Letter from Jerome Epstein, Jr. to Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Epstein and Mr. Louis Green, dated March 17th, 1945
Item
Identifier
C0262B001F004L013
Title
Letter from Jerome Epstein, Jr. to Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Epstein and Mr. Louis Green, dated March 17th, 1945 See all items with this value
Creator
Epstein, Jerome, Jr. See all items with this value
Description
Letter written by Jerome Epstein, Jr. while serving in the Italian theater during World War II, discussing censorship of mail, the 10th Mountain Division, and hometown news. See all items with this value
Date
3/17/1945 See all items with this value
Extent
4 pages
Coverage
World War, 1939-1945
Subject
Military See all items with this value
Source
Jerome Epstein Papers #C0262, Box 1 Folder 4 See all items with this value
Publisher
George Mason University Libraries
Rights
Copyright not held by George Mason University Libraries. Restricted to personal, non-commercial use only. For permission to publish, contact Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Transcription
C0262B001F004L013
Image 1:
Somewhere in Italy
March 17, 1945
Dear Mother, Dad, and Grandpa,
Well, here it is St. Patrick’s Day, and to be sure now, I’m wearing a bit ‘o green—my beautiful green fatigues (what the well dressed G.I. will wear this spring!)
Please send some food, if you care to do so. I have made a number of moves since living in the mountain villa. Will write about them in detail when I am able to do so. We’re now taking it easy for a while. From the clipping you sent me and from what you write, I see that you have been keeping up on our activities in this theater. Everyone is extremely proud of the division which is rapidly making a name for itself. Perhaps I should say that the men in it are making it famous. It is [undecipherable] quite a glamourous outfit. I can remember seeing newsreels and short subjects about the U.S. ski-troopers on numerous occasions. Of course it is a little late in the season for skiing now. We are authorized to wear the African-European-Middle Eastern campaign ribbon. Of course everyone is entitled to wear a ribbon upon landing on foreign soil. More important, however, is the fact that we all wear a bronze star on the ribbon for participation in a very important part of the Rome-Anzio campaign.
Image 2:
(2) Somewhere in Italy
March 17, 1945
Also we are now allowed to wear the division patch, being issued 2 apiece. The word “Mountain,” or rather the patch with the word on it to be worn above the regular patch has not been issued yet. Some of the fellows came back from pass, however, with some made by the Italians. Some of them, they said, are of regulation size and colors, but others are all sizes and colors of the rainbow.
____
Sunday, March 18, 1945
I did not get to finish this letter yesterday, but will do so this morning.
I imagine that by now the weather is beautiful at home. I think I would be out playing golf bright and early at the club if I were home.
Friday your letters of the 9th came—only 7 days!
Harry, Jr. got a break. I see that for the next 3 months all are going into the Army except Navy radar applicants.
Is Phil Weisman still at Cincinnati? Also where does Joyce plan to be married?
I had another letter from Harry Daniels. He is taking a horrible course, I think.
Please send some food if and whenever you wish to do so.
Image 3:
(3) Somewhere in Italy
March 18, 1945
Mother, I imagine your Victory garden will be awfully nice. It was last year.
Has Bob left the country yet? Of course they can’t tell the exact time he leaves, but should be able to judge approximately. Just what type of work does he do? Is it a desk job?
That scrapbook sounds swell, Mother. I’ll have to send you more souvenirs to put in it.
Edward Lee has certainly been shifted around the country. I think they are satisfied with it all, but they aren’t the type of people who will ever admit it.
Mother, I think I wrote you that your V-mail took a day longer than the air-mail.
I’ll write Rosella M. and thank her for the cigarettes. They haven’t come yet. But please don’t send any more cigarettes, for we get a pack a day as a regular issue. You need them all at home. The same goes for toilet articles. As for chewing gum, we get a stick a day, so send it if you care to.
Jim D[undecipherable] and Dick Barrar must have had thrilling experiences. They are fortunate in getting back to the States every now and then.
Please send some food if you wish to do so.
Image 4:
(4) Somewhere in Italy
March 18, 1945
Had a very nice letter from Aunt Fannie. She sent me Harry Bremen’s address. Said she sent a box to me from Freida which is very thoughtful.
Well, I’m running out of topics, so I must come to a close. Love to all of you.
Lovingly,
Jerome, Jr.
Image 1:
Somewhere in Italy
March 17, 1945
Dear Mother, Dad, and Grandpa,
Well, here it is St. Patrick’s Day, and to be sure now, I’m wearing a bit ‘o green—my beautiful green fatigues (what the well dressed G.I. will wear this spring!)
Please send some food, if you care to do so. I have made a number of moves since living in the mountain villa. Will write about them in detail when I am able to do so. We’re now taking it easy for a while. From the clipping you sent me and from what you write, I see that you have been keeping up on our activities in this theater. Everyone is extremely proud of the division which is rapidly making a name for itself. Perhaps I should say that the men in it are making it famous. It is [undecipherable] quite a glamourous outfit. I can remember seeing newsreels and short subjects about the U.S. ski-troopers on numerous occasions. Of course it is a little late in the season for skiing now. We are authorized to wear the African-European-Middle Eastern campaign ribbon. Of course everyone is entitled to wear a ribbon upon landing on foreign soil. More important, however, is the fact that we all wear a bronze star on the ribbon for participation in a very important part of the Rome-Anzio campaign.
Image 2:
(2) Somewhere in Italy
March 17, 1945
Also we are now allowed to wear the division patch, being issued 2 apiece. The word “Mountain,” or rather the patch with the word on it to be worn above the regular patch has not been issued yet. Some of the fellows came back from pass, however, with some made by the Italians. Some of them, they said, are of regulation size and colors, but others are all sizes and colors of the rainbow.
____
Sunday, March 18, 1945
I did not get to finish this letter yesterday, but will do so this morning.
I imagine that by now the weather is beautiful at home. I think I would be out playing golf bright and early at the club if I were home.
Friday your letters of the 9th came—only 7 days!
Harry, Jr. got a break. I see that for the next 3 months all are going into the Army except Navy radar applicants.
Is Phil Weisman still at Cincinnati? Also where does Joyce plan to be married?
I had another letter from Harry Daniels. He is taking a horrible course, I think.
Please send some food if and whenever you wish to do so.
Image 3:
(3) Somewhere in Italy
March 18, 1945
Mother, I imagine your Victory garden will be awfully nice. It was last year.
Has Bob left the country yet? Of course they can’t tell the exact time he leaves, but should be able to judge approximately. Just what type of work does he do? Is it a desk job?
That scrapbook sounds swell, Mother. I’ll have to send you more souvenirs to put in it.
Edward Lee has certainly been shifted around the country. I think they are satisfied with it all, but they aren’t the type of people who will ever admit it.
Mother, I think I wrote you that your V-mail took a day longer than the air-mail.
I’ll write Rosella M. and thank her for the cigarettes. They haven’t come yet. But please don’t send any more cigarettes, for we get a pack a day as a regular issue. You need them all at home. The same goes for toilet articles. As for chewing gum, we get a stick a day, so send it if you care to.
Jim D[undecipherable] and Dick Barrar must have had thrilling experiences. They are fortunate in getting back to the States every now and then.
Please send some food if you wish to do so.
Image 4:
(4) Somewhere in Italy
March 18, 1945
Had a very nice letter from Aunt Fannie. She sent me Harry Bremen’s address. Said she sent a box to me from Freida which is very thoughtful.
Well, I’m running out of topics, so I must come to a close. Love to all of you.
Lovingly,
Jerome, Jr.
