Letters 61 - 65

On D-Day June 6, 1944, these were the songs that hit the charts on BBC Radio out of London

These were the songs on the BBC hit record chart on the 6 June 1944 and would have been heard by Eddie Cowley with the broadcast of the invastion in the news.

1 Berlin Or Bust — Sam Browne and the Six Swingers
2 The Last Post
3 Roll Me Over — Primo Scala
4 On The Sunny Side Of The Street — Tommy Dorsey
5 Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet — The Squadronaires featuring Beryl Davies
6 McNamara’s Band —Geraldo and his Orchestra with Johnny Green
7 Command Patrol - RAF Dance Orchestra
8 Bless You — The Inkspots
9 Opus One — Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
10 In The Mood - Glenn Miller
11 The Trolley Song — Judy Garland
12 I’ll Walk Alone — Ambrose and his Orchestra
13 The Dreamer — Henry Hall and his Orchestra with Eva Bynon
14 Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby — Skyrockets Dance Orchestra with Denny Dennis
15 There Goes That Song Again — Adelaide Hall
16 Till The End Of Time — Perry Como
17 The Grand Old Man — Max Miller
18 It Might As Well Be Spring — Dick Haymes
19 That Lovely Weekend — Geraldo and his Orchestra
20 Don’t Fence Me In — Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters
21 Mairzy Doats and Dozy Doats — Lou Praeger and his Orchestra with Paul Rich
22 There’ll Always Be An England — Sam Browne
23 They're Either Too Young Or Too Old - Carroll Gibbons
24 The Vic'Try Polka - Joe Loss and His Orchestra
25 Lilli Marlene - Marlene Dietrich
26 White Cliffs Of Dover - Vera Lynn

Letter # 61

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
Predicted “D” Day
Monday, June 5, 1944
Dear Mom,
I’m sorry I’ve neglected my writing lately but they’re really keeping us busy down here. Today we put on a real show. Our battalion attacked a fortified German position. I had a swell view of the whole thing from our gun implacement on the top of a hill. We fired everything the Infantry has. The tanks with their 75’s were on line with us & the 105 & 153’s from the artillery layed down a terrific barrage. It was quite a sight to see all the weapons in action. The mortars threw down a smoke screen & the Infantry moved right up a hundred yds behind the heavy fire. They used machine guns, flame throwers, demolition squads, bazookas & of course our anti-tanks guns were there too. Incidentally I fired live stuff for the 1st time.

Last weekend I went into Greenwood & had a pretty good time. Am planning on going to New Orleans week after next. Have applied for a 2 day pass & would really like to see what New Orleans looks like while the opportunity is here.

For the last couple weeks I’ve been thinking that the invasion would start June 6th (tomorrow) Looks like I was wrong. I’ve taken out an a 25$ bond to be sent home every month as soon as I start overseas. Went in swimming in the Greenwood pool Sat & enjoyed in quite a bit. Am surprised to hear the kids are going in so early out at the lake. Well, its lights out so I’ll say so long for awhile.
Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 62


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
More about D Day
“D” day, June 6, 1944
Dear Mother,
Well the big push is on at last. Bet Dad has had his ears glued to the radio & that globe of his. Maybe pretty soon we’ll be able to throw that globe out the window & think of home & just home. It must be quite a show they’re putting on over there. I’m damn glad my name isn’t “Fritz” & that’s no kidding. It’s the end of huns for generations to come. Kinda wish I was over there with those “guys”, but imagine you’re darn glad I’m where I am. Don’t know what I’ll tell my kids when they ask me where I was on “D” day.

You know I knew when this was going to happen. I was taking a 25 mile march one night last week when all of a sudden something told me the invasion would be on Tuesday & I told the fellas that when we woke up Tues. morning the radio would be announcing the invasion & sure enough the radio woke me up with the invasion cry. Think I mentioned it to you in the letter I wrote Monday.

Well, just thought I’d drop you a short note and I want to remind you to keep praying for those G.I.’s that are going in the hard way. Good nite folks!
Love to all,

Eddie

Letter # 63
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
June 17, 1944
Dear Mom,

Just got in from the field yesterday and have been cleaning equipment until now. Have just been put on detail so I’ll have to leave --- Continued on June 19th.

