Last edit of this page 2021.DEC.12
Highlights
Nate’s son Maury was born this month and Abe’s letters mentioned Maury (or M.J.) several times. The letter postmarked October 12 talked about the party thrown for Abe on October 10, his birthday, by the staff of the hospital. This incident was an early example of Abe’s ability to generate good feelings in all his encounters. The letter postmarked October 20 mentioned that he become the checkers champion of his medical ward, that he was asking about possible employment leads from Nate, and that he gave diet advice to Nate. The letters of October 21 and October 27 showed his discharge was inevitable but that he was still hoping for other ways to serve.
Letter to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Oct 5, 1942. The address is Mr. Nathan Simon/Main St.,/Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania. Nate notes date of receipt in green ink as 10-6-42 AM. Return address is Cadet Abram Simon/Ward 2. Station Hosp/Camp Lee, Va/
Sept 4, 1942 [Abe is off by one month]
Dear Nate:
Nothing much doing but will write anyway. Hope all are well. I am fine. Have been listening to the World Series and sure enjoying them. I won $5.00 on a pool yesterday when the Cards won 2-0. Todays game sure was a thriller but I didn’t buy a ticket so thats it.
Yesterday a fellows mother brought me two broiled chickens and were they good Everyone treats me so well here that I’ll almost feel reluctant to leave the hospital but glad of it anyway. I sure hope I get a break in Baltimore as I think it present a good opportunity. I’ll try to make the best of it, as you know I would. Got a card from Carol and it was cute as the deuce. Will close with love to all.
As ever
Abe
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Fold-out letter to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Oct 10, 1942. The address is Mr. Nathan Simon/Main St.,/Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania/. Nate notes date of receipt in pencil as 10-12 AM. This is army stationery with an image of a solider putting a letter in a mailbox. Return address is Cadet Abram Simon/Ward 2. Station Hosp/Camp Lee, Va.
Oct 9, 1942
Dear Nate:
Haven’t heard form you in some time. Trust all is O.K. I am fine.
To date I don’t know where I’ll wind up from the hospital. First they tell me Baltimore, then there is the possibility of being transfered to the medical corps which also has its advantages but I know nothing definite as to what will be done. I guess the Bris went off okay and Morris Jay is one of the Simon boys. God grant you only nachiss from your son.
Nothing else. Best wishes to all.
Love
Abe
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Letter to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Oct 12, 1942. The address is Mr. Nathan Simon/Main St.,/Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania/. Nate notes date of receipt in pencil as 10-13-42. Return address is Cadet Abram Simon/Ward 2. Station Hosp/Camp Lee, Va/
Oct 11, 1942
Dear Nate:
Received your very nice wire yesterday and very happy to have had it. Trust all are well. I am fine. First let me tell you about yesterday, my birthday. Well, they had a party for me in the ward and it was enough to move me to tears to think that these fine people who are hardly more than mere acquaintances should go to all the trouble to make my birthday a happy one. They had a caked baked especially so that I could also eat it, and on top of the cake printed in the icing was “Happy Birthday Abe.” Another nurse gave me a book titled “Get Thee Behind Me,” it was a first edition and autographed by the author “Hartzell Spence” who is now editor of the army paper “Yanks.” Another gave me a letter opener and all sent me cards. Then we all had ice cream and cake and the major and captain in the ward extended their best wishes. Gosh I couldn’t talk. It was just like my own family going to the trouble of making my birthday a joyous one. So that was that. Sure was nice wasn’t it?
I believe my case is finally going to come to a head this coming week. I was in this morning talking toa major who has charge of practically all business here at the hospital and he was very nice to me and explained the plan they have in mind so that I can get to this administrative school we spoke of. This is it. I will be transfered to the medical corps and become cadre in a unit called the 1326 Service Unit attached to the hospital here and after a short while will make application to this school which they have no doubt they can arrange much better as per my diet and so forth. And the recommendation coming from the medical corps will carry more weight than if it came from another branch. So he told me not to worry as they would do everything possible to keep me happy as that was very important with my condition. He also said that I had enough “on the ball” to make me very desirable for the army. So without knowing anyone, strictly on my own I have made some fine progress, met the finest officers anyone would care to know and identified myself as being a square shooter.
Nothing much else so regards and best wishes to all.
