November 15 - 29, 1944

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
1st BN HG CO 301 Inf
APO 94 c/o PM NY, NY

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

Nov 15 1944
France
Dear family,

Has been a couple days since I last wrote so guess I owe you a long letter. Am feeling fine and; hope everyone at home is well. Haven’t received any mail for a few days, but I think this Christmas rush has a lot of my mail tied up someplace and; it will probably arrive in bunches.

Have been preparing a little box to send home, it isn’t much of anything but maybe a few little souvenirs you might enjoy. Have Peg’s little gift in the box also. You will find an issue of “The Stars and; Stripes” our ETO newspaper. They come out every day but we usually get them 2 or maybe 3 times a week if we’re lucky. Pretty nice little paper, strictly for G.I.’s Also am sending a few articles from our “K” ration, 3 packs of smokes (we get one in a ration), a concentrated candy bar, from the “Supper” ration, which I’d like you to taste. It has 3 small sections; for Dad; for mother and; 1 for Peggy Lou plus the empty wrapper (also for Peggy) Also from the “K” rations I’m sending a special type of paper which I have become very familiar with since landing in France. (and how) Another thing which I have not been able to send in letters is a few foreign coins. You will find 84c worth of foreign exchange in Francs and; Pence. Have room left for 6 German insignias. There are 2 insignia of the “Luftwaffer” or German air corps, 3 of the German Navy and; one Epaulet of a German “Unterofficier” or Buck Sergeant as we call em. They will be nice to hang up on Peggy’s banners in her bedroom or whatever you want to do with them. Could put a couple in the “book” if you’d like to. Sorry I won’t have room for anything else but hope you get a kick out of the little box. Don’t intend it as any sort of Christmas present as I surely would send something nice & more personal & always the best. You remember I always bought pretty good stuff at Christmas ex. “Richard Hulnut” compact which I picked out & mother paid for: What a deal that was hey! Was thinking I might send “Doc” Hartnett some money & have him bring presents over to you on Christmas but realized that wouldn’t be right so decided to let the presents go & until I can hand them to you in person & get a little kiss. Don’t want “Doc” collecting kisses on my presents!

Glad to hear Doc stopped over, know how much you like to see & talk to him. Will have him stop over every once in a while. Know he likes Ballantines too. He is a funny kid. Tell you when Harry, Doc, Kenny & myself went out we had a riot. They’re a great bunch of fellas & right now they’re pretty damn good soldiers, I bet. We’l have some great times after the war! Harry is just as comical as Doc only he’s more reserved & I sure am glad you & Lil are sending him a Christmas package. He’l really appreciate it! Thank Lil for me! I think she’s grand! We’l have a big get together when we get back. The Dragons & families plus the Crowley’s & Doug. That will be quite an honor (although the “Bachelors” wouldn’t agree) for Lil, Connie & Doug to be invited to a “Dragon Jamboree” & who can tell they may get “Honorary Dragon Certificates” which is one step higher that the Congressional medal, the Victoria Cross & a months gasoline coupons combined. Sure hope that day will come soon, but am afraid it will just be a dream for a couple or more years to come.

Wrote a letter to Bette Bailey couple days ago, 1st letter since leaving McCain although I did sent her a v-mail about a month ago. Am now writing to girls in Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio & Bette McCarrows on Crystal Ave. Haven’t heard from my old girl friend “Mairsy” but I guess she probably hasn’t received my missile as yet, will bawl her out anyhow. How is the Crowley’s dog? Carry his (or is it her) picture with me all the time. Dad & Connie are also in the picture.

Aunt Peg handed me quite a subtle insult in her last letter. Hope it wasn’t intentional! She wrote that she had bought a new leather waste basket to match my leather picture frame. I caught the jest immediately. It has to do with those matching quizzes. If the basket matches the frame, the waste in the basket matches whats within the frame. I don’t like that kind of funny business so I don’t look like a Barrymore but I look like my father so you argue from there Dad. She really insulted the whole family if you stop to figure it out but seeing I always thought she was pretty swell I’ll let it pass this once.

