Category: Letters

Postmarked June 4, 1942

Invitation to Graduation

June 2, 1942

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

I expect all of you think that I have forgotten you. But I assure you that Leo had been a very busy man. But due to my being very busy I will pin a pair of gold bars on me this Saturday morning at 11:30. At 1:30 pm attend a luncheon at the officers club and report to duty at 0800 Monday morning at the Tank Battalion. The Major has already told me that I have been selected to be on the staff of the tank battalion and what I mean that is a headache as they have made me intelligence officer and that involves a great deal more of burning the midnight oil and finding out what the Jap’s & German’s use on both offensive & defensive. But, if my little bit will help to win the war I am quite willing to sacrifice a few hours sleep plus plenty more.

Am now in the last stretch although it had been plenty fugged never have I felt better in my life. Wish you could see me my face is plenty tan and my muscles are as hard as a rock.

The expenses involved at first is going to be a little heavy but I will weather the storm O.K. and if the new pay bill goes through it will be mighty fine.

Anne I suppose you are about through with school for this year. Bobby, you will be starting next and you will have a high record to shoot at to keep pace with your sister. Suppose that Mary Alice has grown so much I wouldn’t know her. By the wayk when was she born?

To bad all of you can’t be out to the graduation ceremony. No doubt it will be one of the greatest thrills of my life to know that I have been able to work my way up through the ranks and say I was among the first selected out of the division to attend the school on the west coast.

I must put my bucket of water on the kerosene stove shove and go to bed as I know the next tow and 1/2 days are going to be terrific.

All of you remember I think of you and miss you a great deal.

Do you think you will be able to get out this summer? I probably will be here for two or three more months before shoving of for an unknown destination.

Oh: and by the way I am the only single officer in the tank battalion,

Love to all,

Leo

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Well this Saturday morning June 5, 1942 at 11:30 am your son will be commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the United States Marines.  Golly! How I wish all of you could be present to see me receive my commission.  They moved the graduation date up from the 10^th to the 5^th.  I got my assignment.  I will return to the tank battalion on the staff for at least the present.  The tank battalion is no longer at Camp Elliott they are out in the hills living in tents the same as we are out here.

Have been getting your mail and I am always glad to hear from you.  Dad, I also enjoy the church magazines and the Pathfinder.

It is now almost ten pm and we didn’t finish classes until 8 pm this evening.  They really are putting us through the paces but I am learning something.

Tell the kids & the Aunts I will write them when all this school is over.

After graduation we are to attend a luncheon at the Officers Club where we will be presented a set of shoulder bars by the officers of the 2d Marine Division.

The name of the town that Larry lives at is La Jolla.

I have a picture of the camp I will send you to keep for me.  It is an aerial view of my alma mater.  I won’t be able to send it until I can get to the post office.

Has been rather chilly the past few mornings taking physical exercise at 5:30 am.

I will try and look up Loxley Eckles boy as soon as I get situated & sort of rested a little after this awful strain and grind.

My Bunkie got quite a kick out of the last Pathfinder because it had quite an article Kansas in it.

I want all of you to know I miss you.

Last Wednesday we attended the Eddie Cantor broadcast from Elliott.  Did you happen to hear it?  I am enclosing a ticket of the seat I had what I mean the Candidates Class had ring side seats.

I must now close and get some sleep at 5:30 rolls around awful fast.

Love to all,

Leo

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Sunday Evening

May 24, 1942

Dear Folks:

Got the letters and papers last Friday and I surely was glad to hear from you.  My mail was bouncing around all last week.

Dad, I am enclosing two dollars for you to get something for your birthday.  I am sorry that it is belated but it just couldn’t be helped.  I want to wish you many more happy birthdays and I hope I will be with you and Mother to help celebrate all of them from now on.

My salary on the new position would be $125 per month but I will have to buy my own meals and clothes but I believe they allow us additional for that.  

Boot camp was easy compared to what I am now going through but by keeping my nose to the grind stone I believe I will be able to make the grade.

This week I have six exams coming up so I will have to do a lot of burning of the mid-night oil this week.

Mother, I expect it is getting warm back in good old Illinois this week.  Suppose you will be planting flowers and trying to grow grass in the front lawn again.

I must get to studying.  Be sure to tell all the family and friends hello from me.