Well, I suppose I just got in again, spent the weekend in Greenwood. Celebrated Fathers day by sleeping in the Greenwood Fire house, which incidentally is air conditioned and very modern. Just before I went to town I had some salt tablet with my dinner & felt pretty sick so I went right to the firehouse as there wasn’t any rooms left in town. The fireman were a good bunch of guys & gave me a swell bed & I’m feeling fine now. Told them Dad was a Fire Captain up in Buffalo & I think that helped me get the bed. They didn’t have a ping pong table however so I didn’t stay.

Received a nice identification bracelet from Bettee, but as usual I haven’t sent her anything as yet but am trying to keep it in my brain to get something. Guess I owe everybody a present, a letter or some other thing. Well, it looks like I’m not going to get that furlough I thought I might get. We’re getting ready to go to our staging area & turning all our equipment in for new stuff. Don’t think we’l see much action, if any. I’ve been taking every pass I could get but haven’t been able to get into New Orleans. We should be leaving this lousy South soon anyhow. Very few places are worse than Miss. so we can’t lose much. I’ll try & put a call in one of these nights so I can say hello to everyone.

I’ve been expending my artistic talents painting nick names & range charts on our 57’s lately. My gun is “One-Time-Only” a popular G.I. expression in the South.
Could you find out Bob Humphries address for me. I haven’t heard from him in over a years so I thought I might write. Ask Roy Woodmans mother for Roy’s address also (You can call her up if you want to). I’d like to hear from them at least once a year. Heard Bob was in action in the So. Pacific. Seems funny to be writing that about a guy who used to sing to me out at the lake. The kids are certainly growing up fast, aren’t they.

Bob Schultz was commissioned recently, guess that makes all the Dragons in service officers or non coms but me & to think I wanted to go to West Point.
How’s my little buddy Jimmy Piehardt doing nowadays?

Tell Rhoda (Hotlips) to drop me a little more of her line if you happen to see her.
I feel pretty good now, except that all the insults in Miss. have bitten me twice.

I’m afraid your hopes of getting me back to school in Sept. won’t be possible. I’d say I’ll be back at State in 46’ Once we get overseas & the war ends we may be delayed a year or two in getting back, but we won’t be if I can help it. Anyhow Peggy & I can go up to school together. This is the most I’ve written in a long time but I think we’l have more time to write from now on. Well, stay healthy all of you & don’t worry about Eddie Jr.

Love to my family,
Eddie

Letter # 64
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
Thursday, June 22, 1944
Dear Mom,

I’m on latrine orderly today so will have time to write letters, I hope. Very pleased to hear Dad enjoyed his holiday and wish I could have been home to help him drink his Ballantines.

Haven’t got much news this time as we aren’t doing anything but packing & having inspections. The war news looks pretty good right now & if our luck keeps up the war might be over in a year. Don’t know what they’re going to do with us over there but there must be some place that needs to be guarded. I’ve suggested Buffalo but don’t think the army will agree.

Don’t think I’ll be able to make New Orleans as passes are few & far between. Harry Matlimore is home on furlough until the 28th & I asked him to stop over at the house & pick up his pictures. Guess he is going to start his training in July.
We’re having corn on the cob for dinner tonight. One ear apiece will just about kill me though.

Are they swimming out at Hamburg this year? What are you going to do on Dad’s vacation. It should be coming up pretty soon or is he still confusing “Doc” Hartnett by talking about it in complicated mathematical formulas.

Well, chow time is dangerously close so I’ll sign off for awhile.
Love to all,

P.S. Hope Peggy has a good time out at the lake & I’m afraid she’d have a hard time putting George in a garbage can.

Letter # 65


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, June 26, 1944
Saturday,
Dear Mom,

Well, another week has passed and I’m expecting to down to Greenwood tonight & tomorrow. Almost got a pass yesterday but we drew cards, just two of us & I lost. Can’t seem to have any luck on those passes.

Went into Greenwood Grenada last night & sent some things home by Railway Express. It doesn’t mean I’ve gone over or anything. It’s just that the captain made us get rid of all those things so we won’t be bothered with them when we do so don’t worry. You can give the field jacket & the pants to George if Dad doesn’t want them. The shoes should fit Dad as they’re 8 ½ D’s That’s his size isn’t it. Have plenty of underwear tops so you can put those back in my drawer along with my Dragon robe. Don’t think I would ever have used all that arid. Peggy can have my expert Infantry badge but tell her to take care of it as they’re hard to get. Also the hats. That blue braid should be put on the one with red.

