Author: rick.romine

22 August 1943

Dear Folks:

Received a letter from you yesterday.  As to the farm I don’t believe that you would be making a mistake in purchasing it.  Property is always tangible and heaven only knows what will happen when all the smoke has cleared from this conflict.  Dad, I think you and mother have done wonderful.  Everybody makes mistakes in life.  It is from the mistakes we make that we learn.

Mother, if I were killed tomorrow or even yet today I am ready to meet my maker and I am not afraid to die.

As to the officers habits, yes, some of them do drink to much.  But the service is the same as life.  In the service they only get away with it for so long a time and then they are given a general court martial which is the greatest mistake and horror any man can ever receive.  On this atoll all they have is beer and all any man is allowed is two beers per day officers and enlisted men alike.  It is generally served with the noon and evening meal and it is advised by the doctors to be drank on account of the teriffic heat in the tropics.  Mother, you need not worry about your son but it makes me happy that you do because I know you are very fond of me.

Again as to the picture of me and that dark skinned gal.  You will get a bang out of the story when I see you.  She is from the Marshall & Gilbert Islands and is known as Gilbertese.  They are owned by the Japanese and it was taken on W island.

Today is Sunday but it seems like any other day to me.  Except that I mark the days off on the calendar as they go bye.

Surely was a blow to the Ryan family about their son Jack.  He surely could not have been paid a higher tribute by his commanding officer.

If other people I mean the people that are going on strikes had to change places with us for even a month they would soon be willing to work and work hard.  We need all the supplies we can possibly get.

Received a letter from Anne which I will try and answer some time this week.  Tell her I received it.

I am feeling ok and my men are all ok.  Hope this finds all of you in the best of health.

No other news as to what I told you about in the previous letter.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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8/16/43

Dear Folks:

Rain and more rain that is all we have had the past week.  I guess we should thank God though that we do.

As yet you haven’t told me what you expect to do about the farm.  Or maybe you have and the letter hasn’t arrived as yet.

Suppose that Anne & Bobby are getting ready to go back to school.  Believe me I surely do miss those children and all of you.  The way things now look it probably will be another year or so before I return if then.

No pups from Radio yet and the men surely are worried.  She probably will have them about three in the morning like she did before.

Not much news.  The war in Europe is looking better every day but it will still take time.

By the looks of the last snap shot of Robert he is also loosing his hair.  He looks as if he doesn’t have as much now as I do.  Well maybe as much.

You know just about all my old gang are gone.  I now have almost an entirely new group and it surely is a great deal of work.

I am ok and so are all the men.  Hope this finds you the same.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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13 Aug 43

Dear Folks:

Will drop you a few lines this morning as I have a few seconds due to the heavy down pour we are having.  If we don’t float away I mean our bivouacs, everything will be fine.

Haven’t heard from you since I dropped you a letter about the farm.  I am sort of anxious to find out what you intend to do.

Believe me mother I could surely go for some of your good old home cooking.  No matter how hard anybody trys they can never beat their mothers food.

In the near future I will probably be moving again.  Now don’t worry as I will be ok and if you don’t hear from me for awhile you will know I am at sea.  I probably will get a little rest before departing.  My first stop by which I will go by air will be where I was in Feb. when I called home.  From there I think I will go toward Yokohoma.  That is about half way.  Write and tell me where and I will tell you if you are correct.

Hope this finds all of you feeling fine.  I am ok and so are my men.

Am anxious mother to see what you thought of the pictures.

Dad, don’t worry to much about the mints.

All my love,

    Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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6 August 1943

Dear Folks:

Received your letter postmarked 31 July 43 this am.  Exceptionally good service.

I think it would be very wise for you to buy the farm with the improvements.  That is the 160 acre farm that sells for $12,000.00 or $75.00 per acre.  Let me know what type buildings it has on it and whether or not it is bottom land.  You know farm prices on grain and etc should be very good for the next six to ten years so in my opinion now is the time to buy.