Am amazed at Rhoda wanting to marry that joker. Thought she was strictly a “Dragon moll” She hardly knows the guy as he’s been guarding the Polar Bears in Newfoundland or someplace like that for years. Its ridiculous!!! Doc told me the cottage he picked out had 3 ice boxes for “You know what” Did he mention the ice boxes to you or was that why Peggy was listening so closely? I wrote & told him it sounds pretty good to me renting the 3 ice boxes with a cottage around them for added convenience.

I don’t intend to do a thing but rest when I get home. Will enjoy working around the house instead of the barracks or the field for a change, so you can start lining up jobs for me. Think Doc would make a very good announcer & sure hope he makes good. Can’t see where anything would deny him success as he’s got the personality & that’s 90% of the battle. By the way has Clarence ever been down to the house? I’ll tell him to stop by as I think you’d enjoy seeing him. Well, this paper is ripped in half so I shall be saying so long for a day or two. Haven’t had the chance to get to church or communion in the past couple months but am in the state of grace always so don’t worry.

Your loving son, Eddie



A.S.H. 42025054
Pvt. E. Cowley
1st BN HG CO 301 INF
APO 94 c/o PM NY, NY

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

War & Navy Departments
V-Mail Services
Official Business

Nov 19, 1944
‘Tis France!

Dear folks,
Wrote a v-mail home yesterday – All in French. Guess you’l have to get Mrs. Lunquist on the ball. Thought you might get a kick out of it even thou you couldn’t understand it and doubt whether any one but myself can. Wrote a letter to Miss Mulholland today and thought I’d better write home again in English. I’m feeling quite well & received package #3 y two days ago. Will send home that little box I promised you tomorrow if possible. Haven’t has any mail for 4 days but neither has anyone else gotten much to speak of. Think they dump it in the ocean on the way over. Things are fairly quiet at the present and I hope the damn war ends soon. Glad to hear your getting my war bonds, one every month you know. Hope everyone is well and enjoyed Thanksgiving. Say hello to all the family for me and save me a bottle of Ballantines. Almost 3 months since I’ve tasted beer of any kind. Am losing a little cross fat. Hope to hear from you soon.

Love to all,
Eddie

A.S.H. 42025054
Pvt. E. Cowley
1st BN HG CO 301 INF
APO 94 c/o PM NY, NY

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

War & Navy Departments
V-Mail Services
Official Business

Nov 22, 1944
France

Dear folks,

Received 3 v-mails from home yest, Nov 4, 8, & 9. Glad to hear everyone is feeling well again at home. I’m still the same, healthy as ever. Did Dad understand those problems I sent him, surely thought anyone that anyone who went as far in grade school as he did would be able to figure that tough one. Don’t think Jack Tubridy escorted us, matter of fact he couldn’t have. Nice knowing Dad received his letter & glad to hear he will answer it. Can’t understand what happened to my money orders, maybe they were lost. Sent them the 1st week in Oct & you haven’t acknowledged them yet. Have another to send home soon. have your little pk. All wrapped & waiting for the official O.K. – Peggy seems to be doing very good in school, hope she keeps it up. Thought she would have seen some plays by now but haven’t heard. Make sure she has all the money she needs as you’l get plenty from me every month. How did you like my “French letter” bet it was quite a shock. I’ve probably been a lot closer to Jack O’Mara than he would think but a meeting at the present is impossible. Received my combat Infantry badge (blue with a silver wreath) but can’t send it home as planned. Guess they figure the Germans won’t know we’re fighting if we don’t wear our little badges.

