Category: Letters

18 August, 1944

Dear Folks:

Just a note to let you know that I am o.k. and that I trust you are all feeling fine.

Mother, I am enclosing a check to you for your birthday.  I know it is a little early but I wanted you to be sure and have it before your birthday.  Perhaps, next year I will be able to celebrate with you, at least I pray I do.

Am rather anxious to see how the election turns out.  I guess Dewey will give F.D.R. a run for his money.

Mother, you tell Grandfather Shawler that I will be glad when I do return and that I am becoming more farmer minded each day.  Yep, don’t be surprised if that isn’t my occupation when this is over.

I’ll bet you had fun at the park with the Frantz and Wilda.  How is your croquet game?

Must close for now.  Write often as I surely do look forward to your letters.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Cap’t L.J. McLoskey

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15 August, 1944

Dear Folks:

The time surely is passing very rapidly.  I noticed by my book that the last time I dropped you a few lines was 11 August 1944.  If my letters are not as numerous as the past it isn’t because I am not thinking of you.  My thoughts are with all of you constantly.

Mother, I hope you are feeling much better and I want you to take care of yourself and get plenty of rest because when I get my leave we won’t have much time to rest as we will be up talking and laughing.  You and dad and I will have to also play some bridge like we used to.

Dad that plan you asked me if I was in on is close but not exactly the place.

I surely do miss my dog.  Yes, dad I will always want a dog but I don’t believe I would be interested in raising them.

No more news except I am o.k. and I pray you are the same.  I also hope to be home on leave in four or five more months.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Capt. L.J. McLoskey

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August 11, 1944

Dear Folks:

Eureka! Yesterday I received your letters of July 12, and July 18.  Was I ever glad to hear from you.

I am glad that Mrs. Peterson called you and I am also happy that she liked the letter.

Well it is a small world.  I was going through the record books of my men and I run across Corporal Clyde F. Long, born in Smithshire, Illinois and graduated from Roseville High School.  I immediately looked him up and it is the lad who married Ed Colwell’s daughter.  He acted like he was plenty happy to see me.  We had quite a gab fest.  If you see any of his relatives you tell them he looks fine and is doing alright in his job.

As I have written before they surely will send me home after one more operation but God only knows when that will be.  My nerves are getting kind of tattered and worn but I’ll be able to weather the storm so don’t worry about me.

Mother, it is wonderful of you to get the Aunts clothes.  You and dad have both surely been wonderful to them.  That is the American way and that is what makes the men such great fighting men.  They all are anxious to return to their families, relatives, wives, and sweethearts.

Did I tell you I got a letter from Dan and Jean Frain and they have adopted a baby boy.  They got it shortly after it was born.  They both seem very thrilled and they are a wonderful couple.  I also heard from Jim Galbaugh.  He wrote me a very nice letter.

Must close for this time and I hope this finds all of you well.  Don’t worry I am o.k.  Thanks for the stamps.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Capt. L.J. McLoskey

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6 August, 1944

Dear Folks:

Another Sunday and another week has passed.  Each one that passes I figure I am just that much nearer to home.

Today I was very busy and I am really tired this evening.  So tired that I am going to hit my cot very early.  Also, today I bumped into a 1^st Lt. that used to be a Sgt with me in tanks on the west coast.  I was glad to see that he had also climbed the ladder.  It makes me feel good to bump into men like that.

Mother, I surely could go for some of that good cooking of yours.  Remember, we always had something extra special on Sundays.  

Dad, remember the tank ride you and I took on the west coast?  You should have been with me today in my General Sherman.  When I get home I’ll have plenty for you and I to talk over.  Speaking of coming home I pray that it won’t be too much longer.  I also hope that I get some mail before long.  I haven’t had any since 21 July 44 and that was when I left my old outfit.  I sort of miss all of the old gang.  Be sure to let me know if you get the scroll that my junior officers and men presented to me.  

I am feeling fine and I hope that all of you are well.

As I told the kids we have some gorgeous sunrises, sunsets and moon..  But the insects and bugs damn near drive one crazy.  To top it all off I had a rat in my bunk the other evening and I don’t mind telling you I don’t like them.

Write whenever you have time.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Cap’t. L.J. McLoskey

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8/2/44

Dear Folks:

No mail as yet but it will catch up with me one of these days.

Just finished washing out some clothes.  I let them soak for a couple of day’s and then I take a brush and some soap and go after them.  By golly I really do get them clean.

Most of the officers in the battalion are good guys.  We all get along ok.

Another month, August, and the time is surely going by rapidly as I am plenty busy.  It will be a very happy day when I can return to all of you.

Mother, I could surely use some of that good cooking of yours.  Believe me I really will eat, eat and eat when I return.

