V-MAIL
5/2/44
Dear Helen
Have just received the letter you sent while at home and enjoyed reading it very much. The best part of course being in reference to how Mom looked and felt. I really have no fears as to her taking everything but it still feels nice to be reassured.

I haven’t been around much lately and so haven’t any thing further to add to my list of travelogues and that in itself deprives me of the topic material for a letter. However I am felling fine and taking things in stride which of the course the easiest way.

Not much else to tell you at this time. My regards to Henry and the rest of the gang. Yours, Louie.

Jewish Welfare Board Army and Navy Service Department
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
Inspected 5/22/44
5/4/44
May 6 1944 (postmarked)
Dear Mom,

Your letter of the 27th of last month just came which is excellent. I am very glad to learn that you and the rest of the family are well.

I haven’t received the 8oz. packages and right here want to say that I have plenty of cigarettes razor blades and soap. There is no need of your sending any of those items as we have no trouble in getting them. I know how you feel about sending packages to me and I really like to get them as much as you like to send them. So send me anything you wish. I can use a fruit cake.

The chaplain passed out religious kits which contained prayer book, bible, mazzuzah and this stationary. Don’t think that the only thing used will be this stationary. I will use everything.

I am glad that you are so much occupied as that way you will find things going much easier for you.

I received a letter from Ruth Goldberg and so will answer her before to long.

I didn’t get to London and also haven’t heard from Humpy in about six weeks. I wrote Chick and asked him to tell me where Humpy is and expect an answer before long.

Doing the usual things and so haven’t gone anywhere lately. It is still quite cool here but everything is in full bloom and looking very nice.

Have Ellie write me how the stores are doing as I haven’t heard that kind of news in quite a while.

Not much else that I can tell you now as I have about used up all my thoughts (the few I have.)

Write me the date you receive this letter. I would like to know how long it takes for mail going the other way. Regards to all and take good care of yourself Love Louie

Jewish Welfare Board Army and Navy Service Department
Chaplain Aaron Decter
Mrs. Philip J. Cohen
England May 5, 1944
My Dear Mrs. Cohen,

If I had a dear one in Service, I would be very anxious to know about his welfare. You feel just that way, I’m sure.

It affords me great joy to tell you that your son Louis attended our services a few days ago. He looks hale and hearty and is proud of the opportunity to serve our country.

You may be sure that as the Jewish chaplain and the friend of all the men in our area, I am concerned that Louis should have as interesting a life as possible while in the army. I shall do everything in my power to bring the inspiring message of religion to him and he knows that I am a friend to turn to for guidance.

If you think that I can be of any service to you in any manner regarding the welfare of your son, do not hesitate to write to me.

Sincerely,

Aaron Decter

V-MAIL
5/7/44
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Dear Mom,

In your latest letter you had a footnote to the effect that Narragansett was running but the best I could do was go to the dogs which I did yesterday. I spent a very enjoyable afternoon tho it wasn’t too good financially but that didn’t mean too much as there are some things that can’t be bought.

Millie writes that you both are going to take care of the garden. I don’t know what the results will be but at least you both should have quite a summer as the element of surprise will not be lacking.

I am in good health and enjoying myself as much as possible and I mean to do so as long as I can.

Not much else to say at this time so again take good care of yourself Regards to Ellie and the rest of the tribe Love Louie

V-MAIL
5/9/44
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Dear Mom: Hope this letter finds you as well as I am.

Went to services at a nearby town and after where a social gathering was held. A woman sat down by me and asked where I was from and when I told her she almost fainted from excitement. She was an older sister of Mrs. Lauter. We had quite a nice chat and when I left she gave me a standing invitation to visit her when ever I was in the city. It’s just another case showing how small this world can be at times. Tell Mrs. Lauter that she looks to be in very good health and is very active in civic and Jewish affairs in her town and from all appearances is very well thoughtful. By the way her name is Tulle.

I just received your letter of May 3rd which means that it took only five days to get here: You tell Millie that keeping you from overdoing any thing is just what I want but I also know that you are sensible enough yourself and know your own limitations. That’s all for now my best regards to Ellie and the upstairs gang. Have Ellie write about the stores. Love Louie

Western Union
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen 182 Pleasant St. Willimantic Conn

May 10 1944 (?)