Lots of love,
Eddie

A.S.H. 42025054
Pvt. E. Cowley
1st BN HG CO 301 INF
APO 94 c/o PM NY, NY
The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo 20 N.Y.
War & Navy Departments

V-Mail Services
Official Business
Thanksgiving! 1944
France,

Dear folks,

Well today is Thanksgiving back home & I sure do wish I was with you to celebrate like we used to. Its just another day over here which brings us that much closer to the time we start for the states. Imagine after 2 more Thanksgivings we should be on our way home, its gonna be a long time to wait but believe me its something worth waiting for. Think the cooks have got some Turkeys for us so we haven’t a thing to complain about! Wonder if Peggy is going to the football game today? You don’t have to worry about me buying any green pants on my future shopping spree, although I’m not gonna be denied a thing I want & will have plenty of each to back up my orders. Should have close to a thousand in the bank. See where I’ll be able to get all my tuition free for nothing plus 50$ per month maintenance. Of course I won’t be entitled to the mustering out pay but 50 a month plus 3 years sounds pretty good to me. Am hoping I will be interested in school when I return but am quite sure I will be probably more studious than ever. Of course the kids will all be different from the old crowd & I’ll be older than most of the kids quite a bit. Should work out allright I imagine.

Fighting is very bitter in Germany now, this unusual surrender is extracting a terrific toll in lives. Looks like the Germans intend to fight for every inch of ground. Fortunately we haven’t got it bad at all right now so you needn’t worry about me at all. The mail is miserable lately due to the Christmas rush and we get 1 or 2 letters a week. Everyone at home owes me a letter so I haven’t been doing much writing except to home. How’s everything on Woodside, have the Grens caused much trouble lately? Asked Clarence to drop in on you one of these nights. He’s enrolling in Syracuse this Jan. I hear. How’s Bette McCarrows & Mairsie? Will have 4 months over seas soon. Time sure drags over here, months seem like years. When is Peggy going to start going to the shows? Think I will join the dramatic club at state when I get back, was quite a success in grammar school ha!ha!. Read “Good Night, Sweet Prince” the life of John Barrymore by Gene Fowler, very good! Think I’ll just go to bed & sleep when I get home, of course I will have to dig a foxhole in the back yard (force of habit) first. Well, take good care of yourselves & I’ll do the same over here. Hope I hear from you tonight.

Love to all,
Eddie

A.S.H. 42025054
Pvt. E. Cowley
1st BN HG CO 301 INF
APO 94 c/o PM NY, NY
The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo 20 N.Y.

War & Navy Departments
V-Mail Services
Official Business
Nov 29, 1944 - France

Dear folks,

Today I was the proud recipient of 4 letters from home. We were given our back mail from Oct. Just found out about Peggy being in the drum corps, which I think is very nice. She had better be a snappy marcher as I can be awful mean when I drill someone. Was very sorry to hear those wise guys try tried to spoil Peggy’s party. Guess they think they’re big shots with all the boys away. Believe me they wont look so big when we get home. Maybe, if Peggy behaves, I’ll let her sorority have a party for my boys. Kinda think they’d go for Doc, Sunny Whiteford, Bob DeWitt, Bob Humphries, Jack O’Niel and the rest of the gang, how about it Peggy? Makes me feel great to know you think about me so much but I just happened to think is you sent me to the store for an Amer. Flag now I’d probably come back with a qt. of beer and whats more Dad wouldn’t be mad at all. Swell to hear I’ll be able to stay out till two o’clock, maybe I’ll turn the tables and make Dad come in at 10? Eisenhower and myself are running the war pretty well now and somehow or other I have a feeling that Germanys collapse isn’t too far away, Jan . perhaps. Keep praying though as 2 months or so is an awful lot of minutes and seconds on this side of the pond. I feel fine and even have a wave in my hair. Think those fireworks would be quite a vacation to me now, wouldn’t you trust me with a roman candle? Give my regards to the Riordans and don’t forget to take good care of yourselves.
Love to all,
Eddie
 

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From the Hit Parade 1944 G. I. Jive
 

