Last edit of this page 2021.DEC.10
Highlights
Through these letters are notions of camaraderie with other Jewish soldiers. There are many mentions of the possibility of OCS, Officers Candidate School, along with being an automobile parts clerk. Letters postmarked May 5 and May 13 show that Abe is still concerned with the family business. Nate’s daughter Carol is mentioned. The letters postmarked May 15, 18, 27, and 28 show that Abe needed Nate’s help on various documents and other things. A person named Hym (or sometimes Hy) is mentioned several times, but his identity is not known.
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Postcard, Abe to Nate, postmarked May 1, 1942, Petersburg, Va. Nate notes in green ink 5-2-42.
5-30-42 [Nate’s green ink gives correction to 4-30-42]
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds you in good health, also all the others.
Received Ruth’s letter today and glad to hear from her. Nothing new here except our usual drill and I mean we get it. Got a letter from Milton today.
In town to eat again
Regards to all
Abe
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Letter from Abe to Nate, postmarked Petersburg, Va., May 3, 1942. The envelope and stationery are from Hotel Petersburg.
Return address is Pvt Abram Simon/Co B – 10th Q.M. Rgt/Bldg-T507/Camp Lee, Va/. It’s noted Free Postage instead of a stamp. Address is simply Mr Nathan Simon/Mocanaqua, Pa/ and in Nate’s green ink is 5-5-42 AM.
May 2, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust all are well I’m fine and in Petersburg for Saturday nite and Sunday Staying at this hotel with this Jewish fellow from Pittsburgh I told you about. We had dinner tonite at Max’s Restaurant walked around a little and then to bed. So very sorry that you could not make the trip but honestly it is foolish to drive so far for the little time that we could spend together. At the end of our eight weeks training we will be allowed a furlough so maybe it would be best if I came home instead of you coming down. Honestly not because I don’t want you to come, but because the drive would be a killer. And damn if it doesn’t get hot here. Yesterday and today were about 95º. So unless you come down of a complete surprise which to me would be as fine a surprise as I have ever known I would not be so darn selfish to rob you of a Sundays rest Trust Ruth, Carol and the rest are well. Also happy to note that business is holding up alright.
We got our pay today yep a full $21 and damn I think I’ll use it for a good meal in the evening for the next month, our evening meals in camp of late are lousy. I got a very nice package from Ruth (Naveen) and one from Edith both were enjoyed to the fullest. This was some surprise, I met Cub’s brother Bill Kowalsky in town tonite. I don’t want to have much to do with this type so made the talk with him cordial and so forth but I have too many nice fellows to have to associate with him. Next week we go out on the rifle range which may include Saturday and Sunday but will let you know definitely, later in the week.
I’m getting along swell with my corporal and Sgt. Nate when my insurance comes due take the money out of a/c to pay it please.
So until next time will close with all my love all.
Love
Abe
Got a very nice letter from Carol, beautifully written. Kiss her for me.
Abe
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Letter from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 5, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink 5-6-42 AM.
May 4, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds you and the rest i good health. I am fine and not minding our strenuous routine as much as I did. Guess you just get seasoned to it.
Spent a lovely weekend at a hotel in Petersburg with this Jewish fellow I told you of. He and his brothers are in the tire and retreading business in Pittsburg. A large outfit. They retreaded tires for the government so you can imagine they completely sold out about 40 carloads of retreads and used stuff so you can imagine the profit. He says he would appreciate if you could let him know if you could locate 4-200/16 changeovers for him. He expects to bring his LaSalle in from Pittsburg and he would like the tires sent here. It will be a cash deal. So when you answer me write the letter so I can show it to him that is about the price and that you had to go out to pick them up etc, you’ll know how to word it but be sure you make a nice profit. He tells me there isn’t a thing to be had in Pittsburg and he won’t take a chance on taking new tires out of stock. Also mention the brand of tier you can get. He doesn’t want retreads.
