Year: 1943

2 January 43

Dear Folks & all:

I am enclosing some snap shots of which I will be able to tell you plenty about when I return.  Watch them carefully as I won’t be able to get anymore.  I really think they are swell.

Well, New Years was just another day here and I might add that it also was a very lonely one for me and the men.  Perhaps, next year we can all be with the ones we love.  At least I hope so.

I am going to register this letter as I want to be sure that the pictures get to you.

Hope all of you had a swell Christmas and I know you would with the children.  Believe me I surely do miss them and all of you.

My dog is getting along fine.  She saved ten of her thirteen pups and they are all full of the old nick.  

I see I started this letter on the wrong side.  Hope you will pardon me.  I have so darn much on my mind lately that at times I wonder how I get anything accomplished.

It surely has been hot and rainy here lately.  I am convinced that these places were never meant to be inhabitated by a white man.  Until we disarm the Axis they will have to be.

Dad how much gas are you allowed per week?  How about tires, food and etc.?

So far I haven’t seen anybody that I know.  Seems rather funny.

What a day it will be when I again can set down to a table with really home cooked food, a table cloth, people to talk with and then a nice comfortable chair to sit in and a nice easy bed to sleep in.  That will be the day.

I must start to figure out my income tax before long.  The 5% victory tax deducted from salaries we won’t have to pay.  I think it is fair because Lord knows we go through enough for victory even to the sacrificing of our lives.   

Lately I have had trouble sleeping when I have had the opportunity.  I believe it is the climate.  Also, I have lost 15 lbs in the last month—heave knows that won’t hurt me any.

Did I tell you that my platoon bought me a Marine Corps ring for Christmas with a small diamond in it.  Heaven knows where they got it but they did.  It surely did made me feel swell.  I do have a grand group of men and I am proud of all of them, they have showed their colors and showed them well.

Received also a cablegram from my ex boss and gang for Christmas.  Just got it today.  Although, it was a little late it surely did make me feel good.  I’m telling you that mail and hearing from home is what keeps all of us going.

I must close as I have a great deal of work to do.  Don’t forget I love and miss all of you.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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8 January 1943

Dear Folks;

Received your letter of December 28^th this morning.  Twelve days that isn’t so awful slow considering the war and it going on in the Pacific where I am located.

Also, I got a letter from Leota and a very nice letter from Anne which I will have to answer today.

Thanks for sending the flowers to the Browns and Leota also mentioned about you calling Christmas morning and it meant a great deal to her and her mother.

Sorry to hear of Rev Barnes death.  He seemed like a very nice old gentleman.

So you have been having quite a bit of rain.  Well, no fooling you have never seen it rain until you have gotten hit by it in the tropics.  That trench coat is marvelous and it surely does shed the water.

Glad that the Adams sent you a card it was very thoughtful of them.  They are expecting another increase before long.  

Mother, you are correct a chaplain means a great deal to both the officers and men.  Men that is Christian men always turn to God for comfort when they face danger or even death on the battlefield.

Sent you some snaps the other day.  Hope they reach you ok.  But, I am just afraid as no mail has left for quite a spell.  You can probably figure out why but all my gang are ok and so am I.

Radio saved ten of her pups and they are getting as fast as butter balls.  Have six males and four females left.  Out of the ten three white, three black and four brindle.  They surely are getting a great deal of attention.

Will close for this time.  I do hope that this finds all of you ok.  I also hope & pray that this war will soon end.  However, I am not being to skeptical as I know what we are up against.

Write whenever you have time as I am always glad to hear from home.

All my love,

Leo

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9 January 43

Dear Folks:

Enclosed please find another fifteen dollars for the 2^nd Nat’l.  I wrote the check out yesterday but I have been so busy since then that I just now have found time to mail it and it now is 7:10 pm.  I suppose you are all in bed and fast asleep back home.

Got a letter from Hazel Sorenson Efaw and one from Mary today and I surely was glad to hear from both of them.  Sort of looked for mail from some of you.  Oh! Well I can expect it the next time we have mail call.

Not much news since I last wrote to you.  All I can say is that I am ok and most of my men are the same.

My dog and the pups are getting along just fine.  We have ten of them romping around under our feet from early morn to late at night.

