Year: 1943

27 Dec 1943

Dear Folks:

Well Christmas has come and gone again.  It surely didn’t seem like it to me.  I had field rations that day so you can guess where I was.

They still are piling plenty of work on me.  As I have said before though I don’t mind it as it keeps me plenty busy.  Although I will say I am still having a hard time getting enough rest.

It has rained all day today and we are still having a few drops yet this evening.

Received a letter from you this evening that was dated the 20^th of December so that isn’t so bad.  It came through in good time.  Seems as if you and mother still manage to keep plenty busy.  I also got a letter from Elizabeth that was postmarked the 19^th.  I hope and pray that Robert doesn’t have to go and leave his family.  Those children are just at the age when they need him and need him bad.

Tell Aunt Mabel that I got her card and letter and that I will try and answer one of these days.  Tell her that I appreciated it.

Am sorry to hear that Aunt Vera hasn’t been so well.  I know it must be quite a strain on all of you.

Mother, surely before next year is over they will let me return to the states for at least twenty day leave.

Don’t worry as I am ok and my God bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

Notice new address:

1^st Defense Battalion FMF

Fifth Amphibious Corps

c/o Fleet P.O.

San Francisco, Calif

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18 December 1943

Dear Folks:

I see that another week has almost passed.  My how the time does go.

Dad, you are correct the job I have is really a headache. I guess though that I will still be able to retain my sense of humor.  At least I have thus far.

I wrote Aunt Ella a letter the other day.  I will try and write them at least once a week.

Funny but tonight being Saturday my thoughts went back to my childhood and how you folks used to give me a quarter to go to the movie.  Guess I must be getting old.

Mother, I also wish that I could be with you at Christmas.  Not only Christmas but for the rest of our lives.  If I could be home with all of you it would be the greatest gift I could have.

My roommate is surely one grand fellow.  He is married and he is surely true to his wife.  I hope that some day you will have the pleasure of meeting him.

Received a letter from Robert today and he told me that he would probably be called in February.  I hope and pray that he will never have to go.  I don’t see what they are thinking about by taking all the men with families.  I will do all I can to help.

I am feeling ok and try not to worry to much about me as I will get along ok.  Until I can write you again may God Bless you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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12 December 1943

Dear Folks:

Today, I received a letter and some more chewing tobacco from you.  I appreciated both of them very much.

Probably before too long you won’t be hearing from me for a spell.  Don’t worry as I will drop you a letter as soon as I can.

Surely do hope that all of you have a very good Christmas.  Yes, I also wish Mother that I could be with you.  Each day that goes brings us that much closer to each other.

The mosquitoes are surely bad this evening.  But, I am just setting at my field desk in my skivvies so you can see that the weather is quite warm.

That Mary Alice must be getting to be quite a card.  How I do miss all of those children.  Believe me I will make up for lost time when I do get home.  I probably will spoil all of them.

Just a line to let you know that I am ok and that my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.  Hope this finds all of you in the best of health.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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12/9/43

Dear Folks:

Another day has passed and I am just one more day closer to returning home to all of you.  Believe me when this is all over I have had all the military life that I desire.

You know mother I called on Lt Col Swenceski today.  He was the Captain that you and dad met at Camp Elliott.  He ask me if you were still worrying about me getting married.  He got shot several times at Tarawa and I lost several good friends in that landing.  He surely is in great misery.  He is in a hospital about seven miles from where I am.  That is all I can tell you.  He wanted to be remembered to both you and dad.

Don’t worry about me as I will get along ok.  After about nine more months I believe I will be able to return to the mainland.

Hope this finds all of you feeling in the best of health.  They are still working me pretty hard but I seem to thrive on it.

Just a line to let you know I am ok.  May God bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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12/7/43

Dear Folks:

Two years ago today the Japanese attacked a possession of the U.S.  In the past two years I am afraid that your son has aged a great deal.  Probably at least ten years.

Each evening in my prayers I pray that I will be able to join you and the ones I love.  That this world of hate and strife will soon end.

Mother, I am enclosing a little poem that Dan and Jean sent to me.  Thought you might get a kick out of it.  Dad, I got a box of cigars from you the other day.  Thanks a great deal.

I got a letter from Aunt Ella today and also a Christmas card from Aunt Minnie Hay’s.

Am sorry that the packages were so messed up but I don’t have many facilities for wrapping and mailing packages.

The ants are about to eat me up again this evening.  Maybe someday I will be able to live in peace again.  

They surely are keeping me quite busy but I would rather have it that way.

