Mrs. Philip R. Cohen
Fort Dix, NJ
Wed. Sept 8 (1943?)

Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to tell you that I am well and hope that you and the rest at home are the same.

Well this letter will be practice as I will be writing a lot of them in a little while.

Our boss told us today that we are moving to Camp Abbedale, 60 miles south of Tallahassee, Florida.

I guess they don’t want to take a chance on our being able to stand the cold winter up here so they are sending us south to keep us in good health.

I don’t know about coming home weekend as so may have to work but if I don’t I’ll try to get home.

Well not much else to write. Regards to all Love Louie

Fort Dix, NJ Tuesday (Sept. 14 1943?)
Dear Folks,

Just a few lines to tell you that I am still in Dix but will move out next Sunday.

We have been packing and cleaning up in order to leave the place in good condition.

I hope Ellie straightened out the mess I left after Saturday’s business.

Mom, I would like the Goldbergs’ address as I ought to write and thank them for the gift they sent.

I expect to go into N.Y. for tomorrow – nite and so will call up both Rose and Harry.

I would like to have gotten over to see Helen and her gang but it just doesn’t seem possible.

Well, Mom, there isn’t much else to tell you except that leaving Sunday means getting to Florida about Wednesday so it may be a little while till you hear from me.

Anyway, I’ll write or call later this week. Regards to all Love Louie

Service Club Camp Gordon Johnston [Amphibious Training Center]
Florida
9/28/43
Tues
Dear Mom,

Have just arrived here after a long tiresome trip. My address is as follows. The same as before except Camp Gordon Johnston, Fla.

So far I can’t tell you much about this place as I haven’t seen much. We are in huts about 200 yds from the Gulf of Mexico.

Please send some air mail stamps and also send me the bathing trunks in my drawer.

Not much else to write so best of luck to all and a Happy New Year Love Louie

Service Club Camp Gordon Johnston [Amphibious Training Center]
Florida
Thursday, Sept 30 (1943)
Dear Mom + All,

I am writing this while waiting to go to services at the Chapel.

I went last nite and enjoyed them very much and expect to go today and tomorrow.

So far I still have my job and it looks as if I’ll have it for a little while longer.

We expect to be here for only two months and from the way it looks down here we are all going to be in camp for all of that time as there isn’t any town near here that is decent and worth the trouble to get to.

We are going to do a lot of swimming down here as that is one part of the training that we are going to get. I also expect to go fishing so you can see that it isn’t be too bad as yet down here.

I do miss getting a N.Y. paper every morning as they don’t have any down here. Also it could be about 3 days old when I get it here anyway.

Well, I guess I have covered most everything.

My regards to your upstairs dept. and everyone else. Love Louie

P.S. As far as calling it is to tough a proposition and there is no need for it anyway. I’ll write again soon. Yours Louie

10/5/43
Service Club Camp Gordon Johnston [Amphibious Training Center]
Florida
Sunday
Dear Mom + All,

I have just about finished the quietest day I have spent in a long time.

This morning I went swimming came back, had a good fried chicken dinner and went back swimming in the afternoon.

The weather is very mild here as a matter of fact it is very hot and the water was nice and warm.

If it wasn’t for the fact that we are too far from any town to go in and spent the evening it wouldn’t be so bad here.

What is new at home? How is business. I hope it is keeping up on one side and getting better on the other.

I haven’t as yet received any mail down here but I expect some tomorrow.

I went to services both days and they were very nice. I am also going for Yom Kippur and expect to spend a nice day there. I hope you all at home have a good day also.

Well, I guess I have covered everything so will close with best regards to all and take care of yourself. Love Louie

P.S.
If you haven’t sent the swimming trunks don’t bother to do it as I have a pair that I bought here for $2:00 and they are O.K. Love Louie

Service Club Camp Gordon Johnston [Amphibious Training Center]
Florida
Oct 6, 1943
Dear Mom,

I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you that you and the rest of the folks are well.

I am glad you had such a nice time at the party and you should keep yourself active as far as that kind of activity goes but keep out of the store within reason.

I am still down at my job and I guess I’ll keep it for a while. I just had a haircut that left me about ¼ of an inch of hair on my head and I look like a pineapple that got caught in a lawnmower but it is nice not to have to comb it.

I haven’t as yet received the cookies but rest easy I’ll like some here as well as home.

Have been swimming and it is swell down here as far as the bathing goes. The only thing is that there is no place to go but it will save us money.

I am all set to go to the Shul on lot and am going to fast as well.

