02 November, 1943

438^th AAA AW BN

Camp Edwards, Mass

Nov. 2, 1943, 1943    0730

Darling Wilma –

It was nice talking with you, dear; so nice to hear your voice and hear you laugh. It made me feel much better than I felt before I called you. And I was glad to hear that you were feeling better physically, too.

As I told you, darling, starting with the first of the morning I began to get things accomplished. I did not want to go out on the field just for the heck of it. They were going to leave at 1300. Anyway, I went over to the 438th and got them to start calling AAATC and finally they weedled out the information that my orders were being printed and would probably be ready Tues. , or Wednesday. Finally permission was granted me by verbal order, so called, to leave the 570th. I went back to the 570th Col. and said “Good-bye”. He was very nice about it.

So somewhere around noon time, dear, I was back with the old gang. And honestly, I didn’t realize how much I had missed them; like an old pair of slippers. It’s paradoxical that I should feel so glad about being back with an outfit that is so ‘hot’, but I can’t help it. And in that respect, Sweetheart, I think it’s wonderful and unselfish of you to be so happy for me. I know, darling, that you’d like to have me stay around longer, just as I’d like to; but your spirit and concern about my getting back to the 438th are admirable, dear, and although I haven’t said anything about it, I do appreciate it very much.

I think, though, that somehow or other we’ll both be happier for it in the end, because despite everything the 438th seems to get some decent breaks in the long run, – to wit our past travels, and now – our future. Everyone in the Army gets tossed around, true, – but it seems that we’ve always got what we’ve wanted and that’s a good omen. I told you, dear, about our advance party arrival and where they’ve allegedly arrived at. If it’s true – it’s just where I’ve wanted to go.

To date – there’ve been no new rumors and as it stands, we move out early a.m. of the day I told you about, dear. We’re restricted to the battalion area for the week-end and it will be spent chiefly in packing things, cleaning up the area, turning in excess of equipment, etc.

I still think I’ll bring my car back on Friday, dear and I think I’ll so write my folks.

Meanwhile – I’ve got several things to do to close out our accounts, records etc. – and I’ll be kind of busy for the next few days. I’ll call you tonite, dear – at 1900 if I can. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Until tonite, dear, – so long and you have

All my love

Greg.

P.S. Darling – I believe my first APO no. will be 4916. Jot it down. You’ll be notified by card when I leave Edwards. Later I think we get another number.

Greg.

01 November, 1943

438^th AAA AW BN

Camp Edwards, Mass.

Nov. 1, 1943        0745

Dearest Sweetheart –

I’m going to try and dash off a few lines now, although sick call has already started.

The week-end, darling, was wonderful and one which I’ll always remember. What struck me particularly was the naturalness with which we passed the time. It seemed very normal to be with you, hour after hour, and that’s a very good sign.

I hated to leave you, dear, and if I seemed to hurry off, it was merely because I wanted to get the ‘good-byes’ over with – I thought we had trained ourselves to the idea – but the training didn’t seem to help me one bit.

When I got up to the center, I found Sgt. Kirby waiting. It was then 1950. Leo didn’t show up until 2025. I was kind of angry because had he been there at 2000, we would have got a good start. He had his girl with him and we were introduced, – but hurriedly. She seemed awfully sweet; I’m afraid I must have sounded curt. It was just the mood I was in dear, and the rotten feeling I had on leaving you. If you have a chance – you might mention it. I don’t see how she goes out with that Medwin guy. He’s even dopier than I thought he was coming up. He got into the rear seat and just sat and slept the whole way. Not once did he offer to drive. It’s just as well; I felt safer. We drove without a stop and got back here at 2350.

This morning I have several things to do after sick call. But I can’t or don’t want to get this past week-end out of my mind. It will be a pleasant memory for a long long time, darling.

I hope, dear, that you’re feeling better by now. I’ll try to call you tonite if I’m in Camp – Otherwise I’m afraid it will be next Wed. At any rate, Sweetheart, I love you whether I call you or not – and shall continue to love you always. So long for now, dear – and

All my love

Greg.

29 October, 1943

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

"Buy More War Bonds" Postcard

28 October, 1943

No letter today.    Just this:

* TIDBIT *

about Camp Edwards, Cape Cod

At Camp Edwards, the military erected 1,400 buildings including a 1,700-bed hospital and at its peak accommodated 70,000 soldiers awaiting transfer to Europe.

