Postmark: 10/31/1944

Return Address:

Sgt. V. Misitano
2628th Hospital Section
APO #790
c/o Postmaster N.Y.

(Mother's notation: Nov 13.)

30th Oct, 44

Dearest Mother,

    Just received your most welcomed letter that you wrote on the 5 of Oct. and enjoyed reading it very much.

   In your letter you told me that you hadn't received any mail from me since the 15th of Sept. Well mother, you should have received plenty since you wrote this letter. The next letter that I wrote since the 15th was the one telling you I was wounded.

   In your letter you told me about hearing from Tony, Phil and Joe. I can just imagine what Phil is going through mother, and I know it's pretty tough but I'm sure he'll be O.K. and come through alright. I hope by now mother, that you know where Tony is at, I guess he's been able to tell you by now. I'm anxious to find out if he's here in Italy anywhere.

   Along with your letters I also received the envelope inside. I won't be able to use the envelope mother because you had a date written on it. I also received the V-Mails that Pauline had sent. She told me about receiving the letter saying that I was wounded. I'm glad that you received it before you received any word from the govt. because I know how you all would have felt. She gave me the address of some guy that she said she had been corresponding with and gave me his address. She said he may come to see me, but I don't think I'll be here that long, unless he comes within a wk. or so.

   She also told me that Rosie and her mother were up to see you all.

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

   Your loving Son,

"Jimmy"

P.S.

   My arm is coming along O.K. mother, and I'm really in good shape so please don't worry about anything mother.

   Love, Son,

"Jim"

Joe and the Engineers:

From post-war records I find indications that Joe was a PFC in Company E of the 345th Engineers General Service Regiment (EGSR).

A blog post from 6thcorpscombatengineers.com gives the following:

The 345th Engineer General Service Regiment was activated on 15 June 1942 at Camp Crowder, Mo. The 345th was deactivated at Foggia, Italy on June 30, 1946.

In Italy they were under the command of The Peninsular Base Section.

Campaign Credits:

• Naples-Foggia
• Northern Apennines
• Rome-Arno

There are several mentions of the 345th EGSR in "THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS: THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY".

Tasks of Base Section Engineers

Base section engineers drew a multitude of assignments. Many of them were calls for a few men to sweep mines, clear away debris, or repair plumbing. Others' tasks were larger. The ninety-five work orders the 345th Engineer General Service Regiment handled in August 1944 ranged from repairing a water faucet at Villa Maria (the General Officers Rest Camp in Naples) to installing 225 pieces of equipment for a huge quartermaster laundry and dry cleaning plant at Bagnoli.

This unit was the first base section engineer construction organization in Naples. Its early assignments included setting up an engineer and a quartermaster depot, repairing railroads, building POW camps, and working on the Serino aqueduct. The 345th was also responsible for all street and sewer repair in Naples, although civilians did the actual work.