DEAR MOM HAPPY MOTHERS DAY AM WELL EVERYTHING FINE REGARDS TO ALL TAKE CARE YOURSELF LOVE
LOUIS COHEN

V-MAIL
5/13/44; 6/20/44(postmarked)
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Dear Mom: Just a few lines to let you that I am well and hope this letter finds all of you at home in good health also.

Everything here is running along nice and smooth. Beautiful weather and all the things which go toward making it a very beautiful spring season.

I hope you received my Mother’s Day cable somewhere about the right time. I passed up flowers as I want to have the pleasure of selecting my own expression of my love for you.

By the way please don’t send any cigarettes or clothing in the future as I have plenty of clothing and I can get cigarettes at a very low cost and thus it doesn’t pay for you to send them to me. I and the boys like our candy and cakes so please take care of that end of it! Not much else to write. If I write to long a letter it will keep you at home from caring for the garden and I want that to be a success. Regards to Ellie and his wife and the rest of the folks. Love Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
5/17/44

Dear Mom,

Have just received your letter of May 7th and am happy to learn that all of you at home are well.

I myself am well although it has been a little uncomfortable here due to a cold spell.

According to the Chronicle, Mayo Cohen is here in England. It would be nice to run into him. I’ll have to keep my eyes open.

I also wrote Humpy quite a while back and haven’t heard from him yet. Not much else to write at this time so give my regards to all the folks back there and as for yourself Take it easy all the way. Love Louie

United States Army
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

Sat. May 20th
May 22 1944 (postmarked)
Dear Mom,

Have just received your letter of the 14th and am very happy to learn that all of you folks at home are well. I am O.K. and keeping busy doing the usual things.

I just received a letter from Mayo Cohen but I am afraid that I won’t be able to see him as there is quite a distance between us. A meeting will have to be a matter of luck.

I was afraid that that cable I sent wouldn’t arrive on time so the fact that it did is pleasing.

We are enjoying a spell of cool weather which should break any day. The unpromising thing about it is that everything keeps on growing and blooming.

It must seem a little like old times in the store with Hazel back there. How is my store doing? I haven’t been told anything about it lately. It must be bad news.

I wished I could be home to see the rooms as I know they must look very good. As a matter of fact the whole place would look awfully good to me.

I can’t understand what happened to Henry Rothblat. If they don’t hear from him at home something must be up.

Not much else to write so will close with the usual best regards to all the folks and to yourself the usual take good care of yourself and don’t do to many things you shouldn’t do. Love Louie

V-MAIL
5/20/44
Dear Helen
Just a few lines to let you know I am well and that everything is as well as can be.

Haven’t run across any Spode you but am still keeping my eyes open. I suppose I’ll find some and then be told that it is one of the antiques that can’t be taken out of the country.
Have a letter from Manny Cohen who is now in England with the rest of us. His mother must have had a fit when he shipped out.

How are Henry and the kids? I hope that are all well. Henry must be doing more traveling this year than last. I hope he is doing a big job. Has Dinny hit a home run yet? That’s about all so best regards to everyone and take care of yourself. Regards to Bernard. Yours, Louie.

V-MAIL
5/23/44
Dear Helen
Received your letters of recent date and enjoyed reading them. Am glad you had a nice visit at home but especially because you found Mom in such good health.

Received Dinny’s letter and enjoyed the reading of his trials and tribulations with the ball team. Tell him to keep swinging and he will hit a real one.

I finally found out about Spode but the antique shop had none and so I am going to keep in touch with them and see what happens. I spent an hour browsing around and had a good time looking at some beautiful things. If you had been there I think you would still be looking.

That’s about all for now. My regards to Henry and the kids and also to Bernard. Take care. Yours, Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. S. Moskowitz
5/28/44

Dear Millie : Received your letter and glad to learn that all of your family is well. If you are worried about being a little to heavy why not cut the lawn. I think it needs it or I need glasses. (long distance ones)

What’s new in Willimantic? You seem to be the source of news for me considering the young tribe and I like to read all the dirt.