What did you think of the picture I sent home-you didn’t mention it.  I hope this finds all of you feeling fine.

Love to all,

Leo

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Monday

May 18, 1942

Dear Folks:

Another week gone and what I mean it has been a busy one.  They really are giving us the work but I feel as if I am accomplishing something and I know that I am learning something every day.  

Really am getting a nice sun tan.

Got my paper back on Naval Law and I passed it.  Also, this evening we ordered uniforms.  Total cash for a blouse and two pair of pants $118 but they allow us $150.  I have to buy shoes, kahkis, field scarfs, and etc. Yet.  But, I will come out and I feel I will go right on up the ladder.

Folks this is just like camping out.  Put your bucket of water on the oil stove to heat and then shave and wash with it.

Mother, I am glad you enjoyed the flowers, some day I hope to be able to do more for you and dad.

Got a letter from Elizabeth today and you can tell her she had better forget the pup as she was quite correct the old gang is being split up.

Golly! How I would like to see all of you.  Be sure to tell the Aunts and all the family hello for me..

Am enclosing you a picture of Larry Adams daughter and I.  Tell Bobby & Anne that they have a rival that she calls me Uncle Mac.

All of you write to me when you have time.  I must now study for a map test we have tomorrow.

Love to all,

Leo

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May 11, 1942

Dear Folks:

Well here I am moved again and today was my first at Officers Candidates Class.   They started a class here on the west coast and I was one 

of the 75 chosen to attend.  I was interviewed by the General, Colonels, Lt. Colonels, Majors, Captains and Lieutenants who formed the board.

We are situated up in the mountains, living in tents.  I have four blankets so I should be able to keep warm.

It is up to me now if I am successful I will be a 2d Lieutenant one month from today.  What I mean they really are throwing the work at us.

We get up at 5:30 am and have classes until 5:30 pm and again from 7 pm to 9 pm and it is a very intensive course of study.  The only liberty we have will be from 5 pm Saturday to 5 pm Sunday and then one will more than likely have to remain in camp to study.

My Bunkie in the tent is a swell fellow and by the way he was an embalmer before the war.  His home is in Kansas City, Mo.

I won’t be able to be writing all the family while attending school so you will have to be content to pass the letters I write you around.

We eat out of mess gear in the open under a tent fly and the food is excellent.

By the way you still send my mail to Co “D,” 2^nd Tank Battalion at Camp Elliott only address it now to Sgt McLoskey.

I am enclosing my orders and it will give you an idea of what I am doing.  I know it will be tough but I’ll make the grade.

Love to all,

Leo

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May 6, 1942

Dear Folks:

I am enjoying a 48 hour leave by visiting the Whitemans.  I got off at 5 pm yesterday (Tuesday) and I don’t have to be back until 5 pm Thursday.  Sara and Bob both acted like they were plenty glad to see me.

Well, Mother this Sunday is Mothers Day and I want you to know I will be thinking of you.  We get paid this Thursday and I will send you a gift at that time.

They still are working me plenty hard but I guess I will be able to survive it.  Anyway it looks as if I am not loosing much weight although I do have some restless nights thinking about what has to be done the following day.

Dad, I see by the paper where you are again chairman of the Memorial Day Committee.  I think it is great of you to be in so many civic activities.

How did Mary Alice and Anne like their gifts?  You never did tell me except about Bobby.  I guess you know he is the favorite of his Uncle Leo.  Golly! How I do miss that boy and all the rest of you.

Are you beginning to get rested up from your trip?  No fooling the weather the pasta few days has been marvelous.  Plenty of sunshine and also plenty hot.

Sara & Bob say they haven’t heard from the kids in some time and I also haven’t heard for quite a spell.  Then I suppose they are quite busy.

I will mail this as I drive down to get Bob this evening. He still is working quite long hours.  The McCulloughs are coming over this evening so if your ears start to burning you will know we are talking about you.

Hope this finds all of you feeling fine and don’t forget I love and miss all of you.

Love to all,

Leo

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April 27, 1942

Dear Folks & all:

I surely was glad to receive your short note and letting me know that you had arrived safely in Monmouth.  I’ll bet all of them were glad to see you.  By golly! I surely have missed you.

Am glad that Bobby and the children enjoyed the presents.  I only wish I could have gotten them more.