Thought Dad might want to look over those manuals, Betty’s picture, the class letter etc.  Guess that covers most of the stuff so you know what to do with it all.

Haven’t been doing much of anything lately, not even much K.P. I feel fine & am getting pretty tan but we never take our shirts off so don’t get tan like I used to. Am thinking of calling home maybe next week if its all right by you. Let me know a couple nights which would be allright & I’ll try to get a call thru. Have to go to work for awhile. So long
Love to all,
Eddie

-----------------------------------
Opus One Tommy Dorsey



On The Sunny Side of the Street - Tommy Dorsey

Letters 56 - 60

Letter # 56

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 April 23, 1944

Thursday

Dear Mom,

Well I’ve got some good news at last. I’m going on furlough with the next bunch to pull out. Am afraid I’ll be needing some money as I might not get paid before I leave. Could you send me 40$ from my bank account as soon as possible. (is that good news?) Perhaps you had better wire it. Don’t know how I can work my finances as I was counting on using my pay for train fare & spending my bank money. Well all that can be arranged later I guess. All I have to do now is sweat this thing out for another week or two.

Received the newspaper today & think its swell. Certainly would like to have you send it every week. By the way I wish you’d congratulate Mr. Brady on Chucks commission. Think its great. Sorry to hear Joe Rooney was wounded. Hope it isn’t too serious.

Have been pretty busy this week with 2 K.P.’s already & still two more days to go. Don’t know how the army ever got pots & pans clean before my time.

The weather down here is pretty fair. We’re in our sun tans & I’ll have wear them out of camp & then change into my O.D.’s when I hit the good old northlands. I’ll have all kinds of uniforms with me.

Saw Mickey Rooney the other night in Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble or something like that & split my sides laughing. Even if he is 4F he’s a good comedian. Well, haven’t much more to say now but will have plenty when I get home.

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 57

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

Sunday, April 30, 1944

Dear Mom,

I’m spending today recuperating from a 25 mile forced march yesterday. It came as a surprise and darn near set me on my fanny. We made it in pretty good time 6 ½ hours, that’s with ½ hour out for lunch & 4, 10 minute rest periods. Just think how fast I’ll be able to move around when I get home.

Got a big kick out of Aunt Anna’s letter in which she told me all about the kids & the dance. I think she had just as much fun as they did fixing them up. She certainly fixed them in great style. Bet Peggy loved it.

Speaking of Mary Criswell, Bob DeWitt has been pestering me to write her & find out (subtly) how he stands with Ginny Warren, or something like that, who goes around with Mary. Just joking I told him that she was an old flame & might think I had other reasons for writing. And now coincidentally you’re calling her an old flame. Poor Mary is certainly taking a beating. Can understand why (stubby) Nehin can’t forget me as I dam near drove her crazy when I was in her class. I had Miss Benders when I won that famous book though. Looks like I left an indelible mark on all those nutty teachers.

Well, my chances for a furlough are very good. Matter of fact my papers are already in Division so I should be home before the 15th providing everything goes as scheduled. Did I tell you I just had my hair cut off a couple weeks ago as the heat down here is terrific & is getting hotter all the time. Doubt very much if Donnie is in combat all ready. He probably is learning how to be a sailor (which isn’t bad) somewhere along the American waters.

Thank you for the weather reports. I won’t be able to wear my coat as it is a very heavy wool over coat, but my O.D.’s will be plenty warm as long as it isn’t too cold.When I get home I want to put on one of my white shirts again so I hope they’re still around. Civilian clothes would feel great for a couple hours after seeing and wearing nothing but army for 7 months.

Peggy must be quite a reader if she can go thru gone with the wind. Her brother couldn’t read it in 10 yrs. matter of fact the picture was even too long for me to see. By the way whats playing at the Enlanger for the next couple weeks. Might drop in there for a play if something good is playing.
Did I tell you Bob DeWitt is going to be a turret gunner in a B-19 (Flying Fort) He’s qualified Cadet but the air corps is giving up trying to bomb Germany out and is giving the job to G.I. Joe the MI’s. Hope the invasion gets underway soon as I still wouldn’t like the distinction of being 1st to hit the beach.