As for my letters you can cut in on those I write to Mom for whatever is missing in the ones I write to you.

How is Rose’s duet(?)? Or is she all throu with this? And I suppose Sam is quite busy keeping five steps in front of the rest of the furniture men.

That’s about all for now so give my regards to Sam and take care of yourself and keep on writing. Yours Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. H.L. Hurwitz 131 Hance Rd. Red Bank, NJ
Capt. J.H. Bull Censor’s Stamp
5/28/44

Dear Helen: I am not going to start this letter with that old whisker of just a few lines as I must have used it out by this time. Am well and hope all your tribe at home is the same.

Beautiful weather, scenery and women galore but it seems as if they all have three G.I.s with each of them. I think I’ll go fishing.

Have been to a new place for a change and it is one of the leading summer resorts. Very beautiful and interesting in every way. These English resort towns are as different as day and night from ones’ back at home. No artificial entertainment of any sort at all. Just swimming, good food and rest from the way it looks.

There is the story and you are stuck with it. Give my best to all and hope you are starting to enjoy a nice summer. I’ll write again. Yours as ever Louie

V-MAIL
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
5/28/44

Dear Mom: Hope this short letter finds you all of you at home in good health. I am O.K. in every respect.

I went to gggggg the other day and ran into two boys from home. Carhide of Temple St. and a Sokolowski of , I think, Ives St. I spent several hours looking over the town and it really reeks of age. One cathedral is over 1000 years old. A synagogue over 200 years old and to complete the trilogy a tavern which used to be visited by Sir Francis Drake back in the 1500’s. So you can see that in comparison the painters are still finishing the first coat on Old South Church. Sincerely it is quite interesting to browse around one of these towns and come across places like those I have written you about.

The weather here is quite spotty and so you can get a good idea as to what time of year it is.

Otherwise there isn’t much new to write so give my regards to Ellie and the rest of the folks at home. Take care of yourself Love Louie

United States Army
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
Passed by Army Examiner Capt. J.H. Brill

May 28, 1944
Jun 9 1944 (postmarked)
Dear Mom,

Your letters have been received and I am very happy to learn that all of you at home are well and that everything is going along nicely.

I doubt very much being able to see Mrs. Lauter’s sister again as right now I am some distance from where she lives. However, if I get the chance to see her again I’ll tell her what you wrote.

This being the first day of Shevuouth I hope to be able to say Yizker tomorrow and also Yahrzeit this coming Friday.

I have had the opportunity of seeing a new (to me) large summer resort town and it is quite a beautiful city. Although it is about the size of Hartford it isn’t called a city here in England because it has one cathedral.

It is loaded with hotels of all descriptions and private homes and estates are almost a dime a dozen. Each one has its own hedge and flowers and trees galore. As a matter of fact it’s business section is very close to being like an American city.

How is business in the stores? Has my place been doing its share? I haven’t heard in so long that I don’t know what the story is about it.

I received a letter from Bess Goldberg and so will drop her a line before too long.

Not much else to write at this time as everything else is O.K. and I am feeling very well. Take good care of yourself and give my best regards to all the gang at home Love Louie

P.S. Please send by first class mail 1 good leather watch strap nothing fancy Louie

United States Army
Mrs. Philip R. Cohen

May 31, Jun 2 1944 (postmarked)
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know that everything is O.K. here.

It has finally gotten warmer here and the result is that we are enjoying a swell early summer season.

I received the package that you sent on April 28th so you can see that it took just about a month to get here. The fruit cake was perfect and as the fellows know what is good it didn’t last very long. Everything else in the package was fine also.

I received Ellie’s letter about the stores and it didn’t make me feel any too good at all. I certainly hope that business has and will maintain the better prospects which he wrote about. It is a terrific difference from the last three years and it is quite hard to have to take.

I haven’t heard from Henry or Chick yet and begin to think that they must have been shipped out.

I have been strolling around this place since arrival and get to like it more each day. It is certainly the nicest city I have seen in England so far.

Not much else to write at this time. So give my regards to every one at home and if my letters aren’t as regular as before don’t worry at all. Take good care of yourself and keep writing. Love Louie