Letters 47 Through 50

Letter # 47

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
Hgts.Co. 1st Bn. 301st Inf.
A.P.O. 94
Camp McCain Miss.

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

Postmarked, March 25, 1944

Friday,

Dear Mom,

Haven’t written in a couple of days so I thought I’d drop you a little note this morning. Was Jimmy Donavan home before he went across? I probably would have gone with him if it hadn’t been for ASTP. I think I’ll try and get a call thru Sunday morn. You won’t get this till Monday or Tuesday so it won’t be too much warning. There isn’t much going on down here, the same old stuff day in and day out. Next week we fire the 57mm, Should be something different.

My eyes won’t have to be examined as they’re 20-20 with the glasses I have now. Al I have to do is send you the frames & the money and you can have them replaced to my prescription. Then I you can pick them up & keep them at home. I’ll be able to wear them on my furlough then I can have them fitted at my convenience. Furloughs are only 7 days now so I won’t be home too long, if and when. Am looking forward to a swell home cooked meal like the ones I enjoyed for years.

I'm sorry to hear Danny didn’t get a chance to go to school. Thought he would as he was a med student but I guess they just threw everyone in the Infantry regardless. Got a nice letter from Betty McCarrol the other day. Maybe I’ll drop Betty Bailey after all. I’ll be sure to drop a line to the Crowleys. That was very nice of them.

So the Catholics are after our money again this year. They never forget do they. By the way how’s Father Nash these days? Miss his long sermons quite a bit. Peggy sent me a little picture. She told me she sends all the good ones to Don so I guess I know where I stand, just kidding of course.

That was an excellent tribute doc paid to Tom Casey, don’t you think? The Hartnetts haven’t heard from Buddy in quite some time but no news is good news so I hope he’s alright.

Well, I guess I just about wound everything so I’ll say so long for awhile.

Love to all, Eddie


Letter # 48

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
Hgts.Co. 1st Bn. 301st Inf.
A.P.O. 94
Camp McCain Miss.

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

Postmarked, March 27, 1944

Sunday morn,

Dear Mom,

Just finished with my call to home. You might know I’d call at the wrong time. I was going to make the call person to person but then I figured all three of you would be in church together & changed my mind. I know you’ll be disappointed but not any more than I as I had planned on surprising you all week. However Peggy & I had a good talk and I gave her all the dope. She could hardly talk because you & Dad weren’t home. Well I’ll try and put a call thru in another month or so. If I do I’ll write & you can arrange to go to some earlier mass so they’re won’t be any chance of missing you.

Received the candy & the gum yesterday. Its swell incidentally I was on my last stick when it arrived. Well we’re going to take a walk down to the 376 Regt. To see some of our old buddies so I’ll be closing for awhile.


Love to all,
Eddie


Letter # 49

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
Hgts.Co. 1st Bn. 301st Inf.
A.P.O. 94
Camp McCain Miss.

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

March 30, 1944

Dear Mom,

My last sheet of paper till payday! At last it has stopped raining down here. We almost had to go on flood duty as the old Mississippi was on the rampage. Today, I am Co. fireman which means I keep 11 stoves burning, if possible. I’ve put about six out already but our barracks are nice and warm.

You might just as well forget the possibilities of me getting home soon as I talked to the 1st sarge today and he confirmed my suspicions. Got myself in the wrong Co. that’s all there is to it. the Capt. has put the new men at the bottom of the list so we haven’t a chance unless something very unusual turns up.

I’m going to try a put a call thru to home Easter morning right after I go to mass so if you can make it , go to an early mass and everything will be fine. This weekend end I’m planning on going into Greenwood Miss. Just to get away from here for a day if possible. I could go to Memphis but don’t care for the long ride.

Danny got a wonderful break. Say “hello” to him for me if you see him. We aren’t doing much of anything these days so life is rather dull. Hope we leave Miss. soon as its gonna be awful hot down here this summer. Well, so long until the next time.

Love to all,
Eddie


Letter # 50

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
Hgts.Co. 1st Bn. 301st Inf.
A.P.O. 94
Camp McCain Miss.

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

Postmarked April 5, 1944

Dear Dad,

I’ve been writing to mother for a long time now so I figured it was time I wrote you. You know the guys were talking about their fathers one day a couple months ago. One kid had a father who was a 1st Lieut. In the Eng. so naturally I told them my father was a Captain. They thought it was army but finally I told them it was the B.F.D. Of I also told them you had a company under you & belonged to the officers club. They’l probably salute if they see you.

Glad to hear Romu is home on leave. But Peggy feels pretty important. Guess the navy gets all the leaves. Be sure & be home as I’ll try & call Easter morn, if I’m not on K.P.
We aren’t doing much now except running all kinds of combat courses & the like. I’m kinda expecting something to break soon, don’t know what. Well its 11 o’clock so I’ll have to close & get a little sleep, we’re attacking a nazi villiage in the morning. So long for awhile.

Love to all,
Eddie

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The 1944 Jukebox Selection: Till Then