October / November 1944

A.S.H. 42025054
Pvt. E. Cowley
1st BN. HG. CO. 301 INF
A.P.O. 94 c/o P.M. NY, NY

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

War & Navy Departments
V-Mail Services
Official Business

Nov. 1, 1944
Dear folks,

Haven’t written in a couple days so I thought I’d drop you a v-mail to let you know that I’m feeling well. Not too much activity lately so haven’t much to say. Edmund hinted in his letter that he was going to marry that girl from way down south. Bet everyone at home would sure be surprised if I turned up with a little French gal, don’t worry thou as I don’t even know any. Going on my 4th month over here now, seems like 4th year to me. (wish it was) the weather isn’t too bad, not as cold as So. Buffalo, thank God! Thank Fr. Affleck for remembering me in his mass each day & tell him I’m looking forward to meeting him upon my return. Hows P.L. doing? Haven’t heard from her yet. Is Bette McCarrow still waiting for me? Moustache is nearly ¼ “ long & only 8 weeks old, great isn’t it! Hope everyone is well. See where N.D. beat all. Another victory for Dad! Say hello to the family for me & keep praying so this goofy war will be over soon as possible. Love to all, Eddie

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
1st Bn Hg Co 301 Inf
A.P.O. 94 c/o P.M. NY, NY

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

Oct 21, 1944
In France

Dear family,

Today is the 1st in 3 days that I’ve had time to write. Have been very busy working on my (French ink) little foxhole. Our lines are pretty stagnant & it looks like we might be where we are indefinitely so I’m making my self as comfortable as possible. The hole is 6’ by 4’ by 3 ½ , all 5’ underground with nice dry wood ceiling, floor & walls insulated with 6” of straw. Its good & dry & as cosy as any hole could be. Have added the artistic touch by putting building a box on the wall & having a light in it. Keeps my envelopes smokes etc from getting damp & looks pretty classy. Am getting so I know all the Ls of living under the ground so I’ll be able to build a real home in our back yard, if I come in late sometime. Incidentally got all my lumber by tearing down an German barracks.

Well my moustache is nearly visible from 4’ on a bright day, which there isn’t any of except in the U.S. Can understand why everyone migrated to the states when they had the chance. The card games have discontinued for the month as no one has any money but we will play “Fan Tan” for smokes & I won more than a carton in 2 days so I have to quit as I haven’t room for any more.

Did I tell you I wrote to Mary Criswell a few days ago. Am looking for a girl as close to home as possible & Miss McDade is too old for me, thank God!

Am going to write Eileen & Tom as soon as I finish this letter.

So Miss Nagel remembers me, know she would as I nearly drove her crazy. She’s the teacher who marked me wrong on an exam because I wrote something about some Cathedral being at the end of some French st. & she said it was at the beginning. We argued very foolishly for 15 minutes & I really had her stumped. Asked her how she could tell which end was which & maintained that it all depended on where you were standing on the street & where you were going. She didn’t know if the street had numbers or not or how they ran & I think she finished by marking my answer correct pretty silly the whole thing.

Don’t worry about me returning as I was when I left, I’ll probably be a lot improved. Haven’t had any French wine or anything in over a month as the novelty has worn off. There’s a lot of Cognac over here (very cheap however) but everyone seems to get sick on it so I haven’t even bothered to taste it. The only thing I really enjoy is beer, good American beer. Guess the last thing I did in Buffalo was get sick on the stuff but I think my nerves were upset from late hour & hating to leave home & go back to this. Very, very seldom did beer ever make me sick. Think we’l stay here when the wars over & occupy German cities which will be a 100% better than going to Japan. Think the time will go a lot faster then & I’ll be home before you know it. Incidentally heard something about a peace rumor yest. But guess that’s all it was was Well, take good care of yourselves & remember me in your prayers. Your devoted son, Eddie

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
1st BN HG CO 301 Inf
APO 94 c/o PM NY, NY

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

Nov 6, 1944
France,

Dear folks,

Received package #2 today, 5lbs or cookies in a wooden box. Will have a great time with it, thanx a lot! Yest. we were paid & I will enclose a money order for 35$ in this letter. Can’t understand why you haven’t heard from me (10 days you said) as I write at the least 2 or 3 times a week & usually more. Hope you will start getting my letters again soon as I surely don’t want you to be worrying. You keep asking if I’m at Auchan & well the answer is no (thank God!) I’m on a milder front & a very stagnant one at that.