I have been going to bed early every nite and if sleep makes one beautiful I should be a movie star by the time we leave here but I am afraid that it is a little to late for me to get good looking.

I received a letter from Rose and she says that they expect you for a week or so after the holidays. I hope you go and have a good time. Don’t worry about going home as even two weeks won’t hurt you that is if you don’t start running all over the town.

Well, I haven’t much more to say except that I hope that by the time you get this that you will have a nice Yontif and that all of you at home do.

Regards and best wishes to all upstairs and downstairs. Love Louie

10/7/43
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL
Thursday Oct 7, 1943
Dear Mom,

I just received your letter with the money. I really didn’t need it as there is no place to spend any money down here. I’ll hold on to it and maybe use it on a pass or on a furlough if I get one.

I also got the package and the boys in my section were tickled with the cookies and cakes. They were really swell.

I went swimming today after work and it was just the thing. Imagine me spending a winter in Florida? Just like a millionaire. The trunks are O.K. too, but I don’t know if I will use them or not. If not I’ll bring them home next time I come.

Well, not much else I can write so will close now with best regards to all and again Happy New Year. I have wished that so much that it ought to come soon.

Yours Love Louie

P.S. I’ll drop you a line again in a couple of days Louie

10/11/43
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL
Mon Oct 11 (1943)
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines before I go to work.

I spent a mixed up weekend. Saturday of course I was in Shul all day. Yesterday morning I did a working that would make you wonder whether or not it was me. I got into a pair of shorts and then into a big tub of clothes with a work board and went to work. Now I am all set for another week.

In the afternoon I went running and at night to a movie so you see I had myself a busy week-end.

It is cool here nights and then during the day time the sun comes out good and hot so the weather is perfect.

How is business? Has the men’s store picked up any. I certainly hope it has.

I remember that fellow. He is a bald-headed guy and he used to come into the store and then we went away the same day.

Well there isn’t much else I can write you now so best regards to all Yours Love Louie

10/14/43
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL
Thursday
Dear Mom,

Just received your letter and was very pleased to learn of the nice time all of you had in N.Y. last Sunday. That is a very good way to spend a week end.

Things here are the same. Weather fine, swimming swell and all the rest of the things the same.

You shouldn’t worry about gaining weight if you feel well.

I guess I have covered about everything so will close with best regards to all at home and hope you have a nice change of scenery in New York.

I’ll write in a few days again Yours Love Louie

10/17/43
Postcard Governor’s Mansion
Mrs. S. Moskowitz
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL

Dear Miriam,

Received your letter and glad to read that you are all well and had a good time in N.Y.

Not much to write. Things the same Regards to Sam and all Louie

10/19/43
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL [Amphibious Training Center]
Tues. Oct 19
Dear Mom,

Just a few lines to let you know that nothing new has happened and that I am still here in the wilds of Florida.

I was thinking of taking a pass this week-end and going to Atlanta or to St. Augustine but I found out that I might get a furlough about the 10th of next month and rather than spend my money for a 3 day pass I think I’ll be better off saving it for a possible furlough.

The weather here has been as unsteady as a broken down home. It had been extremely cold but now it has warmed up and it is very nice.

I really haven’t anything else to write so will close with best regards to all Yours Love Louie

P.S. I am going to services as you had reminded me and will say Yizker. Louie

10/25/43
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL [Amphibious Training Center]
Sunday
Dear Mom + All,

Just received your latest letter and am answering it while being in charge of this office for the day.

Nothing new has taken place here except we all take a few hikes and as a result I have a few healthy blisters. I guess after a couple more hikes my feet will be allright.

It has been nice and warm the last few days and so I have started swimming again.

You wrote quite a schedule about what you were going to do when Mimi comes for a visit. It sounds like you should be busy and also have a good time.

I won’t be able to go to Tallahassee for a little while now so I don’t think I can call you up. It really isn’t necessary as mail service is very good. As far as speaking to you I certainly would like to but I really don’t think that it is worth all the money it costs for you to listen to me.

Well, not much else to say so best regards to all Yours Love Louie

10/28/43
Camp Gordon Johnston, FL [Amphibious Training Center]
Thursday, Oct 28
Dear Folks,

Just a few words to let you know that I haven’t very much that is news that I can write you.

Have been busy working and going for hikes as everyone has had to go on them.

It has turned quite cold and so that has ended the swimming for the present.

I got a letter from Humpy Rothblat and he is fine and wants to be remembered to all of you. He is having a good time of it as he goes to London quite often.

Well, will close with best to all of you and will write again soon. Yours as ever Louie