Category: Letters

March 9, 1942

Dear Folks:

Received your letter today and I am glad to know that you are planning on coming out in April.  Golly: will I ever be glad to see you.

I will be able to get 24 hour leave on Saturday or Sunday or Monday and then another day during the week I’ll be able to get off from noon until seven the next morning.

If you can, come before the end of the month as I have an awful lot of paper work and reports to get out the end of the month.

Now I have 114 men in Company “D” and it keeps me plenty busy.  But, I love my new job and work and it brings me in close contact with all the men.

My letter came back from Washington and I am to old for a commission by attending the Candidates Class so I will have to work my way up through the ranks and I guess that is the better way.  At least I am making my stripes by hard work and that is more than a lot of them can say that get their bars and stripes by pull.

The Major told me I would be better off this way.  As a matter of fact he worked his way up from 1^st Sgt.

You see my next rate is Platoon Sergeant, then First Sergeant.  You see I am now a Sergeant but I am the Acting 1^st Sgt.

In the Marine Corps Manual Chapter 6 Article 24 it has this to say about First Sergeants – Leadership should be the outstanding characteristic of a first sergeant.  He should be in fact as well as in name the first sergeant, capable of maintaining discipline, conducting drills and instructions, and handling the organization either in barracks or in the field.  His clerical qualifications and duties should be given weight and importance, but placed secondary to the qualification of leadership.

It makes me feel quite well when I read that.  I must admit that the job does worry me and I have a hard time sleeping some nights wondering whether I have everything all set for the next days operations.  So far we are getting along fine and the company is whipping into shape fast.

Robert ask why I was only a sergeant and doing a first sergeants work.  Well the reason is you have to be promoted from one rank to the next.  They sent a letter into Washington today for me for Platoon Sergeant.  I will eventually get there.

Mother, wait till I take you and Dad for a ride on the motorcycle and Dad a ride in the tank.

Glad that Mary Alice is better and I also am glad that Drs. Joe and Dan have been deferred.  You civilians need good Doctors as well as the men in the service.

Not much news but a line to say hello and let all of you know I think of you.  Give my regards to all the family and friends.

Love to all,

Leo

Mother, you better quit working so hard.  I know your house is clean enough.

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5 March 42

Dear Folks:

I did get up to see Mrs. Keister and we surely did have a nice visit.  My Bob looked awful.  He will have to watch himself for some time.

What a headache I have on my new job.  Believe me running a company of men is tough.  I have to put in long hours but I guess I will be able to weather the storm.

Heard from Washington.  I am to old to go to the candidates class at Quantico so I have to make it the hard way rank by rank.  From my experience with men I prefer to make it the hard way.  Then I know what I am doing.  As it is now I run Co “D” and all 1^st Sgts run the companies.  I know one thing Co “D” will be the best Tank Company in the Marine Corps.

Received your letters and I am always glad to hear from all of you.  Also, thanks for the stamps.

Have been out in the field all day with the men and tonight I have my executive or office work to do.

You should see me riding a motorcycle.  Not only do I have to know about a Tank but also be able to ride a motorcycle so I can get in and out of the field to the office and vice versa.

It is now 7:30 pm and by eleven I should have my work almost caught up.

Glad to hear that Mary Alice is feeling much better.  Hope she is soon fully recovered.

Tell the Aunts, Grandad and all the relatives and friends I think of them often and I’ll try and write them soon.

Will I ever be glad to see you when you come out.  I won’t be able to get a furlough but I will be able to get some time off.  Let me know as soon as possible when you are coming and then I’ll be able to prepare my work a little in advance.  You see now I have a great deal of work as we are in the stages of organization.  But in another week or so everything should be running smoothly.

Golly, I am sorry the kids can’t come.  Hope all of you are well.

Love to all,

Leo

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Feb. 27, 1942

Dear Folks:

I am enclosing herewith my Sgt warrant.  It increases my pay $6.00 per month so now my pay is $60.00 per month.

Last evening I worked until midnight and by the looks of everything piled on my desk I’ll be working that late again this evening.  But I did want to drop you a line,

Sorry to hear of Uncle John’s death and please give my regards to the family.  It is impossible for me to get a card to send Pearl and them or I would get one.  So be sure to give Merle and all of them my regards.

