Moss Letters

WWII Letters

5 April 1942

Dear Folks:

Suppose you are wondering what has happened to me for not writing so long but last week was a busy one with moving and guard duty and I feel off a little.

Last Wednesday thirteen of our battery were transferred to Carlsbad to join another battery in our regiment, to patrol the coastline.   It is about twenty miles from Escondido but a little closer to San Diego.  We are living in tents in a eucalyptus grove just about a mile from the coast back in the hills.  A nice shower room and washstand has been built so it isn’t so bad here.  Carlsbad is about a mile away and Oceanside about four.  We do guard duty six hours at a time, either from six until twelve or twelve until six at nite only.  Each outpost is dug out in the sand and lined with sandbags and equipped with a stove and charts, etc.  Ours sits on a bluff overlooking the sea.  Two stay in the dugout while two walk on patrol, our post is 3 ½ miles so we walk seven miles each nite.  Time seems to go pretty fast though, walking along the beach or highway 101 and watching the surf pound in.  In the afternoon we drill 3 hours.

Well today was big one on the calendar, being Easter.  I got up at nine and hitchhiked to Oceanside and went to the Episcopal church there.  I also took communion.  The church is right on the highway 101 in town and during the sermon he was forced to almost yell while a marriage party went by.  After church I hitchhiked back to my station.

Was in Coronado last Tuesday on a 23 hour pass and had a nice time with the folks there.  I talked to Dick again about the Navy and I believe he will refrain from joining.

Just got Dan’s letter and picture.  Boy, he’s good looking.  He shouldn’t have any trouble with girls.  Also got a card from the Colson’s.  By the way even tho I’m here at Carlsbad still address my mail to Escondido.  It will be sent out daily.

Haven’t heard from Kate for some time.  Believe she owes me the letter.

I just had Sunday chow a few minutes ago—peaches, cheese, cold meat, beets, coffee, and potato salad.  Pretty good.  Guess I’ll read awhile tonite before going out on guard.

Well another Easter has come and gone and for the first time I didn’t have to be particular about what I wore.  Everyone was dolled up in church and was the only soldier there.  Hope I’m not wearing OD’s when the next one comes around.

Sorry I didn’t write in time for the box but I know everything you put in it will be something I can use.

Love,

Harold Moss Signature

15 October 1941

Dear folks:

I’m riding on a train thru the desert just a little over the border of Arizona into California.  I can imagine what you went thru when you drove.  This morning stopped for 15 minutes in Needles.  On either side are towering points of rock but here in bed there is nothing but a few bushes.  It must be all of ninety-five or a hundred now.  Yesterday crossed the highest point on any railroad in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.  It took three engines to take us over the top (7,621 feet).  At the top was a long tunnel.  Something a little ironical is that yesterday in passing over the point we were in a furious snowstorm and today the sun is scorching us.  Our train is made up of nine cars carrying three hundred and fifty men.  Ahead of us is another carrying about the same number.  Most of the time have been occupying my time playing bridge but read quite a little too.  We have a Pullman but don’t have enough covers.  We eat on our mess kits and a crew of men from the dining car bring the food thru in buckets and they dish it out.  In the afternoon we get a little fruit and at night a box of cookies.

Close tab is kept on anyone getting sick.  At several places we got out and marched thru the town and got most of the village out.

Yesterday in New Mexico passed thru several small Mexican villages parked in the pine covered foothills, that reminded me of a newsreel of a foreign country.  Such squalor and decrepit looking shacks and boys looking wide-eyed from their unsaddled ponies.  It was all very interesting and in many places the fall coloring of the hills was really beautiful.  Recalled past days at Greeley.

We left Leavenworth at 6:30 last Monday nite and expect to arrive at [Camp] Roberts nine o’clock Thursday afternoon.  I believe we will lay over about 2 hours in Los Angeles.  By the way, this morning at Needles saw my first palm tree.

This is just a line to let you know how I’m getting on but will write more later.

Lots of love,

Harold Moss Signature