Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 15

I found a third letter from 1944. My Dad was stationed overseas at the time he wrote this letter. He didn’t go into much detail about his missions, I’m guessing he wasn’t allowed.

He spoke about friends and acquaintances from back home and a lot about track, again, especially his brother, George, breaking the two-minute half-mile. The “N.E. IC4A” that he mentioned would now likely be a regionals track meet of the NCAA. Here is a quick track primer:

880 = 880 yards or half mile
440 = 440 yards or quarter mile
220 = furlong? I’ve never heard it referred to as a furlong. 220 yards.

I have no idea who Pat & Eve are.

July 10, 1944

Dear Mom and Dad,

            Well, here I am once again in answer to your very welcome letters. I received them the other day and I was going to answer them yesterday but Buddy Madden met me at church and we spent the day together. We had a pretty good time and talked about the folks, his sister Mary has a little baby girl and she looks like a cute little kid.

            George really has been going to town lately, at last he broke two minutes for the half. He got a bad break in the N.E. IC4A meet but those speed workouts in a 440 will never hurt him, of course, Ding used bad judgment but that’s water over the damn now. Now with good handling he ought to do better, here’s hoping. Eddie Palmieri ran a darn good quarter in 49.4, that’s damn good, Tufts ought to have a pretty fair mile relay team next winter.

            I received the clippings the other day okay and Ralph King still seems to be doing okay I think in another year he’ll beat McKenly in the furlong (220).

            Mom I’m very glad that you received the gift on time.

            I hope George didn’t flunk out on Navigation after going so long now to flunk out.

            I made out an allotment for 60 (sixty) dollars a month to be taken out of my pay and sent home to you and I don’t know when you’ll begin to get it but it ought to be soon. When you get it be sure and put it away for me because after the war I’ll probably use it to continue school if I decide to go back.

            What was the mixup over Pat & Eve’s marriage?

            The only other fellow that I know from Cambridge sleeps here in the same tent with me; we both came over together and we spend quite a bit of time talking about Boston and Central Square. Good old times.

            By the way, does that 1:59 give George the Tufts record for the 880?

            Now, for me, I’m still in the best of health and kicking. I’ve got twenty-seven missions to my credit now and a few have been slightly rough.

            Well, folks, I guess that’s all I have to write now so be good and take care of yourselves. Love to all.

Your loving son,

Francis