Mother, I am glad you received your fan and I know that your friends have never seen any thing quite like it.  Glad that you liked it.

Dad, I received the stamps and thanks a million.  Will also be looking forward to the package so thanks again.

Am enclosing some more snaps that I thought you might be interested in.  Don’t get any funny ideas about the one taken with the dark skinned gal.  Will tell you all about it when I see you.  We surely will have plenty to talk about.  I mean just he pleasant things and incidents that happened to me and my gang while overseas.  Will try and have some other pictures made to send the rest of the family like the ones I am enclosing.

You surely should get some mail as this is the third letter I have written you in three days

I think it would be a very wise move on your part to buy the 160 acre farm.  Please write and let me know what you did do, whose land it is and who is now farming it.

Am ok as you can see by the pictures and my men are also all ok.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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5 Aug 43

Dear Folks:

A year ago today we arrived on the atoll which we are now stationed on.  I just often wonder what the next year will bring for me and my men.

I also received a letter from you this morning that was postmarked 20 July 43.  Golly: I hope that my letters have started to reach you by the time you receive this.  I simply can’t understand why you haven’t been receiving my mail.

Still no pups from Radio.  I am almost convinced that she probably had a miscarriage while swimming in the ocean.  She doesn’t miss a morning or evening swim.  The Colonel said maybe she had them while swimming and they all drowned.

Thanks for Ada’s & Homer’s address.  I will try and drop them a line some time.

I take it that Franz Ahlstrand must be back in the Army.  What branch of the army is he in?

Mailed you a letter yesterday but I wanted to let you know I had received your letter and thought I would see which of my letters reached you first.  Be sure to let me know.  I am ok.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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4 August 43

Dear folks & all:

Received your letter postmarked 24 July 43     this am.  I can’t understand why you haven’t been receiving any mail from me.  Last month I wrote to you on the following dates 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/19, 7/21 or a total of five letters.  Please let me know if you get them.

Am enclosing another $15.00 check for the bank.  Will have that all cleared up by the end of October thank heavens.

Wow: it is so damn hot here today the ½ of my men are sacked out.  It is terrific.

Merillat must have had quite a fire.  It surely must be hard for him to get equipment these days.

Yep.  I sure will be glad when this is all over and I know there are thousands that feel the same as I do.

Am glad Aunt Ella enjoys the shells.  I will try and send her some more.  It keeps me so dern busy though with my job I should say jobs that I hardly have time for anything else.

Radio as yet hasn’t had her next family.  She surely doesn’t feel very good on these awful hot days.  By awful hot I mean 120 degrees in the shade.  

We are getting dug in more and better situated every day but it seems as if we never get caught up with our work.  Always something bobbing up.

Am glad you had a good time up to Sams & Beaulahs.  My that is pretty late hours isn’t it?

I’ll write you twice a week this month and see if the letters arrive any faster.  When you don’t get mail for awhile remember that the allies are doing o.k. and – well I’ll tell you all about it when I return. 

Am feeling o.k. hope this finds all of you the same.  Incidentally, have been out of chewing tobacco for over a month and none on the island.  If you 

can send me a couple lbs of Masterpiece.

All my love,

Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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29 July 43

Dear Folks:

Received your letter postmarked 20 July 43 today and I do not understand why you haven’t heard from me because I have been writing regular.  Perhaps you will receive them all in a group as I do yours at times.

Mother, I’ll bet you get a kick out of working in Dad’s office and I am glad you get to once in awhile.

Received a letter from Elizabeth with some swell pictures of the children in it.  That Mary Alice is surely plenty cute.

Dad, yesterday afternoon four of us officers went fishing.  You surely would have enjoyed it.  We caught to sand bag sacks full of red snapper, lu lei’s and three sharks.  Of course we shot the sharks with our pistols and then turned them loose.  They surely do put up a great tussle on your line.  Believe me I enjoyed myself and all of us needed the relaxation.

