Letters Home - 36th Through 40th

Mess Hall


Letter # 36

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
7th Co. 5th Regt ASTP
Fort Benning, Georgia

The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo, N.Y.
Zone 20

Postmarked, February 19, 1944

Thursday,

Dear mom,

Well at last I’ve got some good news. I’m going to Bowdoin, in Maine. Its right on the Atlantic coast about 200 miles from Troy and about 500 miles from home. The college itself is in a little town named Brunswick. All the rest of the guys are going to California, Oregon, Washington etc. Bowdoin was the only college in the east and was I ever lucky. Can’t understand how I got such a good break. Maybe I’l be getting home in a couple months.
We’ll be leaving soon but I'll keep writing until you hear from me from Maine.

Tonight we’re having a Company banquet and then a few of the musically inclined on are going to put on a program for us in the “Rec” hall. Should be quite a gay night so I’l better start getting cleaned up. I knew you wanted to know where I was going so I’m writing immediately. I’d like to call but haven’t the time right now. The next time I call it will be from the good old north. So long for awhile.

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 37

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
7th Co. 5th Regt ASTP
Fort Benning, Georgia

The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo, N.Y.
Zone 20

Postmarked, February 21, 1944

Dear mom,

I suppose you’ve heard the news that ASTP is discontinued. Guess its straight stuff this time. It looks like we’re going to college for awhile as our shipping orders are posted but they can still be cancelled, I imagine. I’d like very much to see Maine and perhaps get home, so I hope we ship. Its hard to say what they’ll do with us but I imagine I’ll be assigned to an Infantry outfit soon. To tell you the truth I didn’t think ASTP would last much longer so I kind of anticipated its termination. Just have to sit tight now and wait until my fate is decided. Maybe Danny will go to school. The premeds are still going so he should have a fair chance of making it. I’ve heard that the term at Bowdoin doesn’t start until the 24th of March. If we get there soon, we might get a pass or short furlough. If I could get 3 days I could get home for a few minutes at least. Of course you can never tell what the army will do as you well know by now.

Glad to hear Peggy is doing so well in school. Perhaps we can be in the same class up at State. That’s only 4 yrs away and it looks like the way the war will last that long. I’m enclosing $5 in stamps for Peggy Lou. I’ll have more shortly. Well best of health to all and I hope I may see you shortly.

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 38

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
7th Co. 5th Regt ASTP
Fort Benning, Georgia

The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo, N.Y.
Zone 20

Postmarked, February 26, 1944

Friday,

Dear mom,

By now you must know that ASTP is definitely discontinued. When I last wrote everything was undecided. We had been assigned our shipping orders and date of departure. Incidentally that information was a military secret. Some of the parents sent telegrams congratulating sons on their lucky destination. The colonel was pretty peeved & spoke to us about it threatening a court martial for the next Telegram. So from now on don’t send telegrams or say anything about “military secrets” in my letters. I’ve got athletes foot and am on sick call today for the 1st time in almost five months.

This afternoon we are taking our overseas physical. They aren’t wasting any time in sending us to combat. I hope I pass it as I’d hate to fight from a reception canter or the like. It doesn’t mean we’l be sent across immediately as we probably will spend a few months on manouvers someplace. The chances of transferring to another branch of the service are very slim so I guess I shall stay in the Infantry. At the present we have no idea whatever as to when we’l be sent but they have to send us someplace soon, I hope.
The picture you sent of State was swell. Must be beautiful in Buffalo now with all that snow. All we have is rain down here but we have plenty of That.

I knew Tom Casey pretty well. Used to take Gym with him down at S.P. He graduated with “Doc” We went out with him a couple times.
Sorry to hear Jim Richards is sick. Hope he comes thru it okay. Tell “Doc” to give Jimmy my best wishes. Once more I’m enclosing a couple stamps for Peggys collection. If I keep it up she’ll have a bond in no time. We’re leading a pretty soft life down here, we have a 12 mile march every other day and only work a half day when we aren’t marching. Can’t complain about anything. Foods as good as usual. Weathers Typical and I feel fine except for a touch of athlete’s foot.

Did I tell you I had my uniform tailored last week. Fits perfectly now. Even had the shirt form fitted. Like it a lot better now.
Well I hope everyone at home is feeling fine and taking good care of the new curtains. Forgot to mention that part about a picture of Dad in my coat you wrote about. Whats the big idea? Now that I can’t get back a him he’s taking advantage. Has Dad started wearing my socks as yet? Just wait

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 39

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
7th Co. 5th Regt ASTP
Fort Benning, Georgia

The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo, N.Y.
Zone 20

Postmarked, February 29, 1944

Monday, 1944

Dear mom,

Still in Benning and probably will be for quite a while.
I’m getting a couple new pair of glasses this week or next. Broke my rimless the other day. Am wearing the old ones now. Think I might send home the broken ones and you could have them fixed to my prescription. When I do I’ll send the money also, its 5 or 6 dollars isn’t it?

Had athlete’s foot on my ankle but its all cleared up now & I’m feeling fine but wish that we’d ship out of here. Everyone’s sick of the place. For the past couple weeks we’ve only been working mornings which leaves us plenty of time for ourselves and also has given me time to catch up on my letter writing.

I’m enclosing a sketch I made of our helmets. Just to let you know what we live in down here. There are 20 men in every each of these huts. How do you like them? Did a nice water colour which I might get around to sending home. Can’t keep anything like that around here as I don’t think the Captain appreciates real art. So long for awhile.


Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 40

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
7th Co. 5th Regt ASTP
Fort Benning, Georgia

The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo, N.Y.
Zone 20

March 6, 1944

Hello folks,

There isn’t much going on down here now. We’re getting ready to ship out again, only we do that every week. Looks like we’re going to join some Infantry outfit someplace. We should be reclassified but I’ll still go to the Infantry so it doesn’t mean too much. For the 1st time in months I’ve got all my clothes clean and it was quite a job. They haven’t given us any laundry in 2 months. Got myself a swell pair of “officers” shoes the other day for $3.50. They’re really $10 shoes but I got them thru an officer so I got had quite a discount. Also bought a new belt so I’m all set for a furlough even if I haven’t got a chance of getting one.

I’m afraid you’d better forget about my getting home for a couple months as I hate to have you expecting me all the time when I won’t get home until next summer perhaps. Nothings very definite in the army and we never know what the deuce they’re going to do next.
This afternoon after doing my wash I layed out in the sun and soaked up all the ultra violet rays. Bet that sounds funny with snow in Buffalo. Tonight we’re going down to the theater and see Donald O’Connor in a “Chip Off the Old Block” Should be pretty good. By the way be sure and not miss the Five Sullivans’ I thought it was very well worked out for the touchy subject it embodies.
Well must dress for a big time tonight. Love to all,

Eddie
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1944 Song: Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me