Category: Letters

12/7/43

Dear Folks:

Two years ago today the Japanese attacked a possession of the U.S.  In the past two years I am afraid that your son has aged a great deal.  Probably at least ten years.

Each evening in my prayers I pray that I will be able to join you and the ones I love.  That this world of hate and strife will soon end.

Mother, I am enclosing a little poem that Dan and Jean sent to me.  Thought you might get a kick out of it.  Dad, I got a box of cigars from you the other day.  Thanks a great deal.

I got a letter from Aunt Ella today and also a Christmas card from Aunt Minnie Hay’s.

Am sorry that the packages were so messed up but I don’t have many facilities for wrapping and mailing packages.

The ants are about to eat me up again this evening.  Maybe someday I will be able to live in peace again.  

They surely are keeping me quite busy but I would rather have it that way.

It seems to be the rainy season here.  Guess I am just following the rain or else it is following me.

All I can say is as I have written before that the tropics surely aren’t any place for a white person.  The movies you have seen describe it pretty good.

I hope and pray that this finds you feeling fine.

I mailed Bobby the lamp.

Until I can write to you again may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

Thanks for the stamps and seals.

• 

• 

12/1/43

Dear Folks & all:

It has been quite a spell since I have been able to write to you.  We just returned today from some landing operations and I had quite a stack of mail.

It was indeed quite a shock to me about Dr. Dan’s death.  I know how all of you must feel and I also know what he meant to the family.  I as well as all of you am not quite able to understand why such things as that happen but we must feel that God knows best.  I will write Geneva tomorrow.

Dad you ask me what motor Transport officer’s job was.  Well you are responsible for all the rolling stock in the battalion such as tractors, bull dozers, jeeps, trucks, cranes and etc.  It is my job to see that they are properly maintenanced and used.  It is quite a job in addition to my other duties.  I do believe however I will be relieved when they can find a suitable relief.

Here it is the first of December.  Did you ever get the last packages I mailed you.  I got the cigars, chewing tobacco and your letters and Christmas card when I returned today.

Now don’t worry about me as I am getting along ok.  We are liable to leave anytime.  Just remember that I love all of you and I will write to you just as often as I can.  My men are all just fine and we get along swell.

If only we could have a nice visit with each other.  I have so many things we could talk to each other about.  Well, the way things are going now it shouldn’t take too many months before we have the Japs licked.

Hope this finds all of you in the best of health.  Until I may write you again may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

• 

• 

11 November 1943

Dear Folks:

Received a letter from you today dated 4 November 1943.  It was the one with the clipping in it about the trophy.

Am enclosing a twenty five dollar check for you to take down to the bank.  I slipped up as I thought I had sent one last month.  One more and that should pay up the Second National.

They have again gave me the job of Motor Transport Officer in addition to my other duties and what a responsibility I now have on my shoulders.  Wish I could tell you more.

Robert Liby was the only officer from home that was in the group that relieved us.  The army relieved us so I know it must now be plenty safe and we are getting ready for newer pastures.

It is now only nine pm but I am plenty sleepy.  This getting up early and having plenty on your mind all day really wears one down to almost a frazzle.

I am going to mail Bobby his lamp this week end.

Not much news but a line to let you know that I am ok and that I surely do miss all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

• 

11/7/43

Dear Folks:

Another Sunday evening.  My the time surely does go fast.  I am so busy I hardly have time to turn around.  In addition to my own duties I have again been assigned motor transport officer and that in itself is almost enough.  I am so tired this evening I am going to go to bed again early.  It is now only ten minutes after eight but I will be in bed by eight thirty.

Am enclosing some more pictures * thought you might like.  I have put an X by myself.  The two fellows with me in the one picture are the chaplain (Protestant) and the Padre (Catholic).

Not much news to tell you except that I am ok and will be the happiest man in the world when I can return home to all of you.  So until I can write you again may God Bless you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

• 

11/5/43

Dear Folks:

Just a line to let you know that I am ok but that I surely miss all of you and that I am living for the day when we will all be together again.

The past week I believe I have had more on my mind than at any other time of my life.  No fooling my work is quite a responsibility and not only that my supply problem is one of no little difficulty.

Oh: yes I mailed a package to you the other day.  The mens slippers there are two pair one for dad and one for Robert.  The other mother is for you.  I mailed Libby a pair and Leota a pair.  I will just send all of you different things from time to time and they will constitute your Christmas.  What I wouldn’t give to spend this Christmas with all of you.  Do you realize that this will be my third straight Christmas away from all of you.

