5 Feb 44
Dear Folks & All
It has now been 76 hours since I have had one blink of sleep. But now I want to drop you a line to let you know I am alive and ok.
How are the Marshalls? Tell them hello for me.
Wish I could tell you all the story. Keep the chin up. We Marines will soon have the Japs pushed back to Yokohama and then we will really give them the works.
Hope this finds all of you well.
Your son, Leo
Lt. L.J. McLoskey
At Sea
Dear Folks & all:
By the time you have received this you will have read in the papers and heard over the radio about the drive taking place in the Central Pacific. I am in on this. It will be the first Japanese soil we have stepped on this war.
I only hope that God guides me in my judgment over my men in the landing and that we may soon end this war.
Don’t worry I will be ok and just remember I love and miss all of you.
There I nothing else I can write or say.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
20 January 1944
Dear Folks:
I have to rush to drop you this short letter. Now don’t worry if you don’t hear from me for quite a spell. I will write to you just as soon as I can.
Am feeling ok and I trust that you are feeling the same.
Yes, Mother I do hope and pray that I will be able to get home this year to see you. However, I want to do all I can to end this war out here in the Pacific so I can return to a peaceful living life again.
Tell all the neighbors and family hello for me.
Until you hear from me again may God bless all of you.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
11 January 1944
Dear Folks:
Wow: I don’t know where the time goes but I see it has been almost a week since I have written to you.
I am in such a whirlpool as you must realize that time get past me very rapidly.
Just remember what I told you that if you don’t hear from me for awhile don’t worry as I’ll be ok.
Got a letter from Elizabeth today and she told me it would be at least three months before Robert would be called. I am surely glad of that. Maybe by then they will have it changed at least I hope so.
Am glad that Bobby got his lamp. I only wish I could do more for all of you.
We all got shots again the other day and I have felt as if I was burning up ever since we received them.
I will try and drop Beaulah and Sam a letter before long.
Haven’t seen anybody from home lately. I did however run into a naval officer from Ft. Madison, Iowa that I have had to deal with. We had lunch together today. He is stationed about thirty miles from where I am but I had to spend the entire day with him today.
Surely do hope that the people in the mainland don’t go on any more strikes and get us all the equipment that we need. It will take a great deal to defeat the Japs and the other members of the Axis.
I am feeling ok. Not much I can tell you except that I love and miss all of you. Until you hear from me again may God bless all of you.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
5 January 1944
Dear Folks:
Here it is the fifth of January. The time still goes very fast and I am still as busy as I was before.
I have had a bad cold the last two days. It has been rainy and very cold here.
Bill, (my roommate) and I are planning on taking some pictures before we leave here. If we don’t hurry up I am afraid we will be too late.
I’ll bet Mary was plenty cute Christmas day with all the packages and the tree. Anne wrote me a letter which I received the other day. I will try and answer it before the week is over.
Colonel Swenceski was taken back to the mainland to recover. It will be quite awhile before he has fully recovered. He layed on the beach two days before they found him.
It looks as if Germany will soon fold up. However I do believe it will be 1945 before we whip the Japs. They are very dangerous and treacherous.
Yes dad I agree with you about the strikes. It also makes us boil. I will have plenty to tell you when I see you and mother. Believe me that will be the happiest day of my life.
I am feeling ok and I trust that this letter finds you the same.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
January 1, 1944
Dear Folks:
Here it is 1944 and I hope and pray that I will be able to return home before the year is over.
Honestly: I am so busy that I hardly know where the time goes.
Received a card from Hazel Efaw today. She says a great many people in the mainland have the flu. Do you people in Monmouth have it?
Hope that all of you had a nice Christmas and new years. Did Bobby ever get the lamp that I sent to him?
Received a letter from Robert and he told me that he thought he would soon be called into the service. I pray that the day will never come. I also hope that the Democrats and all their bureaus are thrown out in this election.