(Two days later) Nov 8th Couldn’t finish your letter as I was very busy putting a little stove in my Foxhole. Have it all fixed for the winter now, warm as toast inside & plenty dry as I put in wooden floor & walls. Can heat my meals on the stove & heat water for washing so guess I’m all set. Just have to hope we don’t take up another position. Well, today is election day back home, wonder how it will turn out. Don’t imagine the results will be in for sometime as the soldier vote will probably delay the count. Looks like the majority of the boys over here are for F.D.R. but there is quite a number for Dewey. I’m beginning to wonder if it really makes much difference who’s in office, the war shall continue for 2 or 3 years regardless!

The Co. got 5 Christmas gifts for each platoon, 30 men. We drew to see who would get them & I didn’t. There was a beautiful French doll I would have liked to send home to Peggy, but someone else got it. The doll was dressed in the style of the old French court trimmed with gold & silver & about 3’ high, was really very nice. Should be for 22$. Will send some things home later on when I have a better opportunity. Guess everyone at home owes me a letter so I’m not going to do any more writing until I get some mail. Think the Christmas rush his delaying the letters quite a bit but then its quite a job shipping all those pkgs. over the oceans.

Hope you receive the money orders I sent (35 & 40$) free mail so I expect they will be quite late in arriving. The envelopes weren’t very good so I’ve been thinking they might have broke open. Still have the receipts however, don’t know whether that would do any good or not.

So Clancys are moving down south, don’t imagine they will like it but you never can tell. Did Tim get a better job down there or what. Bet the kids don’t want to move. Kinda thought they liked Can. Quite a bit.

I’ll certainly never forget my old parties up in the attic, we had a great time when we were kids, never really know how much fun you had until you cease to have any. That old gang of mine (Grammar Sch) sure has been broken up. A couple of the girls have married & the boys are fighting on every continent in the world. Just think if Jimmy Pichardt, Bob Humphries, Butch Shenk, Frankie Smith, John Hoesel (remember him, 45 Woodside, Danny Riordan, & myself could get together how many countries, states, oceans & battles we could discuss mutually. If we put all our travels to in one piece it would cover ¾ of the globe, seems fantastic & yet none of us are any older than 20 & many younger. That party where I had my sprained ankle was one of the last parties I went to with Bette Crowley.  Remember we played “Beg your way to Boston” & I’d never let Bette go to Boston. Really had a monopoly on her that night, guess all the little wolves (Jimmy) were sympathetic with my ankle & let me alone. For a young kid I sure have a wealth of rich memories & truthfully I sometimes wonder how I would remain content without them. Guess that’s what comes from having a couple swell parents & a little sister who used to be a hell of a pest, ha, ha! With the old Woodside mob the Dragons & the gang at school I sure was lucky to have such swell kids to pal around with. Home someday we’l all come back & take up where we left off.

Sorry to hear Mrs Heller moved, she was an old pal of mine.

Was surprised to hear about Dad’s cold getting better as I never knew he had a cold but I sure hope he takes care of himself this winter & doesn’t go to any fires.

Got a invite card from State telling me to stop in on my next furlough, guess they don’t want me around much. Personally I don’t want any furloughs when I come back to the states, those old civilian clothes will suit me fine! Hope we get leaves over here when the war’s over, would like to visit Ireland, Scotland, Switz & Russia. Think all those places should be quite interesting & imagine you’d like to hear all about them. Well I’m running short of paper so I guess I will have to quit for now. When is Peggy going to start going to the show, football games should be over pretty soon shouldn’t they? Hear N.D. lost to Navy bet Dad prit near went crazy. Guess N.D. lost a lot of their best men on Naval transfers before the games. So long for now

Love to all,
Eddie

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
1st BN HG CO 301 Inf
APO 94 c/o PM NY, NY

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

Nov 11, 1944
France,

Dear family,

Well, today is Armistice day 1918 style. Guess history didn’t repeat itself as it already is 3 o’clock in the afternoon & the artillery is still popping away as usual, perhaps it will end next , month or maybe Jan. Have just about given up trying to figure it out & I am resigned for almost any length of time. It must be just about 9 o’clock AM back home right now so I imagine they will be having church services in a couple hours. Will say a few prayers myself.

