Postmark: 01/26/1944

Return Address:

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

(Mother's notation: Feb 8)

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 this letter finds you all in the best of health.

   Mother, today I received your most welcomed letter that you wrote on the 13th. I don't know how many V-Mail letters you wrote that day, but I received one and twos so I'll answer them now.

   I'm glad to hear that you are receiving my mail.

   Mother, in your letter you said that you hope I'm really well. Mother, I'm in the best of health, so please don't worry, I might be a little tired from a problem we just had, but otherwise I'm O.K.

   I'm glad to know that daddy's arm is better and that he's able to work again. I'm glad also mother to know that you're over the gripp. Mother, please always take care of yourself, because this war won't last forever, and when it does end I want to come home to you with my other brothers, and find you, my sweet mother, waiting for us.

   I hope that you received the money I sent you mother, and that you will use it. Mother, if you have any trouble in mailing my pkg. show them the letter I wrote asking for it. Rosie said in a letter I received from her tonight that she couldn't send a pkg. to me because she didn't have a letter from me asking for it. She said she had it over to the P.O. and they refused to send it.

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

   Your loving Son,

"Jimmy"

P.S.

   God Bless you mother, and please don't worry about me.

   Love,

"Jimmy"

Training in North Africa:

Excerpts from "Draftee Division", The 88th Infantry Division in World War II by John Sloan Brown

(page 78): The 88th remained near Oran for more than a month. Seizing this opportunity for training, General Sloan used the French Foreign Legion's Bedeau Cantonment south of Magenta. Here the vastness of the Atlas Mountains offered an ideal environment in which to retrain for the rigors of Italy. For weeks the infantry regiments maneuvered against each other through the rugged terrain while artillery, engineers, and logistical units struggled to render support. In particular, units reviewed land mine warfare, marksmanship, demolitions, small-unit operations, crew duties, and night operations. The challenge of the terrain and the pace of the training whipped the division back into shape.

Soldiers again became hardened to life under canvas in inhospitable conditions, and they relearned the skills involved in caring for themselves and their equipment.