Now here is a favor I would like for myself. Before you can officers training I just have my High School credits and my birth certificate. I would like for you to get this for me so that I can have it at the end of my training period, which will be in about 2 months, we were advised of these necessities today. I think it’s going to be a battle to get into officers training because of being Jewish but I’m going to make a great big effort in the direction. You know that the quartermaster is a combat outfit in this was are 90% of the present trainees will see overseas duty, but I have a good chance of staying in the country because of my classification. So I am hoping for the best and don’t worry about it.
Today we had an entire afternoon devoted to camouflage and concealment. You be surprised of the military instruction that the quartermaster is subjected to. It is no joke. Tomorrow we go into a tear gas chamber with gas masks. We have had instructions in the use of the gas mask. I go on detail tomorrow with the Sgt major and don’t know what the duties will be, probably fatigue duty of some sort. I got a package of cookies and cake from Dora and Ruth today, it was good. I just happened to think that Leo Billy’s sister in law works in birth certificate dept in Harrisburg and may be able to get my records in a hurry. I was born Oct 10, 1913.
It seems as tho I’ve made quite a lengthy letter of this probably not interesting reading but nevertheless a letter. All my writing is done by using my lap as a desk, so it does make it a little difficult.
So I will close with love and best wishes to all. Don’t forget about the tires. Trust business is good.
Love
Abe
Kiss Carol for me.
I got a card from your Ruth and Carol today, also a letter from Dora & Esther
Abe
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AIRMAIL letter, with stamps, from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 13, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-14-42 AM.
May 12, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust hits finds you all in good health and I hope rested after your ride here to camp and back. So help me I didn’t sleep thinking about that $41.00 these vultures robbed you of. But then there is the consolation of knowing it could have been much worse, God forbid, such as an accident.
There is nothing new here other than our usual drill and tomorrow that is Wed we go out on a bivouac, and will be gone from camp overnite and the entire next day. It no doubt will prove interesting, so we are all looking forward to this hike and overnight encampment. Today we went on about a two mile hike and then pitched tents in the woods and camouflaged them. Which also was interesting.
I went to the first class last night and it is mighty intriguing.
Got a letter from Bernard Ciampi but he did not disclose his place as he is not allowed to. But he gave me the address and I must write my letter to him in c/o of the N Y Post Office. He wrote me a very interesting letter and disclosed his voyage aboard ship, being pursued by subs etc but how cleverly they eluded them.
Was over to the PX and tried to call you to-nite but the phones had a waiting list so I came back to write instead. I will not be able to write for the next two days as I will be away from camp on the bivouac.
I haven’t heard anything from Hym you know whom I mean but it is best that our friendship is not to obvious.
Got a nice package of cookies from Ida and no doubt were appreciated.
I hope that business is holding up. Nate I think it would be a good idea if you could get some washing machines, or refrigerators to sell when the automobile travelling is curtailed to a point where it will seriously affect your business. For that matter anything that might be salable even tho it be of a different type of product than you now sell.
Nothing else to write of, so I will close with best wishes and many thanks for your visit and the things you brot.
Love to all
Abe
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Postcard from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 16, 1942, Petersburg, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-18-42 AM.
Nat 15-1942
Dear Nate:
Trust all are well. I’m find and getting along well. Our company commander is leaving us being transferred to a combat unit. I had a nice talk with him and he asked me if I applied to the O C. I told him yes and he insisted that I follow it up and he that I had the makings. Will write again.
Love
Abe
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AIRMAIL letter, with stamps, from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 15, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-14-42.
not reread [This is Abe’s note to himself] May 16, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds you all in good health. I’m fine and getting along swell.
I dropped you a card last nite. I have a few extra minutes so that I’ll drop you a line.
Nate you remember that piece of armor plate with the 37MM shell imbedded in it, I’d appreciate if you would send it to me. We are going to use it in our lectures here on defense against tanks.
I mentioned in my card about the captain of our company leaving for combat duty. Well, I sure had a nice talk with him and he insisted that I go through with OCS as he thot I had the stuff But it is a problem getting past the various boards. Nevertheless I will exert every effort to that end.