I’ll probably be plenty gray by the time I get this company organized.  It has all been put on my shoulders.  But, I’ll say one thing I’ll have a good company and it will be not one of the best Tank Companies but the best.

My men under me are for me 100% so I have very good cooperation and I must keep it that way.

Thanks for the stamps and the papers.  Dad I have missed the Pathfinder and the church magazine.  They both are fine papers.

Mother I’ll be so happy to see all of you.  I am quite sure we will still be here in April.

I expect by this time you have read the letter I wrote the kids.  I got a nice letter from Anne and you tell her that I will drop her a line soon.

I am feeling much better so don’t any of you worry.

Hope all of you are feeling fine.  Give my regards to all.

Love,

Leo

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February 25, 1942

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

Well it is now Sgt McLoskey of the U.S. Devil Dogs.  Received notice of my promotion today will send the warrant to the folks in a few days.

Now, for further news I am the First Sergeant or the Top Kick of the newly formed Company “D” of the 2^nd Tk Bn, 2d Mar Div and what I mean I intend to have a good company.

My commanding officer is a new boot Lieutenant and he even knocks at my office door and waits until I tell him to come in.  He by the way is from La Grange, Illinois and tells me I am to run the entire company schools, inspection, liberty and what have you.  Well that is the 1^st Sgt’s job.  I don’t mind telling you that I am one happy lad.  I feel it is quite an honor to even be a Sgt in the devil dogs let alone the 1^st Sgt of an entire Company.  As a matter of fact I would rather have my job at the present time than that of a 1^st Lieutenants.  Incidentally my pay is now increased from 54 to 60 per month.

Mother tells me that you and your family and Dad are coming out in April.  As it now looks we will still be here then.  Now you needn’t worry about all that propaganda about all the invasions, bombings and etc. by the Japs that is mainly newspaper propaganda.

The folks will probably have told you about my recent illness when you receive this.

Just finished making my schedule out for tomorrow.  The 2^nd platoon will have elementary driving, the 1^st the same, the 3^rd will have guns, compass, maps, etc.  Then tomorrow I’ll have to make out my pay roll, muster roll and my schedule for the next day.  Oh! Yes I forgot to tell you I have a motorcycle to run around in from my office to the field to check up on things to see how they are going.

Haven’t seen the Whitemans lately as we have been in Condition Yoke which means that you are not allowed more than twenty miles from the bivouac or camp.

Golly! What I wouldn’t give to see al of you.  Am planning on having some more pictures taken soon and I will send some to all the family.

Bobby: I hear you like Tanks – take it from your Uncle Leo it is a pretty rugged life and lets hope we will do away with all of them after we kick the pants off of Japan & Germany.

Anne, how are you getting along at school?  Are you still getting all ones on your report card.  Well your Uncle Leo got all fives when he was transferred to Company “D” in his service record book and that is perfect.  You see we grade 0-1-2-3-4-5.

Am always glad to hear from all of you so drop me a line whenever you have time.

Hope all the colds are much improved in the family. I am feeling much better myself but I still take about 15 pills per day.

It looks to me now as if the war will last a long time.  The only reason I can see for the Japs even trying to invade the coast is to draw our navy out of position.  I don’t however believe their little plan is going to work.

Wait till the 1^st Sgt of CO “D” and his boys get after them.

Love to all,

Leo

PS.  Let all the family read this.   “Libby” I got a clever valentine from Mary but she can’t discourage me.  How is the corn in the crib coming?

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2/24/42

Dear Folks:

No doubt you are beginning to think that I have entirely forgotten you.  I was in the hospital for three days and since then I have been a very busy boy.

I now am the 1^st Sgt of Co. “D” of the 2^nd Tank Battalion.  As yet I haven’t received my warrant but the Major told me I should get it soon.  You see the 1^st Sgt runs the Company.  You have charge of all the men, the pay roll and etc.  In matter you are the head man.  They have given me the job and I pray to the Lord every evening that I will be able to hold it down.  I see no reason why I can’t.

Mother, I got your letter today and the way it looks now I’ll be here in San Diego for some time.  It thrills me to think I will soon be seeing all of you again.  Golly: what a reunion that will be.

My trip to the hospital was nothing more than a bad cold and a severe run down condition.  I am feeling much better now and you need not worry.

