Postmark: 12/31/1943

Return Address:

Pvt. V. Misitano
Co. A. 350th Inf APO 88c
c/o Postmaster N.Y.

(Mother's notation: Jan 12. 44)

Dearest Mother,

    I finally got mail today for the first time since I left the states.

   I received about 12 letters and the one you wrote on the 10th was one of them. I read yours first, and after I read it, I didn't feel like reading the rest of them.

   I'm really sorry mother, that I wasn't able to be at the Port of Embarkation to see me before I left, but honestly mother, our whole troop movement over was really very secret.

   Mother, I was shocked to hear about daddy getting hurt, and I'm hoping and praying that he recovers real soon.

   Mother, today was payday but we didn't get paid yet. I guess that we'll get paid Mon. and so when I do, I'll send most of my pay to you because I know you'll need it since daddy can't work for a while. I have to close now and mother please don't worry about me because I'm O.K.

   God bless you mother.

   Your loving Son,

"Jimmy"

Newspaper Clipping from Altoona Mirror 11/27/1943

ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL

Frank Misitano, aged 52, of 1500 Sixteenth Ave, a crane operator in the Altoona Works, was admitted to the Altoona Hospital yesterday suffering from a fracture of the right elbow.

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Addendum by Grandson Jim Jr:

Frank (Francis, dad's father) worked at the Altoona Railroad shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad for 43 years, retiring in 1959. He had a roughly half-mile walk from his home to the shops, and he often took a brown-bag lunch with key ingredients of home-made Italian Bread, Romano Cheese, and Italian Hard Salami.