Remember I love all of you.  Hope this finds all of you ok. Until I write again may God bless you.

All my love,

    Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

PS Dad I liked the poem attached.  Don’t worry I’ll send you all the snap shots I can.

• 

2 November 1943

Dear Folks:

Have a few moments so I will drop you a line to let you know that I am ok and still kept quite busy.

Here it is November and all I have on is a shirt and trousers.  But, believe me I could surely go for some of that cold snappy Illinois weather.

That “Masterpiece” really hits the spot as it is quite dusty here.  Remember how it was at San Diego when we went for the blitz buggy ride.  Out here the dust is about three times as bad and the Masterpiece keeps my throat moist.

I haven’t as yet been able to mail the packages but I will before long.

Received a box from Beulah and Sam and it surely was swell of them to send it.

I want you to know that I miss all of you so until I have a chance to drop you a letter again may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

    Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

• 

30 October 1943

Dear Folks:

Here it is Saturday again.  I guess I am just a week closer to seeing all of you again.  By that I mean that the war has gone another week and it looks as if we are driving the Japs back farther every day.

Don’t know how long I will be here.  I don’t imagine very long.  It won’t make me mad as I am anxious to get this over so I can return home to the ones I love.

Received your package and thanks a great deal.  You folks surely have been swell to me.

AI did a little shopping yesterday and I will try and get the packages mailed within the next week.

It seems as if they really pile the work and responsibility on me.  It helps though as I am kept busy all the time.  I must get a hair cut sometime today as my hair is getting down over my ears.

About all I can say is that I am ok and I hope all of you are the same.

Until I get a chance to write to you again may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

• 

28 Oct 43

Dear Folks:

As usual I am again in sort of a fog and don’t seem to know whether I am coming or going.  No fooling this place now is like a mad house and we are kept on the move all the time.

The way I figure it was we’ll probably be here about four weeks and then go south and west again and when I say south and west I really mean it.

I will write to you as often as I can and tell you all that the censors will permit.  Please pardon the pencil but it is all I could find on my desk this morning and I left my pen at my barracks.

Received some more mail from you yesterday and I want you to know that I am just as anxious to hear from you as you are from me.

Oh! Yes I got the chewing tobacco.  I will write granddad Shawler and Aunt Minty when I get a chance but in the meantime please thank them for me.

This place is just about like California as far as climate and scenery.  Can’t say as I like either one of them.  Illinois is good enough for me.

I saw Dr. Firoved he is stationed about thirty miles from me but I had to transact some business at his camp and I happened to bump into him so we had lunch together and quite a chat.

Outside of being tired I am ok and I trust you are the same.  Until I get a chance to write to you again may God Bless you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

• 

• 

22 October 1943

Dear Folks:

Hope everything is ok by all of you.  I am feeling just fine.  Have been very busy but I guess we will be able to relax in a day or so.

We arrived at our destination ok and I am writing you to let you know I am ok.  Will be here for awhile before departing again.  It is rather warm even here.  One only wears trousers and a shirt.

I’ll be you had fun with Ada, Homer and Helen.  What is Helen’s husbands last name?

I know one thing for sure.  I’ll certainly be glad to get home and see all of you again.  As each day passes it brings us that much nearer.

Isn’t much I can write.  Golly we even have ants here and the mosquitoes.  No fooling they just about carry you away evenings.

Suppose the children are busy with school.  Mary Alice must be growing like a weed.

Will close for this time.  My address is still the same.  Probably will be different in the near future.  Just keep sending mail to the old address.  I will get all of it eventually.

Until I write next may God Bless all of you.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

• 

10/11/43

Dear Folks:

Was sorry that the pictures were a little beat up but I couldn’t get any cardboard.  Has the other box arrived as yet?

Now remember if you don’t hear from me for quite a spell not to worry. I’ll drop you a letter as soon as I can.

Mother, I know that I surely would have enjoyed some of that fried chicken and all that goes with it.  You are correct we will all have grand times when we all get together again.  Glad that you liked the pictures.  I am sending the Aunts some of the small ones before long.

Just a line to let you know that I am ok and I miss and love all of you.

Until you hear from me again may God Bless all of you and I hope this finds all of you in the best of health.

All my love,

Your son, Leo

1^st Lt. L.J. McLoskey

•