Not only am I loosing weight but I also am getting a few gray hairs with all the responsibility they are piling on to me.

My new address is as follows:

1^st Sgt (acting) Leo J McLoskey

Company “D” Second Tank Battalion

Second Marine Division, Camp Elliott

San Diego, California

It is now very late and I must retire.  Have been working on the division of the company into platoons.

Hope all of you are feeling fine.

Love to all,

Leo

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Tuesday Evening

7:15 pm

Dear Folks:

Tomorrow we go on a 20 hour driving schedule.  By that I mean we will be out for 20 hours straight.  As a consequence I am going to retire about eight this evening.  But before I did I wanted to drop you a line.

My cold is still with me.  The Dr. gave me some very bitter tasting pills but they seem to be doing the work.  So you see even here in sunny California we catch colds.

As to my commission I hear that my letter is now in Washington at the MGC’s office and I should hear in about two or three weeks about it.

Haven’t been able to get up to the Whitemans for some time due to the fact that we now only get Liberty every third evening and then only from 4 pm to 7 am the next morning.  I am supposed to be on Liberty this evening.  Am taking it by writing to you and getting prepared for the big day tomorrow.

I do enjoy hearing from all of you so much and I look forward to hearing from you.  But, I am living for the day when we can all be together again and for good.

Sorry you are having all the snow but I surely would like to be back with all of you and believe it or not I would enjoy the snow.

Later on in the week I must write the kids and the Aunts.  I also have to write Grandad Shawler & Aunt Mable.  Tell all of them that I haven’t forgotten them.

May this letter find all of you feeling fine.

Love to all,

Leo

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2/12/42

Dear Folks:

The time has passed so rapidly here lately due to the fact I have been so busy that I just had to take a few minutes off tonight to write you.

I now am an acting Platoon Sergeant.  Have six tank crews under me and it is quite a worry and responsibility.  The total men in the crews is 29 and I try to keep all of them busy.  You see I have to hold schools with them day and night.  Tomorrow, I am taking all of them out to fire the TSMG and the BMG and Pistol.  That always worries me a little because there is always somebody who is bound to get a little careless and they are all dangerous weapons.

At the present time I have a very bad cold and cough.  Last night my cough kept me awake most of the evening.  But that is California weather for you damp & chilly and then warm.

Gee!  I surely do miss all of you and I would give anything in the world to be able to be with all of you.  I do miss all of you so much.

Yet this evening I must shine some shoes and wash out some hose.  My feet have sweat so badly lately that I have been wearing two pair of hose a day.

The spirit of the tank battalion is still very high and I surely do hope that it continues to be that way until the conflict is over.

Hope all of you are all feeling fine.

Love to all,

Leo

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6 February 42

Dear Folks:

Today we are having what is known as Field Day in the Marine Corps and I am surely glad.  Field Day is when you clean the barracks, clean your locker box, wash and clean all your gear such as your pack and etc.  Tomorrow we have an inspection by the General.

Never in my life have I had such a cold.  You see we have been going night and day on maneuvers and I’m telling you it almost has me whipped.

Received the nice letter all of you wrote out to Grandfathers and I surely did enjoy it.  My! How I wish I could have been with all of you.

Today, they are putting the final touches on my letter to send in for a commission.  I hope and pray that I am successful.  Curly Brooks and Bill Bardens surely did give me a splendid send off as well as the Major, the Captain and a 2^nd Lieutenant.  I believe that they will waive my age as they need officers bad.  If I get it I surely will have earned it the hard way.

Also, I got a letter from Robert today.  I am always glad to hear from all of you.

I bought another dollar and a half worth of defense stamps today.  I am saving more than I ever have in my life.  The Marines have taught me more than one good habit.

Tomorrow afternoon I have an examination both written and oral from one pm to 4:30 pm.

Also, today we had a physical examination.  The dr. took one look at me and said, your don’t need to undress Mac, I examined you for your officers commission a couple of weeks ago and if they all are built & as healthy as you are those Japs won’t last long.

I see the Governor is giving all the families a sticker for the window.  Have you gotten yours?  I am mailing you the Leatherneck today.  The picture on the front is one of two tanks commanders.

Don’t know when I’ll be able to get up to see the Beattys but I hope before long.