Not much news but a few lines to let you know that I am thinking of you and miss all of you.  I know I will be plenty happy when all of this is over.

Keep your chins up.  I’ll be back some day.  Hope this finds all of you well.  I am feeling o.k.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Captain L.J. McLoskey

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28 July, 1944

Dear Folks & All:

Just another note to let you know that I am ok and that I hope you are the same.  Maybe in another four or five months I will get to come home.  I know I am praying that I will.

My mail will probably be more spotty than before due to the fact that I am much more busily occupied and every opportunity that I get I try to get some rest.

By the sound of the news they surely do have the Germans on the run and things in the Pacific are looking better every day.  Perhaps, when I do get back I will never have to come out again.

This month will soon be gone.  By golly the time seems to pass plenty fast.

Wish I could write you more but that is impossible.  We surely will have plenty to talk about.

Be sure to give all the family and my friends my best regards.  My old gang gave me a scroll which they said they would mail to you for me.  Let me know when you get it.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

I am the commanding officer of H & S company Capt. L.J. McLoskey in the Tanks Bn.

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25 July, 1944

Dear Folks & All:

I finally arrived at my destination.  My new commanding officer I knew as a 1^st Lt. When I was a Sgt in Tanks.  As yet I haven’t been assigned my duties but when I am I will let you know.

I came to my new post by plane and I flew quite a few hours.  Guess I can tell you that I am south of the equator but that is about all.

Surely I’ll get home before many more months.  Hope this finds all of you well.  I am feeling fine.  My new address is:

1^st Marine Division

1^st Tank Bn, FMF

c/o F.P.O.

San Francisco, Calif.

Must make this brief so I can get myself bedded down for the evening.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Cap’t L.J. McLoskey

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19 July, 1944

Dear Folks:

Dad, the cigars arrived today and I was glad to receive them as I was just about out.  Also, I received yours and mothers letter of 8 July.  Thanks for the stamps that were enclosed in it.

Mother, I am sorry you have not been feeling so well and I trust you are much improved when you receive this.  Now, I want you to take care of yourself.  I think what you need is to have me with you so I can rub your head.  I remember you used to love to have me do it.

The old sweat is pouring off of me and it is 4:30 pm.  Has been mighty warm the past week.

My garden is coming along in pretty good shape.  How I do miss my fresh vegetables and what I wouldn’t give for some good old Oquawka watermelons, and cantaloupes.  Guess I will always be a country boy at heart and that is just the way I want it to be.

I must get ready to go to chow.  Mother, I could surely use some of your chow.  I can smell those potatoes cooking with those roasts now that I always liked so well.

Hope we will soon be able to end this conflict so we can return.

I probably will have a new address before long as they are putting me back into Tanks.  I probably will join a division.  Now as soon as I get all the dope I’ll be sure to let you know.  I am now awaiting a message as to where to report.  I was ordered by Headquarters U.S. Marine corps to go back to them.  I imagine they lost so many of their officers on Saipan.  Don’t worry, I’ll write you all I can when I get the dope.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Cap’t L.J. McLoskey

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16 July, 1944

Dear Folks:

Another Sunday and another week has gone.  I trust that it won’t be many more until I will get to come home and spend a little time with you.  I would rather that the war would end so that I could come home for good.  However, I feel as if we still have a long hard road ahead of us.

I received a letter from Geneva Simmons and she told me you had been down to call on her and that you looked fine.  I am glad you go to see her as I can tell from her letters that she is very lonesome.

Had a couple of radishes out of my garden.  They surely aren’t very large yet.  I just couldn’t wait.  It has been a long time since I have had any fresh vegetables.  I have two tomato plants that look as if they might survive.  Boy! I surely hope so.  I still like my tomatoes.

The mail has been rather spotty again lately.  Considering how far it has to come and how many hands it passes through we do quite well.  I know one thing mail is surely a large morale builder.

Not much news.  I am ok.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Cap’t L.J. McLoskey

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12 July, 1944

Dear Folks:

Not much news but a line to say hello and to let you know that I am thinking of you.

My dog Boot now has a girl friend and it won’t be long I am afraid until his gal friend will be having pups.  The bad part of it is that she sleeps under my tent where my office is.  The bitch is a Japanese dog and all it will eat is coconuts.  I’ll bet the pups will really be something.

I am feeling much better although I will admit that I surely would love to get home and visit with all of you to get home and visit with all of you.  You know the way I sort of figure I’ll be home this Christmas of course it will make me happy if I get home before then.

It is now 0425, and I am on watch and have been on since 0200.  I will get relieved at 0630.  Makes a pretty long night especially if you don’t rest well before coming on watch.

Hope this finds all of you feeling well and write to me whenever you have time.

Oh yes my garden is coming along pretty well and even my tomato plants are still growing.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

Cap’t L.J. McLoskey

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