Band Archives - Moss Letters

20 November 1944

Dear Folks:

I’ve let up on my writing this week for no good reason, so I better resolve to do something about it tonight. I’ll pull up a bottle of beer and maybe I can think a little better. Dan Gettman came in just a few minutes ago, bringing with him an armful of Star Heralds that I was anxious to read. I glanced over them briefly but will read them more carefully tomorrow. The latest one is dated September 8 so the news isn’t very current although it’s all interesting. Yesterday four old Free Presses caught up with (the mail) and I’ve still got them stuck under my pillow to read over a few times more before they find their way into the wastebasket. Well getting papers means also that some packages, the first in several months, came, and I received one from you marked Box 1 on the cards. The popcorn was the first I’ve seen since leaving Oahu, and tonight we plan to pop it after the show, if we can mooch a little butter from the kitchen. We have a small one burner stove that we cook on when the kitchen isn’t operating, and I think the pot will be large enough to do the job. And for supper tonight I enjoyed the olives. You know how I love ‘em, and of course I almost made a meal of them. The mess sergeant just came by and said I could get the butter so we’re set. On the humorous side, the can of Vienna sausages has made me the brunt of several jokes. You see Vienna sausages are about as common on the menu as Spam, and served as often. And knowing the jokes connected with Spam you can see what they’ve been saying to me. But then you couldn’t know about that. But that’s alright you know I can still use them. Quite a sizable shipment of boxes came in so everyone is enjoying eats of some kind or another.

Had a letter from Bill E and one from Glen last week and both of them seemed to like the high life they saw in Paris. At least those guys over there are around people that are about like us and not so foreign to them as the Japs. I see a Jap plane is to be displayed at the County Fair-I wished you would have seen all the ones I did, wrecked ones, that is.

Saw the show “Bathing Beauty” last night and if you saw it too you know the howling that must have gone on. I’d like to see more like it-no army or war in it. Two nights ago a military band came over for a concert, but they were a pretty sick crew in my estimation.

I don’t know what I’m going to write about now, not much exciting has happened. Washed out some clothes and other ‘unmentionables’ as the women say, and then after supper went up to hear the news. From the Philippine station, I heard mention of Arthur Veysey, who used to report for the Star Herald now with the AP, I believe. I can imagine how tonight the guys down there are having it and I hope it is ended before long. Noticed in the Star Herald that Shirley Heldt is married, she had weak knees over J. Conklin for a time. Haven’t played much bridge lately, but would like to get going again. Our cards are getting pretty do-eared, but as long as we don’t lose one we’ll be alright. Pinochle seems to be the big game around here but I’m not interested in it very much. You should get two bonds sometime in November for September and October-they have a new deal on now-sent only when we get paid so if they don‘t come for a month you will know I didn’t get paid. Think I’ll get a couple of GI bonds too. Haven’t heard from Dick for some time-I’ll have to get on him and make him write a little. Would certainly like to see him again. About a week ago we started giving classes in shorthand to the clerks, but I don’t think the effort will be successful. It takes too long and requires too much practice. Don’t use mine much anymore but dabble around once in a while. Was reading in the Star Herald about the university courses-sounds good and how I’d like to be in some of it. I’ll bet I wouldn’t do any fooling around this time and I‘d get down to brass tacks. I didn’t loaf while I was there but I’d get more done the next time. The last few days have been corkers-rained all the time-got everything damp and put mud all over. Aired out a few things today so they won’t mold.

I guess this is the last act-can’t dig up anything more so guess I’ll have to quit. Think I’ve put on a pound or two lately and feel fine. Keep the home fires burning and in church every Sunday when they pray, you add ‘and I hope he gets a furlough’. Thank you so much for the box, and I hope the next ones won’t be far off.

Love,

9 November 1944

Dear Folks:

Just about enough time to write you an abbreviated epistle before another day closes. Just came from the show – this time it was ‘Deanna Durbin’ and last night it was the ‘Song of Russia’. Both were darned good but colored up to suit the watching public of course. So few stories are written as they truly are, but if they were held strictly to actuality they wouldn’t be liked, and authors couldn’t make a living. How did I start on that?

Had a letter from you last night, which will be read over a dozen times before it’s finally laid aside, as all of yours are. Some questions about Dick in it and I’ll tell you what I can. He isn’t in either of the regiments you mentioned, but is in the cavalry reconnaissance troop. Although he isn’t in the infantry he works with them and is usually where ever they are. He is in an infantry division, but such a division isn’t all infantry but is made up of several branches, although everything is in support of the infantry. The story you read about the 100 Yanks being trapped on the beach must have included Dick because he told me about it, and told of being picked up by the amtracs. He was sent in to help bring out the wounded when the Japs cracked the 105^th and it was then that he got caught. He said he picked up one wounded guy and started to carry him away but the Japs charged them and he had to leave him. And Dick told me a lot of stories like these although he probably would not mention them very much to anyone else. I know our outfit was never mentioned in the papers and some of (us) felt a little burned when everything you read said the 27^th was the only army in the operation. I’ll explain it at some future date.