Remember me mentioning about going out on a bivouac. Well it was some experience We pitched tents out in the woods and camouflaged them and stayed in them overnite and then walked back to camp the next day. All in all it was a novel experience. Next week is our final week of basic military. It will be mostly rifle practice, shooting etc. Nate don’t forget about those letters for me and be sure of my birth certificate having my name as Abram. I called Hy about the Hell case and he told me he had a fellow working on the case and would let me know of any developments. Trust they are in our favor. I think it would be a good idea if you got me a gas ration card in case I’ll be able to bring my car down. Sorry to trouble you with all these details when I know you are so busy.
Will close with love and best wishes to all.
Love
Abe
Kiss Carol for me.
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Letter from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 18, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-20-42 AM. The letter is on the stationery of Hotel Petersburg, Petersburg, Virginia.
May 17, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust all are well. I’m fine and in good health. Well this coming week is our last of basic military and gosh I’m thrilled. We go out on the rifle range and then thats that.
I borrowed this paper from a fellow in the barracks who gets all his stationery at Hotel Petersburg – Free, he goes in for a drink of water and comes out with a supply for a weeks writing. I just told him that I wrote to you about the paper and he said he’s going to write his wife and tell her what I said about him. Just kidding.
I stayed at camp this weekend as I was too tired to even go to town. I slept about 15 hrs and now I’m completely rested and ready for bed again. Please don’t forget about that armor plate with the shell imbedded and also my letters of recommendation and also my birth certificate.
Trust business is good and that you aren’t working too hard, but I guess those are just words , I know you.
Will close with love to all.
Abe
I’m enclosing bond certificates for you to hold for me. They made a mistake and made it a $25.00 bond instead of a fifty so let it go at that.
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Letter from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 20, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-22-42 AM.
May 19, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds you and the rest in good health. I’m fine. I was so sorry that I didn’t find you in when I called. I’ve been trying to get in touch with Hy but to no avail. When I am free to call he is not in in office so I left word for him to call me. So I expect to hear form him tomorrow. I will let you know what happened at Hell.
There really isn’t much happening. Haven’t started tech school yet as we won’t finish the military yet. We finish this week-end.
I’m closing now but wanted to write you tonight.
Love to all
Abe
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Letter from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 22, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-25-42. The envelope has a purple triangle sticker, saying U.S.Army.
May 20, 1942
Dear Nate:
I am writing a hurried letter as I soon have to get my full field pack in order as tonite we are evacuating the camp during a blackout that is scheduled for eleven o’clock. We will remain in an evacuation area until the all clear is sounded.
Tomorrow morning we go out on the rifle range for our marksmanship shooting. I hope that my score is at least average.
I hope all are well and that business is good. We had some group pictures taken and as soon as I get one I’ll mail it to you. I saw one and they are pretty nice. [We do not have a group photo, but the letter postmarked May 24 had a picture.]
As yet I haven’t heard from Hy but am making every effort to do so. Gosh I hope it will be in your favor. But if it isn’t, there is the consolation in knowing that it wasn’t for a doctor.
I got a box of cake form Ida and a dozen packages of cookies from the Szumowski girl that works in the office for Kersteller. It was damn nice to get them too.
There is nothing much more to write & so will close with my best wishes to all. Will try to write tomorrow if I am not too tired.
Love
Abe
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Letter from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 25, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-26-42 AM.
May 24, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds you all well. I am fine being that I just got through talking to you. I had a very nice breakfast this morning after I talked to and then came back to camp after taking a nice walk.
I talked to Lester Ritter today and he just got back from Miami, he was on a convoy taking troops to Miami Beach. He was very tired from the whole thing but said he enjoyed it anyway. He told me to send his regards to you. He looks well.
Well, to-morrow is school so will try to write you as soon as possible to let you know all about it.
There is fellow waiting for me to finish this so will close as he wants to mail it for me.
Love to all
Abe
Trust biz stays good.