According to James C. O'Connell in Becoming Cape Cod: Creating a Seaside Resort:

“The shores of Cape Cod were in the war zone, vulnerable to bombardment by German U-boats, especially during 1942 and 1943. Several American cargo ships were attacked and sunk virtually within sight of the Cape.” Also on Cape Cod was “a Navy base a Woods Hold, anti-aircraft training center at Scorton Neck Beach in Sandwich, training facilities at Camp Wellfleet, and amphibious commando training units at Camp Can-Do-It in Cotuit and Waquoit. The Hyannis Airport was used to train Naval Air Corps cadets and became an Army Air Corps antisubmarine base. The General James E. Longstreet served as a target ship in Cape Cod Bay.”

Here are some photos:

Aerial Photo of Camp Edwards from the late 1930's


Rapidly constructed barracks and supporting buildings, 1941


A Typical Company Barracks


A Typical Company Mess Hall

These pictures came from "182nd Infantry Home Front" page, maintained by Dave Colamaria, grandson of Company G’s Edward Monahan. It is not formally affiliated with the 182nd Infantry, the Massachusetts National Guard, or the United States Army.

27 October, 1943

570^th AAA AW BN (SP)

Camp Edwards, Mass

Oct. 25, 1943    1930

Dearest Sweetheart –

It was swell talking with you a short while ago. Just not having called you one night made me miss you terribly. It’s an awful feeling – . I’m sorry darling, that you didn’t get my first letter until Wednesday a.m.; and I tried so hard to get it out in the first mail. I didn’t realize, by the way, that I make the week-ends seem confused. Anyway you have it straight now, dear.

This afternoon, as I’ve already told you, Medwin called. He had been trying to contact me since Monday. I can understand his difficulty. He talked very nicely. I told him there was a good chance of my going up to So. Hadley – and you know what he said, darling? He said he could understand why I would be going up, since you were up there and worth going up to see. As if I didn’t know that myself!

Since he knows how to drive, I’m glad to have him come along anyway, and it ought to make the ride seem shorter than if I were going alone. I was planning to cut off at Palmer, however, and head for Three Rivers, etc. and directly into S. Hadley, rather than thru Holyoke. It’s considerably shorter that way. On the other hand – maybe I can meet you in Holyoke at the Hotel – and we can have that much more time together. No –, dear – I think it will be better if I pick you up. I can let him off at So. Hadley. He’ll be able to get over to Holyoke without too much trouble. I’d rather call for you at the School. I’m looking forward to it keenly, darling, and this time we won’t have to bother about fixing anyone up. We’ll be alone and that will be swell.

Today, Sweetheart, I had a busy day. This poor outfit has really needed an MD – and the boys, as well as the officers came in in droves. One of the Majors came in with a complaint that needed a certain type of ointment. He had had several and none had helped. I remembered a particular ointment that I had at the 438th dispensary and sent for some and gave it to him. Well, this evening he stopped me and said he wasn’t going to let me go back to the 438th because I was a good doctor etc. etc. and that was the first ointment that every helped his itch and burning. Of course, he’s got nothing to do with my staying, but he was complimentary anyway.

In a little while darling I’m going over to the Coonamessett Club and meet a few of the boys. I’ll have one or two for you too, dear, and then come back and get some rest. All right? I’ll stop now, dear, and write you a few lines in the a.m. It’s hard to write in the a.m. now because the Dispensary here is a madhouse from the moment I enter. Until tomorrow morning, Sweetheart – so long.

0730

Good Morning, Sweetheart –

I’m on my way to breakfast now. We went to the Coon Club – as expected. I now have a slightly used knife for our collection. Remind me to give it to you, dear. I can’t wait for Sat. to come – and I’ll have the car checked tomorrow so there won’t be any delay. Today is another busy time for me, but I don’t care. I’m thinking of Sat, dear. I’ll call you tonite – So long for now, darling and

All my love

Greg.

26 October, 1943 (2nd Letter)

570^th AAA AW BN (SP)

Camp Edwards, Mass

Oct. 26, 1943    2200

Darling Wilma –

I’ve just returned from a very miserable field problem held in a driving rainstorm. We set up the aid station in complete blackout. I sure was glad I had my new combination raincoat; the hood, dear, was a lifesaver.

I’m now in my new room in a different section of the Camp. I’m sharing this room, dear, with another Captain, T. by name – who is S-3 for the battalion (plans and training – or operations officer.) He seems to be a pleasant chap and very friendly.

