Sept. 23, 1943: To Fran, From Herm

Dear Francis,

I received your letter of Aug. 18th and was very happy to hear from you. I am fine and hope you and the family are all the same. Everything here is okay now except for a few air-raids now and then. The weather is still the same withe usual amount of rain that goes with it here.

We have very little to do here for excitement. All we can do is read papers or magazines and sti around and talk at night in the dark. Our band has only 15 men left in it and is across the road from us. They practice every day and have a little swing session at night so are lucky that way.

So Bruno expects to leave sometime in October. Well I hope he can stay in the states just as long as possible. If he does go soon I wish him all the luck in the world. You're not just kidding we're going to have a big celebration when I get home. I've got a lot of lost time to make up and I don't mean maybe.

Fran you don't have to worry about me getting along with Charlie as I will [be?] very good. I'm not hard to get along with anyway.

I heard all about the party you and Lou[?] gave Ann on our anniversary and I sure appreciate your doing it. I'm sorry to hear that Maria was suffering from an earache and hope she is well again.

Fran I just got a letter from Ann and she said that Tommy [Corridino, Fran's and Bruno's brother] was assigned to an aircraft carrier. That being the case he will be near planes all the time and may get a chance to work as a mechanic and get up in one. Well I sure hope he does get a break because I know how bad he wants it.

Thanks a lot for sending the clippings. I was there alright on New Georgia but not on the front when that incident that the article mentioned happened. I am on Munda [A captured Japanese airbase on New Georgia] now but for how long we don't know. We had it plenty tonight and were in some real tight spots but I can only thank the lord above that I am able to be alive and tell it to you. We're still here on New Georgia but for how long we do not know.

Well Fran this is all for now so take care of yourself and give my regards to all.

Love

Herm

Sept. 29, 1943/Wednesday, 10:45 pm: Bruno to Fran

Letter Head:
704TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) AAF
446TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) AAF
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER
LOWRY FIELD, COLORADO

Hello Sis,

Well I guess it's about time I wrote to you. But really, Fran, I've been busy as hell fixing our plane to get it in shape to leave here the 8th of Oct. Though they have us flying here and there and everywhere. I guess you know I've been to California. We were at March[?] Field which is 12 miles from Hollywood. We had a chance to go to town and we sure made the rounds. We stopped at all them famous night spots in Hollywood that I used to read about in Movie magazines. Now I've seen them and they[?] really are what they write about. I guess we've seen almost every one that was important. I danced with (Marline Dietrich). I don't know if spelled it right. I danced with her at the Hollywood Canteen. Boy she was a knockout. She gave me her address and told me to drop her a line any time and she would answer it personally. Of course she may just have been kidding me. But she still is a peach.

The other day we stopped at Sun Valley, Idaho. Gosh I was disappointed in the place. Nothing like the Movie they had. I don't think it's very nice. Of course, that's just my opinion, but I still think it stinks.

Well, Fran, what did you think of Moe's[?] letter? Please, when you answer this letter, send it back. Boy he sure is seeing plenty of action.

Fran we're leaving here the 8th of October. Our A.P.O. is going to be New York. So you may see me again before I go overseas. We may get three[?] Monthly Coast Patrol[s] before we go over. Gee I sure hope we do. We're not going to leave from New York tho. We're going to be stationed in Boston, Mass.

I suppose you've read about the two plane crashes we had here? Gosh they were awful, only one man bailed out. There were 18 men killed. And they both happened within 48 hours of each other. I knew most of the guys and I guess we all feel pretty bad. One officer had his wife here and she's getting a baby next month. We all pitched in and are giving her something like $300 dollars. Of course that's not bringing her husband back. But it was the least we could do.

Say, Fran, has anyone heard from Tommy [Bruno's and Fran's brother] yet? Gosh I sure am worried about that guy. I guess none of us can understand him. I wish he'd get something that would make him happy. I just wrote to him tonight so I hope he answers and lets me know how he's doing.

