Postmark: 01/25/1944

Return Address:

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

Jan 23, 1944
Sun. morn. 4:30
North Africa

Dearest Mother,

    Just a few lines to let you know that I'm feeling fine and hoping that you and all at home are the same.

   Mother, today I received two more V-mail letters. One you wrote on the 3rd and one you wrote on the 7th.

   I'm glad that you are receiving my letters by now. I'm writing to you every chance I get mother, and if I have any time after I've written your letter, then I write any other letters I have to write.

   We had today off and I washed a lot of my clothes out and that's why I started this letter so late. Mother, we're going to have a plenty busy wk. so I don't know if I'll get a chance to write, but in case I don't mother, and you don't hear from me for a while please don't worry about me, because I'll be O.K.

   I hope that Joe likes it where he's at. I may get a chance to see him yet, because he's not many jumps from me.

   Well mother, there isn't much more to say so I'll close with lots of love to mother dear, daddy and the kids.

   Your loving Son,

"Jimmy"

P.S.

   God bless you mother, and please don't worry about me because I'm O.K. and also tell daddy not to worry and take care of his arm.

"Jim"

First Days in North Africa:

Excerpts from "The Blue Devils in Italy", The Story of the 88th Infantry Division. by John P. Delaney

(page 37): No matter what the book said, Africa was cold. It was cold sleeping on the ground in those puptents and the men started supplementing gasoline fires with internal warmth in the form of a French drink wistfully named Eau de Vie, a highly volatile beverage which burned like kerosene when thrown on an open flame. It tasted like it too.