We got back to Camp about 1500 and I went down to see Charlie to see what was new. It seems that the new M.D. isn’t working out at all and the Colonel is doing his best to get rid of him. Meanwhile, darling, Charlie had been up to AA Headquarters to find out my status – and dear he says the general implication is that I’ll be back in a few days. Sweetheart I’m in an awful dilemma. On the one hand I’m getting to like the idea of being with this outfit for several reasons. Most important of all is that it keeps me near to you. The one big thing I don’t like is the type of outfit I’m with. It’s just as bad as being with a tank battalion only it hasn’t got the defensive armor of tanks. My ambulance is like one of these tanks and undoubtedly our mission in this battalion would be to move with the first wave in a beach head landing or to go cross country with the infantry or armored forces. Now I’m not exactly yellow, Sweetheart – but there’s several ways for a doctor to fight a war, and this doesn’t seem to be the best way.

On the other hand, dear, if I should go back to the 438th, I’ll be leaving very shortly with perhaps this next week-end being the last for a while. Yet I understand that the 438th orders did not include staging here, which means they’ll be staged in N.Y. – which in turn means they’ll stay in N.Y. for awhile.

If you’ve followed me, darling, you’ll see that I’m confused. So much, so very much depends on what fate has in store for me the next few days, and I don’t know how much I should try to interfere with it. Only remember this, dear, for my own sake I care very little. I want so much to consummate our love, I dread the thought of anything that might interfere, and when all these problems arise that I’ve written you, I think then, sweetheart, only in reference to you and our future, and how our future might be affected by where I go, and when. Since I’ve been transferred to this outfit, the possibility of my becoming engaged to you before the war is over presented itself so strongly, that I’ve hardly thought of anything else. Going back to the 438th would be a bar to that. The crux of the whole matter, darling, is that I love you so very much that I don’t want to lose you, – I want to marry you when this is all over and all my thoughts revolve about that one delightful theme.

Wed – 0700

Darling –

My roommate came in while I was writing last nite and I couldn’t finish. I haven’t re-read this letter yet but I’ll bet it’s all mixed up. One thing is certain Sweetheart – and that is that the war must come to an end some day and I know that no matter where I go or with whatever outfit, that the Lord will allow me to come back to you, and what is just as important – that you will be there waiting. Darling that’s all for now. I haven’t had any mail from you yet. I’ll go down to the 438th and look for same this a.m. So long, Sweetheart and

All my love

Greg

26 October, 1943

570^th AAA AW BN (SP)

Scorton’s Neck

Oct. 26, 1943    1110

Dearest Sweetheart –

I’ve been wanting to write you all morning, but I haven’t had the time – and it really didn’t make any difference because the mail hasn’t gone out. That includes the letter I wrote you yesterday p.m. They’ll both be taken back to Camp and mailed this afternoon, before 1630 I hope.

I was only a few minutes late for the meeting last night, darling, but I didn’t get very much out of it anyway. I was still thinking about you or us and about our telephone conversation. I had a little difficulty in hearing you, dear, but I did hear you say “yes” to a very very important question. It makes me very happy, darling; I didn’t mean to sound conceited when I said I knew you would. I meant only that I loved you so much that I wouldn’t give up until you said ‘yes’ – even if it meant almost squeezing you into a pulp; which reminds me of this paper I’m writing on. Isn’t it peachy?

Well – after the meeting, dear, I went back to the dispensary and fooled around with my radio which wasn’t functioning too well. By the time I got it working again it was 2145 and I got ready for bed.

I got up about 0730 and for the first time in 3 or 4 nites I didn’t cough at all. I believe I dreamed about you most of the night and it was all very nice!

About 0930 I made kitchen inspection, and by 438^th standards, all the kitchens were poor. I informed the Col. (his name is Rose – not J. and from Kansas) about them and he admitted that he had had trouble with them. So I’m to give the battery commander, mess officer and mess sergeants the ‘benefit of my experience’ and speak to them all in a group. (The Col. had heard that the 438^th had been commended by the General on its sanitary status.) Incidentally – I’m considered a veteran by the other officers, in view of my field experience, and I’m continually answering a variety of questions. Boy am I important! I’d rather be important in Salem, though.

That reminds me, I haven’t contacted anyone there and I won’t until I find out whether or not I’m to stay here. If so – maybe we can start visiting there again, huh?

Concerning my new Col – I still don’t know much about him of course, dear – but from the way he talked this morning, I think he’ll be very cooperative.

As plans are now, darling, we’ll be in Camp – or garrison as its called, for the rest of the week. Monday we go out on a 5 day problem. I don’t know anything about the dispensary schedule, but you can be sure, dear, that if it’s at all possible – I’ll be off. In that case, and even at the cost of several C stickers, I’ll try to come up to Holyoke. I’ll have to start taking it easy on my stickers soon, darling, as long as I’m going to be around. That means no extraneous driving for me when I’m not seeing you, how’s that?

Well, darling, I have to make some preparations for our move back this afternoon so I better stop now. I plan to call you Wed. at 1900, so until then, dear

All my love

Greg.