Postmark: 09/13/1943

Return Address:

Pvt. V. Misitano
Co. K. 342nd Inf.
APO 450
Camp Howze, Tex.
U.S. Army

Sept 11, 1943
Sat. nite 6:30

Dearest Mother,

    Hear I am, back in camp again. We came back last nite at 11:30.

   The problem that we ran wasn't very hard. The only thing that was really hard was the walking 18 mi. out and 18 mi back, but, we're supposed to be tough. At least the General told us we were anyway.

   There's not much to talk about here mother, everything is about the same, except in the last few days they sent about 12 guys from this co. to a Port of Embarkation. The fellows they sent were guys that always fell out of hikes pretty often. I heard that they will be sent over as M.P.s in the places we have captured. So mom, maybe it's better that I was, and still am able to take all these hikes we have. I've never fell out of a hike yet, and I don't intend to.

   Well mother, I guess this war won't last long now.

   I received your letter mother and in it you said that Joe was sent to Fort Meade and that I know what that means. No mom, I don't know what that means, except that he's just got a new camp, and mother, that's all it means, so don't go worrying about anything, especially what you probably are already thinking.

   No mother, none of will leave this country and besides, the war is practically over.

   Well mother, I guess I'll close now with lots of love to you mother dear, daddy and the kids.

   Your loving Son,

"Jimmy"

P.S.

   God bless you mother and keep you safe for me. I love you mother, always remember that

Fort Meade became a training center during World War II, its ranges and other facilities used by more than 200 units and approximately 3,500,000 men between 1942 and 1946. The wartime peak-military personnel figure at Fort Meade was reached in March, 1945 ­ 70,000.

Fort Meade was home to many services. The Cooks and Bakers School supplied bread for the entire Post (approximately 20,000 people including families of married men). In 1942, the Third Service Command opened the Special Services Unit Training Center where Soldiers were trained in all phases of the entertainment field. Entertainers, musicians, and others involved in the entertainment industry, including swing-band leader, Glenn Miller, served in Special Services.

Fort Meade was home to a number of German and Italian prisoners of war. In September 1943, the first shipment of 1,632 Italian and 58 German prisoners arrived at Fort Meade. Some of those prisoners, including a highly decorated German submarine commander named Werner Henke, died during their captivity and were buried at Fort Meade.

Over 150,000 American women served in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. Members of the WAC were the first women other than nurses to serve within the ranks of the United States Army. (Above notes from home.army.mil)