grandfathers and I surely did enjoy it.  My! How I wish I could have been with all of you.

Today, they are putting the final touches on my letter to send in for a commission.  I hope and pray that I am successful.  Curly Brooks and Bill Bardens surely did give me a splendid send off as well as the Major, the Captain and a 2^nd Lieutenant.  I believe that they will waive my age as they need officers bad.  If I get it I surely will have earned it the hard way.

Also, I got a letter from Robert today.  I am always glad to hear from all of you.

I bought another dollar and a half worth of defense stamps today.  I am saving more than I ever have in my life.  The Marines have taught me more than one good habit.

Tomorrow afternoon I have an examination both written and oral from one pm to 4:30 pm.

Also, today we had a physical examination.  The dr. took one look at me and said, your don’t need to undress Mac, I examined you for your officers commission a couple of weeks ago and if they all are built & as healthy as you are those Japs won’t last long.

I see the Governor is giving all the families a sticker for the window.  Have you gotten yours?  I am mailing you the Leatherneck today.  The picture on the front is one of two tanks commanders.

Don’t know when I’ll be able to get up to see the Beattys but I hope before long.

See by the paper Wilfrid MacDill arrived safely.  I’ll bet Mac & Abbey are proud of him

Not a great deal of news but a line to say hello.

Oh: yes, thanks a great deal for the stamps.

Hope all of you are in the best of health.

Love to all,

Leo

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2/12/42

Dear Folks:

The time has passed so rapidly here lately due to the fact I have been so busy that I just had to take a few minutes off tonight to write you.

I now am an acting Platoon Sergeant.  Have six tank crews under me and it is quite a worry and responsibility.  The total men in the crews is 29 and I try to keep all of them busy.  You see I have to hold schools with them day and night.  Tomorrow, I am taking all of them out to fire the TSMG and the BMG and Pistol.  That always worries me a little because there is always somebody who is bound to get a little careless and they are all dangerous weapons.

At the present time I have a very bad cold and cough.  Last night my cough kept me awake most of the evening.  But that is California weather for you damp & chilly and then warm.

Gee!  I surely do miss all of you and I would give anything in the world to be able to be with all of you.  I do miss all of you so much.

Yet this evening I must shine some shoes and wash out some hose.  My feet have sweat so badly lately that I have been wearing two pair of hose a day.

The spirit of the tank battalion is still very high and I surely do hope that it continues to be that way until the conflict is over.

Hope all of you are all feeling fine.

Love to all,

Leo

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