Hear about the Key Bird? He sits at the North Pole on a cake of ice and says,
Key Rist its cold.
(Christ)
Drosnes told me this.
Abe
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AIRMAIL letter (with stamps) from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 27, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-28-42. This photograph and its negative were included.
May 26, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust all are well. I’m fine and so darn tired it is really an effort to write but I neglected writing yesterday so I must write to-nite.
Well I started school and am not too thrilled with what I got. I have already applied for a transfer. They put me in as an apprentice mechanic and the course lasts for 2 ½ weeks and if we show aptitude we are sent to an advanced school in Baltimore, called Holabird. But I definitely don’t want mechanics the first day of instruction. I helped carry no less than 50 Chev truck transmissions. When nite came I was pooped.
The instructors that I have are O.K. but slightly on the yokel side, they are civilians. I spoke to the ass’t chief instructor, formerly with Chrysler Corp, good friend of Frazer, Moock, Hillman etc and he told me some one monkeyed with my papers. So he told me how to apply for transfer and I did. He told me there is a crying need for part clerks and that I would probably go to Holabird for advance training in army parts technique if I applied myself. After talking with him for a while he thought I was ideal for parts. So it will take a week for my transfer to come through and until then I will bide my time. So please don’t worry about it, as everything will come out alright.
Yesterday I signed a regular, official application for O.C.S. and I may need those letters etc by next week as it will be my 6th week here and they requested the letters and records by then. So if you have them please rush them out.
I am enclosing a picture that a fellow took of me right after we came back from a hike. It is a little dark but I guess you can discern my “figger.” We wore steel helmets, rifle and full field pack which includes a half tent, blanket, toilet articles, mess kit etc.
Slug was up to see me tonite, but I couldn’t spend much time with him as I told him how much work I had to do and that I would get in touch with him. Nate the next time you got o Wilkes-Barre stop in at the American Tailoring store, you known the place that sold $14.92 suits and tell him I met his brother here. He is in the next barracks to me. His name is Gauz (last name) His home is at Freeland.
I got a letter form Bernard Ciampi (2nd) and he sure was thrilled to get my letter.
Nothing much else to write of interesting so will close with all my best wishes to all
Love
Abe
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AIRMAIL letter (with stamps) from Abe to Nate, postmarked May 28, 1942, Camp Lee, Va. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 5-30-42 AM. The envelope has imprint on rear QUARTERMASTER CORPS/Camp Lee, Virginia/. The letter is Quartermaster Corps stationery. The letter is written in pencil.
May 28, 1942
Dear Nate:
A hurried not written at 7 AM. Trust all are well. I am fine. Hope biz is good.
I am enclosing a letter and check from Metropolitan. [These are not now with the letter.] The policy is supposed to be free of a war clause. It’s the one I got from Henry. Ask him about it.
Nate the school I go to is the really thing and I could get a lot of interesting data but it is mostly truck instruction. My transfer will be in soon for parts school
Regards to all
Abe
I got my first OCS interview—OK at my Co Hdqs. Please send out my papers.
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Thanks a million for the package. Boy, did I go to town.
May 28, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds all well. I’m fine and getting a meager knowledge of mechanics a la army.
Nate in my last letter I sent you that metropolitan check and letter and I hope you can understand what I wrote. I bought that policy with the stipulation there would be no war clause. They have done an about face. Tell Henry about it. When the payments are due take it from my a/c at the bank. When that is used up, I hope to be making enough to take care of my insurance. Especially if the soldiers pay increase goes into effect.
I guess I won’t be home this weekend. I am acting corporal of the guard. It is a job for 24 hours and it is really an honor to have it. Especially when I am still a private. I hope post the guards and give them their instructions and interrogate them on the General orders for Guard Mount. Guard mount is the most formal and probably the prettiest military precision movement in the army. I haven’t heard a word from Hy. I left word for him to call me but he hasn’t. There seem not much more to write of so will close with best wishes to all. Got a letter from Carol
Love
Abe
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