Dear Folks,
April 23, 1944
Just a few lines today to let you know I am alright. I hope this letter finds you all the same.
I haven’t received any mail from you for quite a while, but I guess it is because of the change of address. I guess when they start to come they will all come at once.
I hope you enjoy your day Mom. I will be thinking of you. Maybe by next year I will be there to try and make up for the past couple of years I have been gone. You’r [sic] still my best gal and the swellest mother in the world.
Well Dad how are you and the old factory coming along. From here I would say you are really doing a swell job. I see plenty of your work, and it never seems to stop. How about shaking that arm loose and writing me a few letters. I know that the past several months were pretty tough on you, but as I’ve often heard you say, we can’t help what’s happened. Lyle’s passing was as great a shock to me as it was to you, but I’ve finally decided that no matter what happens in this funny old world you have to take it good or bad. I have received letters from Joyce, and by the way they sound, she is taking it like a trooper. Imagine me trying to preach to my pappy. I certainly hope you don’t take offence [sic] to anything I’ve said.
The weather turned to spring, and boy am I glad. I kinda think however that it is going to be plenty hot this summer.
I will close for now, but will write as often as possible. Hope you will do the same.
Love,
Dorel
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Dear Folks,
April 19, 1944
A few lines today to let you know I am alright. I hope this finds you all the same.
I have been receiving a few letters from you lately dated way back in Feb. It takes so darn long for your letters to get here. Even so they sure help a guy out.
We have been getting a hold of a few old newspapers from the states. It really gives a guy a laugh to read some of the articles that they print. By the way it sounds they have practically got the war ended. I wish that some of them could be over here for awhile. They would soon see that it is a long way from the end.
I have never heard from Glen yet. Be sure and send me his address when you write.
Well as I can’t think of anything to write about I’ll close hoping to hear from you real soon.
Love
Dorel
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*Note: this letter is missing a page and cuts off abruptly.
Dear Folks,
April 12, 1944
Just a couple of lines today to let you know I am alright, and hope everything is the same with you.
I have been meaning to ask in every letter whether or not you sent my camera yet. If you haven’t I wish you would wrap it up and send it with plenty of film. If you can’t get a hold of any film ask Grant to get it for you. Also if you can find a couple of good pocket knifes [sic] send them too.
I received a letter from Joyce the other day. I sure am glad to hear she is getting along O.K. I guess by now she is making preparations for the baby. I sure hope nothing goes wrong.
I received a letter from […]
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Dearest Folks,
Italy
April 3, ‘44
Just a few lines to let you know that I am feeling fine, and I hope this letter finds you all the same.
Since the last time I wrote to you I have changed outfits. I certainly hope that one of these days I will get somewhere where I will get permanently assigned. That is about the toughest thing over here. I had just got to know the fellows pretty good in the last outfit and I really hated to leave, but the boys here seem to be alright, and I think I am going to like it O.K.
I hope you will forgive me for not writing to you more often, but I am pretty busy. I will write as often as possible though so don’t worry about me.
I hope everything is going alright at home. I haven’t heard from Glen for quite awhile. I hope he writes pretty soon to let me know where he is.
Well keep a letter coming every now and then, and I’ll write as often as I can.
Love
Dorel
New address
Pvt. D.L. Earley
Co. D 751st Tk. Bn.
A.P.O. 306 c/o P.M.
New York, New York
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Dear Folks,
March 14, ‘44
Italy
Just a line today to let you know I am fine, and I hope this letter finds you all the same.
I received another one of your packages. It had the can of candy in it, also the books. It sure was swell, and I want to thank you for it. Let me know what was in the other packages you sent. It really makes me mad to think about the guys that probably hijacked them. I certainly hope there was nothing of value in them. It seems like everyone is having the same trouble with their packages. I have been also receiving your letters pretty regular now, and really enjoy hearing from you.
The weather here has been miserable for the past few weeks, but now it looks as if spring might be on its way. At least we all hope so. A fellow can really get mad at the weather when he is living in a tent.
Say how about wrapping an envelope around a newspaper once in awhile and sending it. I would like to read about things in the home town.
I got a letter from Velma the other day and the way she sounds she isn’t too happy about Leon being in the service. What’s the matter with them people do they think they can get all their sons out of it. It might be pretty tough to have your kid go, but somebody has to go. Don’t say anything to her, but that’s about the way things are. You are probably thinking that by my letters I sound pretty ornery. Don’t think that, because it is only my oppinions [sic] on a lot of things.