Believe me when this is all over I have had all the military career that I desire.
Mary Dickson had my signature analyzed and sent it to me and I am enclosing it for you to read.
I am feeling ok so don’t worry about me. Hope this letter finds all of you in the best of health.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st. Lt. L.J. McLoskey
27 Dec 1943
Dear Folks:
Well Christmas has come and gone again. It surely didn’t seem like it to me. I had field rations that day so you can guess where I was.
They still are piling plenty of work on me. As I have said before though I don’t mind it as it keeps me plenty busy. Although I will say I am still having a hard time getting enough rest.
It has rained all day today and we are still having a few drops yet this evening.
Received a letter from you this evening that was dated the 20th of December so that isn’t so bad. It came through in good time. Seems as if you and mother still manage to keep plenty busy. I also got a letter from Elizabeth that was postmarked the 19th. I hope and pray that Robert doesn’t have to go and leave his family. Those children are just at the age when they need him and need him bad.
Tell Aunt Mabel that I got her card and letter and that I will try and answer one of these days. Tell her that I appreciated it.
Am sorry to hear that Aunt Vera hasn’t been so well. I know it must be quite a strain on all of you.
Mother, surely before next year is over they will let me return to the states for at least twenty day leave.
Don’t worry as I am ok and my God bless all of you.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
Notice new address:
1st Defense Battalion FMF
Fifth Amphibious Corps
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Francisco, Calif
18 December 1943
Dear Folks:
I see that another week has almost passed. My how the time does go.
Dad, you are correct the job I have is really a headache. I guess though that I will still be able to retain my sense of humor. At least I have thus far.
I wrote Aunt Ella a letter the other day. I will try and write them at least once a week.
Funny but tonight being Saturday my thoughts went back to my childhood and how you folks used to give me a quarter to go to the movie. Guess I must be getting old.
Mother, I also wish that I could be with you at Christmas. Not only Christmas but for the rest of our lives. If I could be home with all of you it would be the greatest gift I could have.
My roommate is surely one grand fellow. He is married and he is surely true to his wife. I hope that some day you will have the pleasure of meeting him.
Received a letter from Robert today and he told me that he would probably be called in February. I hope and pray that he will never have to go. I don’t see what they are thinking about by taking all the men with families. I will do all I can to help.
I am feeling ok and try not to worry to much about me as I will get along ok. Until I can write you again may God Bless you.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
12 December 1943
Dear Folks:
Today, I received a letter and some more chewing tobacco from you. I appreciated both of them very much.
Probably before too long you won’t be hearing from me for a spell. Don’t worry as I will drop you a letter as soon as I can.
Surely do hope that all of you have a very good Christmas. Yes, I also wish Mother that I could be with you. Each day that goes brings us that much closer to each other.
The mosquitoes are surely bad this evening. But, I am just setting at my field desk in my skivvies so you can see that the weather is quite warm.
That Mary Alice must be getting to be quite a card. How I do miss all of those children. Believe me I will make up for lost time when I do get home. I probably will spoil all of them.
Just a line to let you know that I am ok and that my thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Hope this finds all of you in the best of health.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
12/9/43
Dear Folks:
Another day has passed and I am just one more day closer to returning home to all of you. Believe me when this is all over I have had all the military life that I desire.
You know mother I called on Lt Col Swenceski today. He was the Captain that you and dad met at Camp Elliott. He ask me if you were still worrying about me getting married. He got shot several times at Tarawa and I lost several good friends in that landing. He surely is in great misery. He is in a hospital about seven miles from where I am. That is all I can tell you. He wanted to be remembered to both you and dad.
Don’t worry about me as I will get along ok. After about nine more months I believe I will be able to return to the mainland.
Hope this finds all of you feeling in the best of health. They are still working me pretty hard but I seem to thrive on it.
Just a line to let you know I am ok. May God bless all of you.
All my love,
Your son, Leo
1st Lt. L.J. McLoskey