I seem to be feeling much better than I have in some time—must be getting used to it. We usually have the afternoons off and during that time play baseball. The bulldozers scraped two cane fields down, and after harrowing it and putting a little corral around, they make nice fields. And every week a band is brought in to furnish some music that isn’t canned. The music isn’t always the best but the guys cheer anyone who can give them a little entertainment. What I miss a lot is something ice cold–we get a little beer, and to cool it we put it in a wet gunnysack and let the breeze flow thru it, but the result isn’t too good.

Well this is about all I guess, better knock off and hope the Japs won’t come over and ruin my sleep.

Love,

21 October 1944

Dear Folks:

I don’t know whether I feel good tonight or not – I guess I should in a way because Betty Hutton was here this afternoon with a troupe that put on a pretty good show. But as usual instead of being an enlisted man’s show, it wound up also as usual, one for the officers. At the beginning of the show a special service Captain got up and pulled off an awkward and embarrassing prolonged kiss, what bespoke of his limited background and apparent good taste. I was very disgusted. But the show was alright, but it doesn’t have the intended effect of raising my morale – instead it seems to lower it – it’s nice to see but after it’s over, I feel like I just fell through a trap door. What a treat to see a white woman. The Marines brought an out of tune, but ear filling band over, and the place sounded a little more like civilization. The show started at two-thirty and the dogfaces began coming in at noon and by twelve-thirty all the seats were taken. But tonight I feel all let down and get tied up with memories of back home and wondering when the hell I will get back.

The part that makes me feel good on the other hand, is about the 6^th Army landing in the Philippines. I just heard the news about an hour ago from ‘Frisco, and while I felt good at the progress we’re making, I also thought about the guys that are getting the rough end of it, and how many already had sacrificed everything. Too many people I’m afraid, don’t consider it very carefully. They are sure we’ll win and just sit back waiting until then, and in the meantime taking advantage of the situation. Oh well maybe I’m going sour or getting cynical I don’t know – I’m afraid sometimes I am and I better not let it go too far.

In a few minutes, I’m going to the cinema and will finish off the night that way, then come back, mill around a while and then go to bed. There isn’t much else to write about, I’m fine but get down once in a while, and I get great consolation from your letters. Well I’ll quit for this time.

Love,

7 July 1943

Dearest Folks:

My letter writing is becoming atrocious but perhaps you have also had spells when you didn’t feel like writing or found so many other things to do that you neglected it. Well, I guess that’s my situation. On my pass last Sunday, the Fourth, I forgot all about the customary fireworks but had a good time dancing and loafing at the army recreation center. I believe it was one of the best days off that I spent since I’ve been here and the next time I hope to spend the day on the beach. I guess I told you about the places in a previous letter. Our open air theatre near our camp has been built up considerably. Until now we have night shows once a week at night that are usually put on by the USO or home talent. Although you might be a little abashed to sit through a movie I wished you could hear the cracks that come forth. From the picture I sent you, you can tell about what it used to look like. Tomorrow night we will have another show preceded by a little swing session by our band. The band is a part of the battery and I think they do a darn good job.

I haven’t heard from Dick since I returned but I guess it is up to me to write him a letter soon. I’m anxious to see the pictures we took and if they don’t turn out I’ll be very disappointed.

Tonight I think I’ll stay in and perhaps do a little more reading on my book that is plenty thick and will probably take me a long time to read. I hope you can find the ones I mentioned although you will probably have to do a little looking around. I very seldom work at night and I want to know as much when I get out of the army as when I came in, I hope.

Every time I see a newsreel on North Africa I think of Jim and wonder if possibly he is in some of the scenes. I suppose he was right in the thick of it and I hope he came out none the worse for it. It’s hard to imagine Halsey missing knowing him as I do and trying to picture him dead or a prisoner—I guess everyone experiences the same feeling, especially when the person is so well known and knowing his peculiarities. As for myself I don’t think the Allies will ever make an invasion of the continent as everyone thinks they will. The enemy has built up terrific defenses and the casualties and cost would be too high when they can either (be) bombed into submission or beaten from the Russian side. I would bet even money it will be a grand scale attack from the air and the Russian side but no invasion. I can’t see Japs whipped because of the big problems of supply and the new systems of communications that will be necessary before we can really begin to knock them off. I think it will be at least two years yet. I hope I’m way off on my opinions but I’m afraid the war with the Japs will be as long as the time the Germans have been fighting. Well, that’s enough on that.

I believe I’ve said enough for this letter. Maybe, too much, but I don’t feel unduly pessimistic about the future, because I really believe times will be better than ever when this is over. But unless somebody can formulate a lasting peace then we better quit now, and get ready for another one. I guess this is good night and don’t let what I have written make you feel gloomy or downhearted because I’m not myself. I know all will turn out the way we want it to and if you have the right kind of confidence it can never be shaken. I miss you all more than you can imagine.

Love,