Mother, my mouth simply watered when you told about the roast and the potatoes.  As far as cooking foods that I like well you know the recipe for all of them and you are absolutely correct we will have some grand meals as well as grand times when I return.

The war news looks very good but the people should not get to optimistic as we have a tough old row ahead of us yet.

Remember if anything should happen before you get the other certificate for the policy all you have to do is have them refer to my pay a/c and the allotment is registered on it.

Mother, I am anxious to see what you will have to say about the fan.

There are so many things I would like to tell all of you but censorship will not permit.

I am feeling ok.  My men are in the best of health and spirits and I trust this finds you in the same.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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27 July 43

Dear Folks:

It has been quite some time since I have received a letter from you.  The mail is very funny at times so I probably will get three or four letters at once from you before long.  You people surely have been swell about writing and it means a great deal to me.

The war news in Europe has sounded very good lately.  The sooner it is all over the happier I will be.

By the way I mailed Dr. Simmons one of the magazines and I also answered Beulah & Sams letter.

Was glad to hear that Bobby’s temperature was nothing serious.  I got a letter from Anne and Robert added a note onto it telling me they had Bobby to see the specialist.

The temperature is the same but I am getting used to it by now I imagine that cold weather will really make me shiver.  I am ready to shiver.

Am checking into the insurance and should know before long what happened to the policy.  Anyway my pay account has me credited with then thousand and that is where it counts.

Believe me I surely do miss all of you and the happiest day of my life will be when we are all united.

All my love,

Your son Leo,

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

PS I am feeling ok and hope you are the same.

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24 July 43

Dear Brother & family:

Here it is another Saturday.  The time does go by rather rapidly.  It is because I am kept so dern busy and what I mean busy.

Tell Anne I received her second letter and that it pleased her Uncle very much.  Tell Bobby I miss him and all the rest of you.

Golly I surely do hate it about Bobby’s temperature but I am glad you are taking him to a specialist.  Don’t forget I have some money in the bank and you are welcome to all of it if you need it.

You know I am quite proud of my outfit and I’ll tell you all about them when I see you.  As the Colonel says don’t step on McLoskeys men because when you do you will have to answer to McLoskey.  As yet I haven’t had to take many disciplinary actions.  My men know I desire and require it so we all get along well.

After all of this is over though I believe I have had my military career.  Will also go into that in detail when I see you.  But, while I am in it I will give Uncle Sam all I have got.

You probably read of the death of General Upshur and Charley Paddock.  They were here in May for four days.  They wrote a report which stated that my outfit and bivouac was very exceptionally outstanding and well trained.  It made me feel very good because I then knew my efforts have not all been in vain.  They even had chow with me and my men.

Things look much brighter all around but I still think it will take a couple more years yet and this depends on whether the strikes seek to exist in the U.S.

I am feeling fine in spite of the weather and my eyes are getting along much better.  Hope this finds all of you in the best of health and I am anxiously awaiting the time when we will all be together again.

All my love,

Bud

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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21 July 43

Dear Folks:

Dad, I am glad you got the five dollars and I hope you could get yourself something with it.

Mother, Leota says that your home looks lovely.  Believe me I am really proud of you and dad the way you take pride in your home.

Got another letter from Anne today.  She is getting to be quite the correspondent.  I also got a letter from Libby telling me they are going to take Bobby to a specialist.  Surely do hope that nothing is wrong with him and I am glad they are having it tended to.

Mother as bad as the ants are this evening I could use some of that magic ant paper you used to use.

It is now 10:00 pm.  I just finished going through my bivouac and I will get up at three am and make another round.  We always must be on the alert.

The war news sounds much better lately but I am afraid that it will still take another two years out here in the Pacific.  I know that several thousand men will be as happy as I will be when this is all over so we can return to the ones we love.

Must close now and get a few winks sleep.  Wanted to drop you a note to let you know I love and miss all of you.  Am feeling ok and hope you are the same.

All my love,

Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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