Fran, I don't know what to do with Jennie. I sent her a wire that I wanted to talk to her on the phone. And she ups and leaves for New York. I guess she thought I was going to tell her not to go. Well I wasn't. I just was going to tell her that I wanted her to come down here and get married. I got paid and it wouldn't have cost her a dime. But I guess she thinks more of her girl friends than she does of me. Well I'll tell you, sis, I'm getting tired of waiting. I waited long enough.

I don't know if you've ever heard, but then you probably have. About that girl Joy in New York. Well, Fran, I'll tell you. She thinks the world of me, Fran, and I know she loves me an awful lot. She comes from a good Polish family in Willkes Barre, Penn. She's supervisor of Scrafft's Candy store in New York. She writes to me every day. And that's more than I can say for Jennie. She calls me up once every two weeks. Gosh I don't know, Fran. Jennie is making me pay more attention to Joy. You ask how? O.K. I've told you a few of the reasons. I'll you a few more. She's never mentioned marriage to me. But I have to her. And I told her about mom needing the money and she told me that I could give all my money to mom and she'd even help. Gosh, Fran, she's a swell girl and I'm beginning to forget Jennie. She doesn't write to me often enough. And more than once she's proved to me she cares for her girl friends more than she does me. So I don't nkow what to do now. I did so want Jennie to come down here and get married. But I gave up now. If she wants me now, she's going to have to do the asking. That is of course if i don't end up by marrying Joy. Which I think Jennie is forcing me to do. So please advise me and tell me just what you think of me.

Well how are all the kids? I guess Guy isn't happy in school is he? I have to drop him a card and tell him to buckle down. Well give my love to all the kids. I have some pictures I'll send you when I get more prints made. So long and God Bless You All.

Your Kid Brother
"Bruno"

August 26, 1944: To Fran, From Frances

Letter Head: Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

Dear Fran,

Received your letter of August 11, and I certainly was glad to hear from you. I did want to answer you sooner but you know the army; something always comes up. I was sick a short while ack and now we are preparing to leave this company. I had hopes of being transferred to Windsor Locks but I may be kept here for advanced training.

The weather (ahem), the weather! Well as you may have heard, the climate here is unbearably hot. At least it has been but for the past two days it has been chilly. I'm glad of that as it makes it more comfortable for drilling. It also gives us WACs a chance to wear our field coats. They are haneys[?]. They sort of wrap around with a wide belt. We are wearing our uniforms now, but what a pain it is to iron starched shirts every night. At present, I don't have a picture in my uniform but I will enclose one of me in my fatigue dress. We use these lovely seersuckers for K.P. and P.T. Please note the shoes. They came well above the ankle. One thing you can't see is my bloomers. My mother has a set of pictures that I wish you'd see.

I'm so happy to hear about Bruno. I hope you aren't building yourselves up for a let down. The Army changes its mind so frequent. I hope he does come home and that I'm around to see him.

Ang is fine and still in Italy. Judging from the news he may be home soon. He doesn't have much respect for the WACs and I can't stand reading what he writes. It's really aweful.

I most certainly am happy for Connie and Tommy. I know Connie wanted a child so bad and I'm praying that she will have better luck this time. Boy is that a surprise!

Well what do you know, it started to rain. That just ruins our plans for tonight. Oh well, the service club is across the street and tonight they're having a band. But the monkeys that show up are not worth looking at. I always dance with my bunk mates.

I heard that Bob Rice was home and that Marge didn't want to get married right away. Let me know know what turns up. If they get married, Ang will be the sole supporter of that big house. I have already given up as I don't plan to wait another seven years. I know too many nice boys who will make very good husbands.

Received another letter from Jim but haven't had time to write. Also was surprised to hear from your sister Rose.

We have no radio and there's now way of knowing what's going on. I hear that Paris was liberated. That's great.

In close now as I have more letters to write.

Love
Frances

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