Believe it or not I am so tired I am going to bed until 11 pm when I must get up and make an inspection.  Hope this finds you ok.

All my love,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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12 January 1943

Dear Folks & All:

Well today I received three letters from you.  They were dated Nov 19, 26 and Jan 3, 1943.  It’s hard to judge the mail situation where I am located.  It is rather spasmodic.  For awhile the letters run in sequence and then they get all mixed up.  Well I don’t care how mixed they get as long as I receive them.

I know that I wrote Leota thanking her but many things happen on the ocean so I am going to drop her a line again this evening after I write to you.

Oh: yes I also got a letter from Robert.  I thought he had forgotten his brother.  It was the first in over a month.  But, I know he is busy and he tells me he hasn’t been feeling so well.

Don’t worry about me as I am feeling fine and in your prayers ask God that I may have the courage to carry out my duties as I have had thus far.  It really is a painstaking job I have but I know that God is with me and my men.

Hope that you get the other pictures I sent to you ok.  They are very good and depict our life very well.

My dog and her ten pups are coming along fine and they really are swell pups.  But, of course my men and all the rest on the atoll are spoiling them.

I sent you a letter making the bank account a joint bank account.  If you don’t get it let me know and I will send you another one.

Thanks for the stamps you sent me.  I can always use them.

Wish I could have been with you when Myrtle, Roberts, and Mrs. Dickson were over.

Not much news but a line to say hello and to tell you how grand I think you are to write to me as often as you do.

Must close now and get a few hours sleep.  Hope the cocanut fleas and other insects are not as bad as they were last evening.  I still can’t sleep under a mosquito net as I am always getting tangled up in it.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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26 January 1943

Dear Folks:

At long and alas we received some mail.  Not a great deal but at least we hear from the mainland.

Was glad you got the pictures.  I also thought they were very good.  Mother, the mustache has been shaven off so you needn’t worry about it.  All I can tell you about the pictures is that they were taken by a combat correspondent.

I will try and drop Mr. Galbaugh and Mrs. Keister and Mrs. Hayes a little note.  I wrote the Nevius’s the other day.  Golly: with my work and all it keeps me busy and I have to get a little rest now and then.

Maybe you think I don’t wish you had some of this heat I am going through. Never have I ever seen anything like it and I hope I never will again.

Surely did receive some swell pictures of the kids and also one of Libby and Robert.  Mrs. Dickson sent me the holder with a snapshot of the entire family and the kids sent me the larger pictures.  My Anne is growing and Mary.  Bobby looks about the same to me.  Full of the old nick.

We are still getting plenty of rain.  Every day it rains and it doesn’t seem to let up.

Surely will have plenty to tell all of you if I ever get home.  Am hoping this war will end soon but I don’t see how.

Thanks for the stamps.  I am feeling ok and I hope that this letter will find all of you the same.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

P.S.  The pups are coming along fine.

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1/29/43

Dear folks & all:

We surely have been catching the rain here lately.  I would say more than our share.  Oh: well we can use it an that trench coat you sent me really does the job.  I don’t know what I would do without it.

Got another letter from Beaulah and Sam they surely are swell people.  Then I got a letter my ex boss had written me dated 5 Aug 42.  It surely has been traveling all over the world but I finally got it.

My pups are coming along just fine.  I’ll try and get a picture taken of them and send you one.

Still the same here, work, eat, sweat and sleep when you can find a few odd moments.

Surely would love to see all of you.  It seems ages since I have been with all of you.

The war has been rather dull the past few weeks but I look for all hell to break loose before long.  Just like a football game, the one side feeling out the other.

You should see the sweat rolling off of me.  I now take 2 salt tablets per day and that doesn’t seem to help much.

Hope this finds all of you feeling ok.  I am feeling fine.  Give my regards to all.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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Feb 11, 1943

Dear Folks:

Dad, it surely did sound good to hear your voice today and also to know that Robert is getting along ok.  Mother, I wanted to talk with all of you but due to regulations I couldn’t.  As it was I waited seven hours to get the call through.

I am now back at the place where I first landed but I will be leaving here about the first of next month to go to the place where I was before.  While here they gave me a ten day rest period and the rest of the time I will be going to school and also giving school.  I flew here and I’ll fly back.