It seems to be the rainy season here.  Guess I am just following the rain or else it is following me.

All I can say is as I have written before that the tropics surely aren’t any place for a white person.  The movies you have seen describe it pretty good.

I hope and pray that this finds you feeling fine.

I mailed Bobby the lamp.

Until I can write to you again may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

Thanks for the stamps and seals.

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12/1/43

Dear Folks & all:

It has been quite a spell since I have been able to write to you.  We just returned today from some landing operations and I had quite a stack of mail.

It was indeed quite a shock to me about Dr. Dan’s death.  I know how all of you must feel and I also know what he meant to the family.  I as well as all of you am not quite able to understand why such things as that happen but we must feel that God knows best.  I will write Geneva tomorrow.

Dad you ask me what motor Transport officer’s job was.  Well you are responsible for all the rolling stock in the battalion such as tractors, bull dozers, jeeps, trucks, cranes and etc.  It is my job to see that they are properly maintenanced and used.  It is quite a job in addition to my other duties.  I do believe however I will be relieved when they can find a suitable relief.

Here it is the first of December.  Did you ever get the last packages I mailed you.  I got the cigars, chewing tobacco and your letters and Christmas card when I returned today.

Now don’t worry about me as I am getting along ok.  We are liable to leave anytime.  Just remember that I love all of you and I will write to you just as often as I can.  My men are all just fine and we get along swell.

If only we could have a nice visit with each other.  I have so many things we could talk to each other about.  Well, the way things are going now it shouldn’t take too many months before we have the Japs licked.

Hope this finds all of you in the best of health.  Until I may write you again may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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11 November 1943

Dear Folks:

Received a letter from you today dated 4 November 1943.  It was the one with the clipping in it about the trophy.

Am enclosing a twenty five dollar check for you to take down to the bank.  I slipped up as I thought I had sent one last month.  One more and that should pay up the Second National.

They have again gave me the job of Motor Transport Officer in addition to my other duties and what a responsibility I now have on my shoulders.  Wish I could tell you more.

Robert Liby was the only officer from home that was in the group that relieved us.  The army relieved us so I know it must now be plenty safe and we are getting ready for newer pastures.

It is now only nine pm but I am plenty sleepy.  This getting up early and having plenty on your mind all day really wears one down to almost a frazzle.

I am going to mail Bobby his lamp this week end.

Not much news but a line to let you know that I am ok and that I surely do miss all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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11/7/43

Dear Folks:

Another Sunday evening.  My the time surely does go fast.  I am so busy I hardly have time to turn around.  In addition to my own duties I have again been assigned motor transport officer and that in itself is almost enough.  I am so tired this evening I am going to go to bed again early.  It is now only ten minutes after eight but I will be in bed by eight thirty.

Am enclosing some more pictures * thought you might like.  I have put an X by myself.  The two fellows with me in the one picture are the chaplain (Protestant) and the Padre (Catholic).

Not much news to tell you except that I am ok and will be the happiest man in the world when I can return home to all of you.  So until I can write you again may God Bless you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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11/5/43

Dear Folks:

Just a line to let you know that I am ok but that I surely miss all of you and that I am living for the day when we will all be together again.

The past week I believe I have had more on my mind than at any other time of my life.  No fooling my work is quite a responsibility and not only that my supply problem is one of no little difficulty.

Oh: yes I mailed a package to you the other day.  The mens slippers there are two pair one for dad and one for Robert.  The other mother is for you.  I mailed Libby a pair and Leota a pair.  I will just send all of you different things from time to time and they will constitute your Christmas.  What I wouldn’t give to spend this Christmas with all of you.  Do you realize that this will be my third straight Christmas away from all of you.

Remember I love all of you.  Hope this finds all of you ok. Until I write again may God bless you.

All my love,

    Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

PS Dad I liked the poem attached.  Don’t worry I’ll send you all the snap shots I can.

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2 November 1943

Dear Folks:

Have a few moments so I will drop you a line to let you know that I am ok and still kept quite busy.

Here it is November and all I have on is a shirt and trousers.  But, believe me I could surely go for some of that cold snappy Illinois weather.

That “Masterpiece” really hits the spot as it is quite dusty here.  Remember how it was at San Diego when we went for the blitz buggy ride.  Out here the dust is about three times as bad and the Masterpiece keeps my throat moist.

I haven’t as yet been able to mail the packages but I will before long.

Received a box from Beulah and Sam and it surely was swell of them to send it.

I want you to know that I miss all of you so until I have a chance to drop you a letter again may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

    Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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