Category: Letters

12 December 1942

Time 6:20 pm

Dear Folks & all:

Received the trench coat yesterday and I have worn it 19 hours out of the past 24.  You never in all your life have seen such rains as we have here.

Although the package said, “Do not open until Christmas” I couldn’t wait and believe me I am glad that I didn’t.  It was just exactly what I needed for the tropics and I surely do want to thank you but I believe you spent more on me than you should have.

Life goes on here about the same as usual.  Although I must admit I am about worn to a frazzle.

The way my dog Radio looks it shouldn’t be very long before the pups get here.  What an event that will be for me and the men.  Believe me she really is getting a great deal of attention and we have a pool as to how many she will have, what hour, how many males and how many females.

Golly! How I would like to drop in on all of you at Christmas.  Would you be glad to have me?

I got my men some turkeys but heaven knows how I will be able to keep them until Christmas.

The platoon sergeant and I went together and bought us a short wave radio.  One of the skippers on a ship that brings us supplies brought it to us.  We get programs every evening.  Although some of them are even a month old we still enjoy them very much.

Got a Christmas card from Beaulah & Sam and Beaulah had some good jokes in with it.

This being entirely separated from civilization isn’t all that it is cracked up to be.  But then somebody has to defend this atoll and it is a very important one.

The war news has been better here of late.  Then on the other hand I figure that it will take some time to crush the Axis.

The gang I used to work with in Chicago sent me a big box.  It had cigars, chewing tobacco and magazines in it.  I don’t know when I will get a chance to read the magazines but the men will enjoy them.  I really have a swell group of men in my outfit.

Have been receiving the papers and thanks a lot.

I finally got my men a volley ball court built and also a horseshoe court.  If I do say so they really do get a great deal of enjoyment out of them.

It is very hard to write and describe this atoll that I live on out here in the Pacific surrounded by the ocean.  You all know how I love the water but I finally have my fill of it.

Again, I want to thank you for the trench coat and all the other gifts that you have sent me.

Should have some good pictures to send you in a couple of months and don’t be surprised if you don’t see your son in the news reels and magazines one of these days.

Must close now as it is about time to stand general quarters.  May God bless all of you and I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Hope this finds all of you in the best of health.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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5 December 1942

Dear Folks & All:

Here it is another Saturday evening and another week has gone past.  Time surely does fly, especially when one is busy and heaven knows I am plenty busy.

Am enclosing a check for fifteen dollars.  Put it on my a/c at the 2^nd Nat’l Bank.

Today I received a letter from you that you wrote on Thanksgiving, one from Libby and one from Mary plus a Christmas Card.  Beaulah and Sam sent me some good jokes and I might add the first ones I have heard in a long time.

I do hope that all of you have a splendid holiday season and don’t worry about me because I will get along ok.

It has been awful warm here of late and for a few days it was about to get me down but I am feeling much better here of late.

Surely wish I could be with all of you during the coming holidays.  Perhaps this will be the last year that I will have to be apart from all of you.  I may have some more pictures for you one of these days if things turn out ok.

Will we ever have a great deal to talk about when I return home.

Libby ask me how long you had to be in the Marine Corps before you get a furlough tell her since I have been promoted to the rank of an officer it is a leave and that we have a war to fight.  Also, remind her that I am only kidding but I am not kidding when I say that this war is serious business and we must all unite with an all out effort to beat the Axis. 

Good night and I hope this finds you all well.  Oh! Yes I got a letter from Leota.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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1 December 1942

Dear folks & all:

Here it is the first day of December and it looks as if your son will miss sharing another Christmas with all of you.  Just remember I will be thinking and praying for all of you as I always do each day.

Received a letter from Elizabeth mailed Nov 17^th in which she tells me she got the check I sent them for Christmas.  Did you receive yours?  Please let me know.

Well I got your package with the gum, mints and nuts in and thanks a million.  I got Leota’s package with the cigarettes, gum, and the pictures.  Bob oh boy! Did those pictures ever make me homesick but you people look swell and it was very thoughtful of Leota to send them.  They surely were appreciated.  I got the kids gifts the knife and the sewing kit and I needed both of them very bad.  Elizabeths mother sent me towels, wash cloths, shaving cream, stationery, finger nail clipper, file and they were appreciated and needed.  Oh! Yes she al so sent me some handkerchiefs.  Mary sent me a large photo and a cigar lighter.  Allan McCaslin sent me some cigars, chewing tobacco and a fruit cake.  I open my packages as I get them and so do all the rest of the men.  We all smile and say we better open them because we might be busy as all heck Christmas Day.  But, the main reason as usual is curiosity.

Things are about the same here. I am ok.  Plenty I could tell you but nothing I could write.

I will write to you as often as I can.  Don’t worry about me as a Marine can always take care of themselves.  Hope this finds all of you feeling ok.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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25 November 1942

Dear folks & all:

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  Golly! How I wish I could be home with all of you.  It seems ages since I last saw you and believe me I surely do miss you.