Well, its just about chow time so I’ll be saying so long for awhile

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 58A

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

Wednesday May 17, 1944

Dear Mom,

Well, I’m back in good ole Mississippi again. Really had a wonderful time at home and all ready am looking for another furlough. We arrived on time, 4 o’clock this morning to be exact. I was very lucky and was Company fireman all day which means I just about had the day off. Higgins was greeted with K.P. early this morn. I’ve got all my equipment back in order and am ready for an overnight problem tomorrow. Guess I had more people see me off than any 9 guys up there. The sandwiches, candy, cookies etc. were swell & kept me going till dinner yesterday. We met Howard Curler & a few other fellows in Chicago & shot the bull all the way to McCain.

Had a bunch of letters here to read this afternoon so I had a great time. However I’m pretty tired so I’m gonna hit the sack early tonight “for a change”.

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 58B

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 May 20, 1944

Friday,

Dear Mom,

At last I’m strong enough to hold my pen pretty steady. My cold is coming along fine. Its over 90° down here so I’ve sweat sweat out most of it already. Can understand why Southerners are so lazy with all this heat. What do you mean forget the Turkey sandwiches? That’s something I never could do. Hope Peggy’s Confirmation comes off okay & the Bishop doesn’t floor her with that wallop. I’ll have to send her something, that is if I can find something worth sending down here.

For the past couple weeks we’ve been on a pretty rugged schedule so I should be knocking myself back into shape in a week or so. We’re going on some kind of maneuvers with the Tank corps soon. I’ve got K.P. again tomorrow so I suppose I’ll be pretty busy this weekend but am going to try to get into town for awhile.

Bob DeWitt should be getting home soon according to his latest letter. By the way has Roy & John Woodman come home as yet? Tell them I was sorry I had to miss them. Well I’ve got a guard mount to make & a bunch of letters to answer so I’ll say so long for awhile.

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 59

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 May 26, 1944

Rec’d May 29th Eddie’s 19th Birthday

Thursday,

Dear Mom,

Just received the snap shots which are dandy. You & dad both took swell pictures & Betty also. Of course Harry & I never did have much to take pictures with so we seemed to take out usual horrible picture. Its chow time now so I shall continue later!

Well back from chow, what a change from those meals I had at home. My morale is a lot higher now that I’ve seen all the folks again & tasted good food. I’ve been riding around on tanks the last couple of days. Its just like riding the cyclone only there isn’t any dance hall next door. We’re giving the 772nd tank Battalion a good workout.

There’s a sweet rumor going around that furloughs are going to be continued so if I’m lucky I might get home again in 4 or 5 months. Can’t count on it though as we may ship anytime (but personally I doubt it) I’ve showed the pictures to all the boys & they think they're swell. Tonight we’re going into the field until Sat. so I probably won’t be able to write until the weekend. Am going to try & have some snaps taken down here to send home.

Better have dad fix that zipper if he’s going to have any more pictures taken. Well, have to get ready to play cops & robbers tonight.

Love to all,
Eddie

Letter # 60

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

Tuesday May 30, 1944

Dear Mom,

Well I’m nineteen years old yesterday & despite my years am feeling fine & healthy. My cold has long been sweated out of me by the heat down here. All you have to do down here is march a couple hundred yds & then you’re soaking wet. Never thought I had so much sweat in me. I’d like to fall asleep in a nice big bath tub with an ice pack on my head. I’d even put a few moth crystals (sweater shoppe) in with me like Dad always does.

Received my box today and it is dandy. Got a big kick out of genius in the So. Buff. kids who emptied the can of worms in the Seneca, Thanks for the financial lift also! Haven’t written much in the past two weeks as the heat takes everything out of us and we just have enough strength left to fall into sack. Got a nice letter and card from my twin, June McMahon whose birthday is also the 28th. She said “Boom” Cannan got his wings the other day. We’ve got a parade this afternoon and a 25 mile march tonight so I’ll probably be standing on my ears before the day is thru.

Had a big divisional parade the other day & put on a big demonstration for undersecretary of war Patterson & a bunch of brass hats. They liked us, damn it! Think we’re going out to Holly Springs for a couple of weeks soon. Tried to get into town Sat. but there wasn’t any bus transportation & the lousy Southerners wouldn’t pick up anyone if they ran over you. Well, we’re falling out soon so I shall start getting prepared.

Love to all,
Eddie