How is everyone & everything at “35”? Hope dad is over his cold & well again.

Yest. I bought a little gift for Peggy it isn’t much but its of a fine quality (they tell me) & a touch of France. Hope she likes it! Could have gotten a bracelet for Mother but I have already sent home most of my pay & thinking it over I decided I’d rather wait until I could buy something I could have a little choice about & it must be the best. Besides I still owe Dad a gift & it just wouldn’t be right. Haven’t seen a thing for a man as yet. Could send home a German Helmet, belt cap, insignia, gas mask & lots of other thrash but think it would just clutter up the house. Have been kinda keeping my eyes open for a Luger but haven’t been able to get one as yet. Would like to have one for a little practice after the war.

Have you received any war bonds as yet? Think I have 120$ in money orders on the way home now, & I want you to be sure & let me know just how many you’ve received & their denominations okay?

Glad to hear uncle Joe has been promoted should be a lot much better job.

Sorry to hear about James Faulkner, remember him well from my boy scout days.

Hear Roosevelt carried the election by quite some majority, now we can get back to winning the war for a while. The rumor over hear is that we were holding back our power waiting for the election. That makes me feel just fine, there is nothing I’d rather wait for than an election 3000 miles away. You know the more I see of this, the more I begin to wonder, we were talking the other day about all the air power we have & then someone brought up the fact that the Scoda & Krupp armament plants have never been bombed. That kinda makes a lot of things look silly why do they worry about ball bearings all the time when the ammunition is what does the damage? I’ll be darned if I can figure it out, how about you?

One thing I’ve noticed about being in combat in a foreign land is that it makes you awful homesick for awhile. Real danger just comes periodically & we have so much time with nothing to do to keep us occupied that you can’t help thinking about home a lot. Recently is the 1st time I think that I’ve felt lil homesick. Of course I wouldn’t come home while we still have a job to do but darn it you can’t help thinking about it. Back in the states with a daily training schedule & passes quite often we were always kept pretty busy I guess that’s why I’ve been doing so much writing & like to hear from everyone.

Have read a couple good books “Topper” by T. Smith, “My son, My son” by I forget & Ernie Pyle’s “This is your war” also others which weren’t good enough to even remember. Well so long for now & best of health to everyone.

Love to all,
Eddie

P.S. Mother I would like a package of cookies & maybe a little candy if you can get a hold of some!

Unknown pg 3

…bother recalling. Do all the cross word puzzles I can find (theres one in the paper you send me) but somehow or other I don’t do too well but have a lot of fun trying. Always read my mail over 3 or 4 times so I don’t miss a word you write. Also the G.I. newspaper & magazine, “Stars & Stripes” & “Yank” come in handy. So besides cleaning my guns every couple days & digging latrines that’s about all I have to do. – Also enjoy eating!

What did Dad think of my proposal of going up to Kleinheims with me when I return? Will buy him as many good beers as he can consume & I think the two of us should have pretty good time.

Had a qt. of Cognac couple days ago, me & another fella, took 2 or 3 swallows & decided it made much better lighter fluid so we filled a guys lighter with the stuff & it works swell.

Don’t imagine the Ballantines idea would be too good but would like a pt.s of good whiskey to keep me warm these chilly nights. If you can get a pt., sen pack it well & put cookies or fudge on top or something like that. Don’t insure the pk. & use a fictitious name & address but make good & sure mine is correct & plain, that way if by chance it were discovered no one could be blamed, see what I mean there is a postal law against sending alcoholic bev. & the beer would be too large but a pt. would pass & its been done many times before. If they ever said anything to me I didn’t know a thing I don’t even know the person that sent it. Could you do all? Also would like 1 hairpin to clean my ears with, just slip it in a regular letter okay? Will request a pk. On page two so you won’t have to take pg. 3 along. Will also fake ending! Your devoted son, Eddie

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The Four Freshmen & Sue Rainey - It Could Happen To You