Thanksgiving will just be another day to me although I did get enough turkey to feed the men.  It is so darn hot and rainy here that I am seldom hungry.  The temperature now and it is 6:15 pm is 94 so you can see it gets rather warm.

What do you think?  My dog is going to have pups.  On one of the ships that came in they had a police dog for a mascot and Radio (my dog) and the police dog went a courting.  It will be a big event here.  At least the first birth of dogs on this rock.  Maybe I’ll be able to have a dog fro each of my blitz buggies.  

I am having the men build her a dog house as I am sure I don’t want them born under my cot one of these evenings.  I’ll have to write Libby and get the dope from her on how to raise them.

I got a box of candy from Beaulah & Sam and I also received a box from the kids with a hunting knife, sewing kit and they were just what I needed.  I have the knife plenty sharp and I carry it with my pistol all the time.

Let me know if you got your check for Christmas and also if the kids got theirs.  I am sorry I can’t get you something but it is impossible where I am located.

I dropped Aunt Mabel a letter.  I received a very nice letter and Christmas card from her.  I enclosed a small picture for her. 

For one I will be glad when this conflict is over but I am afraid that it will last for quite a spell yet.  But, I have no doubt that we will win the war and when I say we I mean the Marines.

Hope this finds all of you in the best of health and please write often as I love to hear from all of you.

Not much news but a line to say hello and that I am ok.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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18 November 1942

Dear Folks & All:

Am sending in another envelope a book with $4.00 worth of postage stamps.  I mean war savings stamps.  Thought you might be able to fill it out.  We can’t get bonds or stamps where I am at.

Dad, you ask me if I could get a check cashed where I am. Yes Up to $25.00 the post exchange office cash’s them for the officers.  At times some of my men need 2 or 3 dollars a piece to buy supplies for themselves so I cash a check and loan it to them.  You see they are only allowed a small amount of cash and then at times they don ‘t get that for a couple of months.

Let me know if you get the letter with the check in it for your Christmas and also let me know if the kids & Aunt Ella get theirs.

It has now been raining here for 36 hours and what I mean it isn’t a drizzle.

Lately I have even been sleeping with my clothes on as I have had to be up and down so darn much during the nights lately.  Great deal of activity at the present.

I am feeling ok and hope this finds you the same.  We haven’t had any mail for 16 days.  But, I wanted to let you know I am always thinking of all of you.

All my love, 

your son Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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8 November 1942

Dear folks & all:

Got your letter and the stamps and thanks a million.  I am always glad to hear from you and I want to thank you for the stamps and also for writing as often as you do.

Received three letters they were dated Oct 18, 20 and 27.  Wish I could have gone to Peoria with you.  I for one will be plenty glad when this is all over.  Surely will have plenty to tell you upon my return.

Dad, the holster would be swell.  It is a shoulder holster isn’t it?  Let me know the cost and I will mail you the money.

I am enclosing a check for $25.00 to you for Christmas.  Sorry I couldn’t get the two of you something but you will just have to buy yourselves something.  I am mailing the kids a check in the next few days.  I already mailed Aunt Ella one.

As for the hunting knife I know it can be mailed because my men have gotten some.

Mother I get so hot at times that I have to take my shirt off.  Believe me the tropics were never meant for a white man.

Hope that this finds all of you feeling fine.

You mentioned about the 2^nd package.  I wrote and thanked you for it but maybe the letter got lost.  Anyway I got it and thanks loads.  Yes, I receive the papers after so long a time but a month old news is new down here.

Now don’t forget I want you to use the check for what ever you need and can purchase with it   and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Wish I could be with you.  I want all of you to know that I love you and miss you.

Tell Leota I got a letter from her and I’ll answer it soon.  I also got one from Mary & Elizabeth.

Hope this finds you ok.  I am ok outside of having a couple of sore arms.  I had a vaccination, yellow fever and tetnus shot all at once.

Love to all,

Leo

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4 November 1942

Dear folks & all:

At last we got some mail and I received four letters from you plus a raft of newspapers.  Thanks a million.

Also, thanks for giving me the data on my deposits at the National Bank.  Just write and tell them to me as you get them.  I keep track in a book of mine and when you affirm them I check it off in the book.

I am enclosing a check for $10.00 for the 2^nd National.  I will send some each month and get that paid off.

You haven’t told me what you want for Christmas so I am going to send everybody money and you can get what you want.  Will mail it later on in the month.

It is still about the same here.  Plenty of work to do.  Not much excitement lately but look out we expect it any day.  Had my first trouble with one of my N.C.O.’s today.  Had to reduce him from a Sgt to a Corp.  At that I let him off easy.  As a whole I have a fine group of men under my command but as I once told you I am going to have the best blitz buggy outfit in the Marine Corps and you must have discipline.  Believe you must have discipline.  Believe me the Marine Corps has taught me several good lessons.