What I wouldn’t give to see all of you.  It seems ages since we were all last together.

I do hope and pray that Robert will have a speedy recovery.

Just keep sending my mail to my old address at Unit #535 as I’ll just about catch up with it when I get back.

I could hear Bobby’s voice and you tell him I did.

Will I ever be glad when all this mess is over.  I can hardly wait.

I got the card from the National Bank and I filled it out and sent it back.

This place where I am now is worse than Chicago it is simply a mad house.

The red cross will probably be calling you as they also are going to let me know the condition of Robert as I didn’t know for sure whether I would be able to get the call through.

Don’t worry about me as I am getting along swell and feeling fine.

Be sure and give my regards to all the neighbors and friends.  I can’t say much as you know the censor regulations.

I will now drop Robert a line.

Love to all,

Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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2/16/43

Dear folks & all:

Although I dropped Robert a letter this evening I also want to write to you.  As I told Robert I got thirty letters today and was I ever glad to get them.  Long time no mail.  Thanks a million for the stamps.  I can surely us them.

Incidentally send my mail from now on until you hear further from me to the following address:

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

First Defense Battalion

c/o Fleet Postmaster

San Francisco, Calif.

This will reach me where you received the pictures from.  I’ll be going back there about the first of the month.  I am learning about the new blitz buggies.

I seem to have caught myself a cold but as soon as I finish this I am going to hit the sack, take a couple of aspirin and fall asleep as I am plenty tired tonight.  We have been out firing on the range all day and it was plenty dusty.

Just a line to let you know I love all of you and haven’t forgotten any of you.  I can’t understand why you haven’t heard from me.

All my love,

Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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2/24/43

Dear Folks & All:

I surely do hope that Robert is well on his way to recovery when you receive this.  Have been worried a great deal lately about him and all of you.

Don’t worry about me as I am getting along just fine.  Have gotten rested up some and my class work is very interesting.  I surely do love motors and guns and am learning a lot.

It is hard for me to realize that you are having sub zero weather and I am running around in just my khaki and dungarees.

Maybe my hopes are awful high but I might be able to get back to the U.S.A. in late of 43 or early of 44.

Here is one man that will be plenty happy when this mess is over.  I still don’t think it will end as soon as most people believe that it will.  However, it is really hard for anybody to judge.

Dad, I am sure that you will be reelected as you have served the public and served them well.

As regards the newspapers just send me clippings in the letters that you know I will be interested in.

You haven’t mentioned anything about me being promoted to 1^st Lt. Or of receiving the beads and shells.

I’ll write you as often as I can.

Will be leaving here in about six more days

All my love,

Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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3/5/43

Dear folks & all:

I arrived back with my old outfit safely yesterday and I don’t mind telling you I was happy to get back with them and they were all plenty glad to see me.

Received a letter from Libby today and she tells me that Robert is improving and I surely am glad to hear that.

Dad I am anxious to hear how the caucus came out but I am sure that you were nominated.

Mother, I guess you and the children must be having a great time while you are taking care of them.  Golly! What I wouldn’t give to see all of you.

I am feeling just fine so don’t worry about me.

Leota has been very swell about writing to me concerning the progress of Robert.

So Anne is learning how to play the saxophone.  Now all Bobby has to do it to learn how to play the drums.  Remember me and my piano lessons?

You should see the pups.  We kept two of them.  Maybe I’ll be able to send you some pictures of them one of these days.

This climate is almost unbearable at times.  I guess you know I would love to have some of your cold weather.

If only I could see all of you we would have so much to talk about.

I must drop the Aunts and Grandfather Shawler a line one of these days.  It just seems as if I am almost busy twenty four hours a day.

It is now only 7:30 pm and I am so sleepy I can hardly keep my eyes open.  I’ll probably be in bed by nine o’clock.

Oh: yes I received a letter from Beaulah and Sam and as usual she had some jokes for me.  She always has some good ones and that is something we very seldom hear out here.

Hope this finds all of you in the best of health and drop me a line whenever you have time.

Got the letter with the stamps and the clipping and thanks a great deal.

Love to all,

Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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