11/3/43
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL [Amphibious Training Center]
Wed.
Dear Mom,

Received your letter and am glad that you are enjoying a few days away from the store at home.

Nothing new has happened here and we are busy doing routine work.

I can’t get any time off until next week and then it is doubtful.

I thought I’d get a furlough about the 10th of the month but we are getting in some new men and they will have to get one before anybody else.

So about the middle of next week send me $20 and if I get a pass I’ll have money to go with.

Not much else to write so best regards to all of the folks and have a good time yourself. Yours Louie

11/15/43
Idle Gossip Sinks Ships
Monday
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to keep you posted about me. Nothing new has happened. I received the ten dollars and the package a while ago and thought that I had written you about it. However I must have dreamt it. Both were just what the doctor ordered. I had a little difficulty but cashed the check that Ellie sent last week.

Millie wrote me and there must have been quite a bit of excitement around town last week. Write me all the details as I would like to know them.

I don’t want to keep mentioning furloughs as every time I do it slips back a few days so I’ll pop in maybe in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile I thought that I ought to have the money in case I get it any sooner.

I suppose by now that you are all rested up from your rest in N.Y. I am glad that you had such a nice rest and hope you do the same again before to long.

Not much else to write Regards to the upstairs dept and Ellie Love Louie


Thursday (Nov? 1943?)
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am fine and hope that you and Ellie and the rest of the family and John it (?) are the same.

We may go out Sunday morning for 2 or 3 days on a problem so I don’t know if I will be able to call but if I can I will call.

I just really inspected that package and found that you sent almost everything that I needed.

I am sorry you sent the nuts as I know you would have enjoyed them yourself but thanks anyway.

Not much else to write will call (?)

Love Louie


Saturday (Dec? 1943?)
Dear Mom,

I arrived here last nite and found everything just as I left it. Things are quite here and nothing new of any importance has taken place.

I suppose it must have been cold at home Thursday and till today as when I got here it was very cold and I felt it more than I did at home.

I was very much used up with the long trip as it took me about 26 hours to get here so I really enjoyed a good nite’s sleep last nite.

While I was in Columbia, SC waiting for a bus I went into a delicatessen place to eat and got talking to the man who owned it. After a while he asked where I came from and when I told him he almost fainted. He said he was born there. He said his father was Ike Miller and I think I even remember your talking about that family once. His father he said was a shoemaker. Anyway he knows a little about Willimantic. He mentioned the Hooker House and several other things.

Well not much else to write will write later Love Louie Regards to all

Tuesday (Dec? 1943?)
Dear Mom

Just a few words to let you know that every thing is O.K.

I feel fine and honestly can say that I haven’t felt better in years. I am beginning to realize that I would have felt better physically if I never had been in the Supply Room. Yet I suppose I shouldn’t complain as I will have plenty of time to do regular duty.

I haven’t received your letter with the money as yet because there was a big storm down here and it disrupted all communications and consequently the mail is late.

I don’t remember whether or not I told you that I heard and have answered a letter from Aunt Bess.

If I didn’t figure on getting a furlough I would take a 3 day pass and look Bernard up in Charleston. But as it is I am afraid to ask for one as it might have some bearing on my getting my furlough.

Well Mom, there isn’t much more for me to write at this time So I will close with Regards to all Love Louie

P.S. I’ll write as soon as I get your letter Louie
Did the packages come yet?

Fort Jackson, SC
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Tuesday Dec. 7, 1943
Dear Mom,

Arrived here Sat. afternoon and am finally settled and back at my same job.

We are very busy as a lot of work piled up during the move from Florida.

Tell Ellie that I looked all over for that display firm but that he must have given me the wrong address.

In N.Y. I saw Rose and her family and also saw Mitchell for the first time in years. He looks and acts like a nice kid.

This camp is a very good one. It is near town only about five miles and so that isn’t so bad at all. I haven’t as yet been in there outside of getting off of the train and riding there to the camp. I expect to explore it a little later this week.

Well, not much else to write. So best regards to all Love Louie

P.S.
My address is the same except it is now Fort Jackson S.C.
Louie

Fort Jackson, SC
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Friday Dec. 10, 1943(?)
Dear Mom,

Received your letter and am happy to learn that you are all well. I did get the stamps and have started to use them already.

So far I have been very busy and haven’t gotten the chance to get out of camp yet but I expect to be able to do a little sight seeing on Sunday.

I guess it was better that you didn’t go to Boston as there was really nothing you could do and as long as Helen + Henry know and approved why it is allright.

Please send that news letter that was published in the Monday paper. The one I told you to send me, when I was home.

I haven’t written the rest of the gang as we are very busy so you can make my apologies to them and tell them that I’ll write them soon.

Not much else I can write so until later Regards to Millie and Ellie and the rest of them Love Louie

Fort Jackson, SC
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Dec. 12, 1943
Dear Mom,

Am taking advantage of my first free time to get caught up with my letters. I just wrote Henry and Helen and also Rose.