Mother, I can’t tell you what we eat but I can tell you we get plenty of it and as I told you I am now mess officer in addition to my other duties so my men won’t go hungry.  Will surely have plenty to tell you when I see all of you and that is the day I am fighting and living for.

Hope this finds all of you feeling fine.  Write whenever you can as letters pep one up.  You should have received the letter by now telling you that I received the 2^nd package but in case it got lost I did and everything was swell.

Must get busy now on an ammunition report.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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1 November 1942

Dear Folks & All:

Here it is the first of November.  You no doubt are burning coal and shoveling snow.  Well I am just the opposite.  The sweat is rolling off of me.  We haven’t had quite as much rain lately and the water problem is beginning to be a little acute.  Well, we can always boil salt water and add some iodine to it.

Didn’t get my check today but I expect to get it tomorrow and I will in turn send you some to apply on the note at the 2^nd National.  As yet I haven’t heard from you as to what the balance is but I’ll keep sending some every month.  As to the money I have on deposit at the Trust & Savings if you need any go ahead and draw it out.  I am also going to send Aunt Ella some money this month.

We haven’t had any mail in quite awhile but I know when we do I will have a letter from you.

Have been very busy getting the mess set up and straightened out but I believe I finally have got the bull by the horns.  The cooking mother still isn’t like it was at home.  Our food of course is nothing fancy and it all comes out of cans even our potatoes.  But, we get along ok.  You say my pictures look as if I haven’t lost any weight.  Well, I have.  I am just getting more solid.

The bugs are very bad this evening.  Am getting so they can crawl all over me and it doesn’t bother me.

Surely do miss all of you and I appreciate the pictures of Mary Alice.  How about some of the rest of you.  Send me all the snaps you have taken as they help out a great deal.

It is now ten pm and I had better retire as I have another heavy day ahead of me tomorrow.  They really are giving me the work but I don’t mind as it keeps your mind occupied.

Remember I think of all of you and that the Marines will whip the Axis powers.  I am ok just keep the chin up.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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29 October 42

Dear folks & all:

Almost another month has gone and it seems as if we are not making a great deal of progress against the Axis powers.  The people of the United States had better wake up to the fact that we need more than the U.S.O. to win this war.  We need ammunition, airplanes, tanks, ships and more Marines.  It seems as if the Army and the U.S.O. are so busy entertaining each other that they forgot the Marines on the islands in the Pacific who are ready to give up their lives to defend our nation.

Life here is the same except we have had to boil salt water & put iodine in it for drinking purposes lately because we haven’t had any rain for over a week and the rainwater supply is a little low.

The bird on the top of the fellows head is called a Gooney bird.  They are called Gooney birds because of the way they fly.  They fly into anything—automobiles, airplanes, trees, and etc.

Am enclosing two snap shots I thought you might get a kick out of.  There is some writing on the back of them.

Your son has been assigned some more duties that being mess officer of an enlisted mens mess.  I can’t tell you how many but it is quite a few.  Believe me I have made some changes in the galley.  It is a great deal cleaner and no food is being wasted.  Mother I am glad that Dad and you made Robert and I be so clean and also the rest of the good habits you taught us come in very handy in ones later years of life.  Now that I am mess officer I expect I will drink at least 8 to 10 cups of coffee a day.  You know Mother I have to sample the cooking.

Hope that this finds all of you feeling fine and remember I miss all of you so write often.

Also, thanks for the stamps you enclose in your letters.  I got my Veterans card ok.

Dad, how does the gasoline rationing effect you?  

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

P.S.  Dad I met a Mr. Potter who is a C.B. in the Navy – he was the man who paved East Broadway – he is from Jacksonville Ill.  He said to say hello to you and Chris Merrillat.  He is the head of a C.B. or Construction Battalion.

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21 October  42

Dear folks:

Had a scare for about two hours last evening.  Thank God it is all calm again this evening.  I was writing Leota a letter and had to cut it short.  Had planned on dropping you a line also.  But, the apparent attempt of some yellow skinned callers stopped it.  Notice I said attempt.  We are set for them and how.

I dropped Beaulah and Sam a letter to the one they had sent me.

In the picture, notice the mustache which I have since shaved off.  To much trouble keeping it trimmed.

Am now enjoying one of the smokes you sent me and last evening I really enjoyed the chewing tobacco.  Sort of soothes ones nerves.

You think the Marines have been doing things lately.  Just wait until the next month or so and see what they do.

Now much I can write except I am ok and hope this finds all of you feeling the same.

Did my check & cash arrive ok at the bank?  I also sent a $39.00 check the other day.

It is still the same old grind—day in & day out—night after night—golly if I ever hit a good bed I’ll probably never get up.

Tell all the family and friends hello for me and write often.

Love to all,

Leo

Lt. L.J. McLoskey

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