See by the paper Wilfrid MacDill arrived safely.  I’ll bet Mac & Abbey are proud of him

Not a great deal of news but a line to say hello.

Oh: yes, thanks a great deal for the stamps.

Hope all of you are in the best of health.

Love to all,

Leo

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4 February 1942

Hotel Del Camino

Laguna Beach, California

Dear Folks:

My pal John and I spent last evening here.  We are going back to Camp this afternoon.  Got 24 hours off so we drove up here.  This is a beautiful beach.  We have a swell room with twin beds and a bath for $3.00 or $1.50 a piece.  Our room is right on the ocean.

Guess what, we were eating lunch yesterday noon at Birds Café a girl came up and kept looking at me.  She was formerly Kathyrn Thomas, her uncle is Charley Thomas.  She thought I was Robert.  Nothing must we do after I told her I was Roberts brother but come out to her home last evening for dinner.  She married Mr. Bird’s son and this fellow helps his father in the café.  They have a little boy about a year old and they also have a very nice home.  We had quite a visit about Monmouth and all the kids.  So I had quite a pleasant surprise.

I want to thank you for my birthday gift.  Golly!  You people are always doing something for me.  Well I took the $2.00 and bought postal saving stamps.  The $2.00 the kids sent me I sued on this trip.

Be sure to tell Libby I got the package and the money ok and I’ll write them a letter latter this week.

Tonight we have to take 15 Tanks out on a night convoy and drive without any lights.  We had some practice Saturday and Sunday evening.  It gives one quite a thrill going down a mountain slope in the evening with no lights on.  The driver in my tank obeys my signals very good and we get along swell.  The two other fellows in my crew the radioman and the assistant driver are also nice boys.  One of them is from New York, one from Texas, and the other from Alabama.

I also received a nice letter from Aunt Ella this week.  

All of you write whenever you find time.  Thanks a lot for the stamps, papers, and letters.

Tell Libby also that the fudge and cookies were swell.

Hope all of you are feeling fine.

Love to all,

Leo

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28 January, 1942

Time 1705

Dear Folks:

1. As I have a few minutes before I shove off to the base this evening for airplane engine school I will drop you a few lines.
2. We have been very busy again this week as we have in the past except that now I am so tired at five in the morning that I can hardly get out of bed.  Will be glad when this training cycle is over.
3. It will no doubt be some time before I hear about me getting a commission as it has to be acted on by a board that convenes in Washington.  Anyway that was a nice letter that the Major wrote about me don’t you think so?
4. Am sending you a picture of me in my field hat I thought it was pretty good.  Hope you will like it.
5. I got a letter from Wilda and I will try and see them in the near future.  I will also write to them.
6. Oh yes this morning we all had to go through the gas chamber and they made us take our masks off to give us a good whiff of the gas and I am telling you that my eyes still burn as well as my face and neck.  Gas must be horrible.
7. Tomorrow we will be out in the field again all day long as we have some maneuvers with the tanks in Platoons.  I thought my driver was going to upset me the other day but he pulled out of it in time and it made me feel very happy and he and I both were complimented.
8. I had to write for   some more references so I wrote to Bill Bardens, Curly Brooks and Mr. Wagner.  I should hear from them this week end.  They surely do want a lot when they start to promote you.  Oh well I guess that it is worth all the trouble.
9. Had to change typewriters so I hope that you don’t mind.  Golly I know that I surely would like to see all of you and that I do miss all of you.
10. Tell Libby that I got the cookies o.k. and that they were fine and that I will drop them a line as soon as I have time.  Mother, I am sorry that you didn’t get a chance to go to Chicago I mean that you didn’t feel like it.  I hope that you are feeling better.
11. I have gotten all your letters and I am always glad to hear from all of you.  If it wasn’t for the Whitemans I think I would loose my mind out here.  They surely have been swell to me.
12. Was that ever fast service on my birth certificate.  I got it the next Monday.  Oh yes I will now draw $54.00 per month less my Insurance, Hospitalization, which amounts to $4.25 per month.  Believe it or not I am buying defense Bonds and I soon will have my book filled which I will send to you and you in turn can get a bond.  I have the 25 cent book type.
13. Well, I must hurry up and get dressed to go down to the base.  Hope that this finds all of you feeling fine.  Say hello to all the family and friends.

Love to all,

Leo

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