Hope biz is good
Love
Abe
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Letter to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Oct 20, 1942. The address is Mr. Nathan Simon/Main St.,/Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania/. Nate notes date of receipt in pencil as 10-22. Return address is Cadet Abram Simon/Ward 2. Station Hosp/Camp Lee, Va/
Oct 20, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds Ruth, your Carol and M.J. in the best of good health. I am feeling fine and anxiously awaiting. You know what I mean.
The weather has turned nice from a week of continuous rain. Other that that there is nothing much to talk about. I am playing a lot of checkers and am getting in the “good” class. I am they ward champion. I take on all comers and trim the deuce out of them. So much for that.
In the mean time keep your eyes open for something good in the line of a job. Something that will require no physical exertion. That is one of the things I must avoid.
By the way, your belching to which you are subject to is caused by a stomach disturbance so lay off of foods that will distress you. Drink a lot of milk and cream. Go easy with the seasoning on the foods you eat. Also and other do not to worry that causes the stomach juices to flow too freely and it burns into your stomach. So be careful.
Nothing else so will close with love to all.
Abe
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Letter to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Oct 21, 1942. The address is Mr. Nathan Simon/Main St.,/Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania/. Nate notes date of receipt in green ink as 10-23-42. Return address is Cadet Abram Simon/Ward 2. Station Hosp/Camp Lee, Va/
Oct 20, 1942
Dear Nate:
Received your special delivery and glad to have received it. I showed it to the major on the ward here and he was very impressed. He called the chief of Medical Service and I went to see him. He told me that they had had another meeting just this morning and army regulations make it imperative that ulcer conditions in any army man subjects him to discharge. He said they tried to find a loophole so that they could at least keep me in but it was to no avail. He told me not to worry and shook my hand and wished me good luck. So Nate, I have tried to the utmost to stay in. My conscience is clear and my mind is freed of a weight of maybe I didn’t try hard enough, but the Lord knows that I tried. I wrote you another letter today so will close with best wishes to all. See you soon –
Abe
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Letter to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Oct 27, 1942. The address is Mr. Nathan Simon/Main St.,/Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania/. Nate notes date of receipt in green ink as 10-29-42. Return address is Cadet Abram Simon/Ward 2. Station Hosp/Camp Lee, Va/
Oct 27, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds all well. I am fine. Haven’t heard from you since I talked to you over the phone. I too, have been negligent in writing so here goes.
I hope that business is good. Nate, I got some information for a job in what is called the Army Specialist corps. You are employed as a civilian but wear an army uniform. They give ratings such as Lieutenant, Captain etc. and the pay is approximately triple what they pay regular army officers. The work is administrative or supervisory and sound like a good setup when I am sent out from here. What I would like for you to do is write the following address and get the information for me. I can’t do it as I am still “in the army.”
Army Specialist Corps
Office of Director General
Washington, D.C.
I would like for you to explain to them that I am being discharged from the army because of my diet and recent operation and outline to them my parts experience and dramatic ability. Put down years of parts experience as 11 or 12 yrs and dramatics about 18 or 20 yrs. My ability as a public speaker etc. also State my desire to remain in the army my effort in that direction, and most important that I was at the Officers Candidate School when taken ill. Make them understand my ability to be a good officer. You write them as my brother not as tho the letter were coming from me. It might be a real break to get into the outfit as the responsibility of an army man is non-existant and that you are responsible only to your immediate superiors.
I guess there is nothing much else so will close with my best wishes for your and your big little family’s good health. Kiss the new “Mighty mite” for me also Carol.
Love to all
Abe
I am enclosing a check in the amount of $24.28 apply to me a/c
Abe
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Letter from Abe to Isidor Wohl, postmarked Camp Lee, Virginia, October 31, 1942. The envelope is actual stationery, imprinted Abram Simon. Handwritten as a return address, this reads Cadet/Abram Simon/Ward 2- Sta Hosp/Camp Lee, Va/. The letter paper is also stationery, with Abram Simon on each sheet.
Oct 30, 1942
Dear All:
Received Esthers letter and happy to hear that you arrived safely despite the tardiness in the train schedule. Yes, I too was sorry I couldn’t see you, but that is the way things happen.
You may by all means write me here as it seems that I will be here for a while. The process is very slow getting out of here.
I am going to try another branch of the service, more or less civilian but still on and under army jurisdiction. I won’t say anymore about it as it may not materialize. If get into it O.K. if not its alright too. Glad that all are well and that Jimmy is happy at school. Hope everything works out O.K for him.
Love to all,
Abe
Happy Birthday Isidor. I sent you a wire. Hope you got it alright
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