Gordon Winbigler stopped by to see me for a few minutes this evening.  He told me his father lost by 22 votes.  Surely was a surprise.  Dad, I had gotten your card telling me he was defeated.  Too bad as he was a fine man.  He no doubt will be back in again next time.  Was glad Curly Brooks won.

Well Johnnie went back to Quantico and they told me I was needed more in my present capacity.  Have been going so hard here lately that I have a cold which jus about has me whipped.

Mother, you needn’t worry when this is all over I’ll be back in Monmouth to live the rest of my life.

Am going to bed about eight this evening and see if I can stop the sniffles.

Tell all the family hello for me and write whenever you have time.  Also, tell all the neighbors hello.

Hope you are resting up from your trip.

Dad, I am commencing to feel the same here.  I take one thing at a time and finish the rest when I can get to them as I can’t be in the field, office and every other place all at the same time.

How did the pictures turn out we took the day you left at the cabin?

Love to all,

Leo

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Co “D” 2d Tk Bn

2^nd Marine Div

21 April 1942

Dear Folks:

1. Dad I received your letter this morning (I mean card) and I can’t tell you how much I appreciated hearing from you.  As yet I haven’t received the other cards.
2. Never will I forget the visit that we had together out here and I will always cherish it in my heart and memory.  I had to leave in the hurry that I did the other day to keep you from seeing the tears roll down my cheek.
3. I doubt if I come back east to school as the Captain says that I am needed more in my present capacity and that he doesn’t want to let me go.  Oh well such is life and if I can do more to help win the war in my present capacity than anything else I am more than glad to do it.  One must forget personal gains in a time like this.
4. I do hope however that I will be able to see all the family before I shove off for parts unknown.
5. They still are keeping me plenty busy but I would rather be that way than any other.  I got a letter from Elizabeth the day that you left.  She surely is one swell girl and I must say that Robert has one swell family.  How I would like to romp with Bobby and as far as that goes see all the rest of them.
6. Had a bad accident here today.  One of the boys fell out of a truck and broke his back but he is getting along o.k.
7. Don’t forget to write to me and also send me some of the pictures we took the morning that you left.  I have enough of the other pictures that we took out at the park on Sunday afternoon.
8. Tell all the family and friends hello for me and don’t forget I am thinking of you all the time.

Love to all,

Leo

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March 21, 1942

Dear Folks:

You no doubt are beginning to think that your son has forgotten you.  Golly: I have been so busy this week I haven’t had but about four hours sleep per evening.  My company is growing.  I now have 150 men to look after and it is no easy task.

This morning we had an inspection and the Major complimented me on the way it went off so I in turn complimented the men.  It makes you feel good when you work hard and know that the work is appreciated.

It is just impossible for me to get a furlough.  You see the Marines especially during times like these have to be ready to move at a moments notice.  But, I am almost sure that I will be here at least during April.  Will I ever be glad to see all of you, and I will plan my work ahead so I can spend more time with you.

Mother, I wrote Leota and expressed my regrets at her mothers illness.  I do hope she has a speedy recovery.

Am enclosing a couple of pictures.  The one without the hat they just sent into Washington for another promotion.  I think it is an awful picture of me but they want a front view and a solemn face.  It probably will scare whoever looks at it.

Dad, I got quite a kick out of you telling me about the camp at Des Moines that is just like the government.  The money they waste is a rime and yet I have a hard time getting ink, pencils and report forms that I have to make out.  Oh:  well it is a great life no matter how you look at it and I know I’ll be glad when I can again return home and to civilian life.  This job has me so I can’t sleep some evenings I have so much on my mind for the next day.

The company looks good though and I have a fine group of boys and they have wonderful spirit and cooperation.

The climate is beginning to warm up considerable.  What I mean you get plenty sunburned when you get out in the sun.  My bald spot on my head really catches it.

This morning I passed my examination for my motorcycle drivers permit.  They really are handy for me to get around in from the field to the office and vice versa.

Tonight I will have to work on my training schedule for next week and that is quite a task.  Also, tomorrow I must write the Aunts.

Let me know when you plan to come.  Hope this finds all of you feeling fine.

Thanks loads for the newspaper and the magazines.

Tell all the family and friends hello for me.

Love to all,

Leo

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