Well enough of my rattling for one time. You guys all be good and write often.
Love
Dorel
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Dear Folks,
Feb. 27, ‘44
Italy
A line this Sunday to let you know everything is still under control here. I have been receiving your letters pretty regular now. You keep asking me if I received all of your packages. No I haven’t received them all, but I have received one. Did you send my camera and film? If not please send it. I received a package from Essie, June, Donna, Joyce, Ken and Florence Hadlock. Remember her. Do you know how she got my address?
You can forget about the watch stem. I have had it fixed here, and it still runs and keeps good time. Thanks a lot for trying to get me one.
By your letters I have the impression that you think I am in danger where I am now. I am still safe and will be for quite some time, so get that idea out of your heads.
Now I would like to ask a favor. If possible would you please send me a fountain pen that will hold ink. I think in another letter that I told you that my good pen was stolen. Also if you can get me a cigarette lighter, and send me those cigars I asked you about.
I’m sure glad to note that you haven’t a broken arm Dad. It was really swell to hear from you. Keep your chin up this war can’t last forever.
I can only say this much about some of the letters from my good friends. Their letters of sympathies are not appreciated. I’m trying to forget and their letters don’t help any. Another thing. God bless and give protection to the Doctor that operated on him if I get back.
You mentioned the fact that V-mail goes faster than Air-mail. Maybe so, but from now on I’m going to write Air Mail, and I wish you would do the same. V-mail is so damn short and hard to make out.
Glad to hear you are receiving my allotments, and money orders.
Write whenever you can.
Love
Dorel
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Dear Folks,
Feb. 20, ‘44
Just a few lines today to let you know that all is well here, and I hope everything is the same with you.
I have finally received a few of your letters, and was certainly glad to hear from you. It has been so long since I heard from you that I begun to think that you had forgot me. Hey by the way how about you writing me once in awhile Pop. Have you broke your arm?
I have received several letters from Donna. She’s a real pal. I certainly hope that they start getting a few breaks. They really deserve it.
Things here are getting better all the time, and we are all hoping it won’t be too long before it is all over.
I can’t tell you what my duties are here, but I can tell you that I am doing the same thing as when I seen you last.
I will close this letter now hoping that I will hear from you again real soon.
Love,
Dorel
* * *
Jan. 30, 1944
Italy
Dear Folks,
Just a few lines today to let you know I am alright, and sincerely hope that you are the same.
You are probably wondering how things are here with me. I can say that although it isn’t very pleasant everything is just fine. The weather conditions have improved a great deal in the past several weeks, which helps a lot. The winter here is a lot like home, and sometimes I can’t hardly tell the difference.
Well Dad how’s the aircraft plant coming? I got a letter from Donna a couple of days ago, and she said you didn’t have much to say when you were up there. Well I don’t care if you are quiet around home if you don’t start writing a few letters this way I’m going to put you on my list. Savvy!
I really feel sorry for the hard working people of this country. Their country is pretty well torn up. It will take a long time to restore all the things that were here before the war. I can only say that I am thankful that it is here and not in our own country. A person can’t really see how wasteful a war is until you have seen where it has been. Boy if you only knew how much this experience is going to make me appreciate home.
Well Lois how’s school? I guess by now you have plenty of boy friends. What grade are you in now, 11th or 12th?
I guess Glen is in the Air Corp by now. I hope he writes to me soon and let’s me know where he is. I also hope that this is all over before he finishes his training.
Write to me soon and often, and let me all the news. I’ll write soon.
Love
Dorel
* * *
Italy
Dear Folks,
I have just received word of the bad news, and I can tell you it left me dumb-founded. I can’t believe it.
Mom I can’t tell you how sorry I was when I read the letter. I hope that you didn’t take it too hard Mom, it is one of those very unfortunate things that happens where you can’t do anything about it.
I hope Joyce stood up alright. I think they were very happy and just getting settled. It is always the way things happen. I can’t understand it.
I can’t write anymore this morning, but I will write again in a couple of days.
God bless you,
Dorel
* * *
Jan. 10, 1944
Dear Folks,
Just a line to let you know everything is still under control. Hope everything is O.K. with you.
Here is a little money I would like you to put in the bank for me, O.K? If you need it for anything, go ahead and use it.
Please don’t worry if you don’t hear from me very often and we are very busy, and don’t get much of a chance to write.
Love to you all, and God bless you.
Dorel