We worked every nite last week except Tuesday and Saturday and are going to work late this next week.

Last nite I went to town and saw more soldiers there than there must be in the Army. This is a big camp and they all flock to Columbia. I went to the movies and had something to eat and camp back to camp early. From now on I’ll only go there during the week if I have the chance.

How is business? I read in the papers that it is very cold up there If so it should be a big push in both stores. I hope so but also don’t want you to get tired over a few lousy dollars.

Down here Christmas is a KNAPER holiday the towns don’t turn(?) nor do the stores. Tell Ellie that windows like ours down here would stop traffic. I really mean it. They don’t do a thing for this season of the year. I am glad we have good Christians up home.

Not much else to write give my regards to Millie and Sam and Ellie. I’ll expect this Mondays service means letter also. Love Louie

Fort Jackson, SC (?)

Mon. Dec. 13, 1943
Dear Ellie,

Enclosed is a document I meant to enclose with the power of attorney I sent you. I figured that in the event anything happens it would make things easier to have something like this.

I don’t know but chances are that I might be able to burn both of these papers up before to long but no harm is done by having them.

Mom writes that business is very good for which we can be thankful. I hope it keeps up and expect that you will do a sweet job for this season.

If you can find the time I would like to read about the way things are going.

Not much else to write except don’t get excited and start thinking that because I sent these things that all is over. Far from it. It hasn’t begun as yet and as I said before it still has to happen.

Don’t overwork yourself as a few bucks less won’t make any difference. Regards to your wife and don’t let Mom go overboard on the Christmas rush job. Regards Louie

Fort Jackson, SC
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Thursday Dec. 16, 1943
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know that there is nothing new to tell you.

It has turned very cold and yesterday it snowed all day and it was the first time in about ten years. It remained cold and as the snow didn’t melt it looks a little like being up home. I might phone Sunday morning if I can get a chance. As yet we expect to work.

I am sending home a summer shirt, bathing trunks and a toilet article but as I have no use for any of those things now.

Not much else to write. Regards to all Love Louie

Fort Jackson, SC
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Wed. Dec. 22, 1943
Dear Folks,

Just a few lines to let you know that things are the same here. We are still very busy working nights and so I haven’t had much chance to go anywhere.

It has become much warmer and thus it is a lot pleasanter. I am tickled to learn that business is so good. I hope it keeps up that way. I’d like to see a big gain in both places. I guess all of you must be pretty tired from working so late and hard each day.

I got a letter from Millie so tell her that I’ll write her soon as I get a chance.

Not much else to write so best regards to all and a happy Chanukah. Love Louie

Fort Jackson, SC
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Sat. Dec. 25, 1943
Dear Folks,

Just a few lines to let you know that there is nothing new at this time.

We are still busy but it has slackened off a little

I hope by the time you get this that you are rested up from your Christmas rush.

It has has turned very cold here and I am now sleeping with wool under clothes, two blankets and a comforter.

Haven’t much else to write so best regards to all and write me about the Christmas business as it should make swell reading.

I am sending a pin and a couple patches also my old set of tags as I hate to lose them. Love Louie

Fort Jackson, SC
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Dec. 26, 1943
Dear Mom,

It being Sunday we worked only till 3 and so I came into town and am here at the U.S.O. catching up on some mail.

It has finally warmed up a bit and thus it is a lot pleasanter than it has been the last few days.

I hope you had a nice time this past week-end with the few welcome guests you had. I know that we all would have liked being there.

I am going to some kind of Sunday evening party that is put on by the Jewish Community and I expect to spend a very nice week-end or rather evening.

I suppose both stores are big messes from the last week’s business and so Ellie will have a lot of work in front of him. He ought to keep the both boys for awhile until he gets himself straightened out. I don’t know why I should write that as he knows better what to do than I do.

There isn’t much else that I can write except that as you have probably guessed something is in the air and I don’t know right now if I’ll be able to tell you any more than that. I will if possible call next Sunday morning.

That being all I can say take care of yourself and my best regards to all Love Louie
P.S. Don’t worry as nothing definite has come out as yet.

Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Wed. Dec. 29, 1943
Dear Mom

Received your latest letter and was happy to learn that you and the rest of the gang are well.

In answer to your questions concerning Ellie all I can say is whatever you do will be satisfactory to me. I think that maybe see that he takes 250 from each store and tell him to pay off on his note with Marcie.

I, in all probability will be able to call Sun. morning or at least I’ll try to as phone delays down here run as high as 6 or 8 hrs.

Not much else to write right now so Happy New Year to you and all of the rest of the family and best regards to them at the same time Love Louie

Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Jan. 5, 1944
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am O.K. and hope that you all at home are.

It was nice being able to talk to you and Millie and I certainly was glad to learn of the way things are going.

I may not write for a couple of days but don’t let that keep you from writing me.

If things work out as I expect and hope I’ll try to call you Sunday.

Not much else to write so until a little later Regards to all Love Louie