Off to California, 1942-07-26
I’m having a hard time choosing where to start with these letters. I said these posts wouldn’t be chronological, but I still sort of want to try. I’m sure I’ll come across earlier letters, but below is one of the earliest so far.
Here’s a rough timeline of Toni’s training in the US:
Fort Custer • Augusta, MI: early 1942
Camp Roberts • San Miguel, CA: Summer 1942 - Fall 1942
Camp Butner • North Carolina: Winter 1942 - Summer 1943
Fort Benning • Georgia: Fall 1943 - ????
No later than the Spring of 1944 Toni returned to Camp Butner for a short time, and there was a call for volunteers for the 293rd Joint Assault Signal Company. He joined, and was promptly shipped to England for further training during the Spring of 1944.
For anyone that doesn’t know, Arvilla is one of Vietta’s older sisters.
“Fort Custer Co. A. The Best of the Finest”
In the center is Arvilla’s handwriting: “This was returned to Toni — he sent it in my letter”
Toni is front row, 7th from the left.
Sunday, July 26.
Vi dearest: —
No, I haven’t been neglecting you — that I could never do — ‘cause “kocham cie.”
Since I’ve written you last there’s a lot of country I’ve covered. I hope Arvilla had forwarded the letter I’d written a week ago. I’m sorry I didn’t have your full address. Whatever mail you is sent to my old address will be forwarded here to Camp Roberts. As it stands now, I still don’t know my permanent address. As soon as I can find out, I’ll send it to you. For the present, don’t write until you hear from me again. Disregard the address on the envelope.
Here’s my travel itinerary. We left Ft. Custer Tuesday eve and awoke in St. Louis, Mis. From there to Kansas City Mis. We went thru Kansas, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Mojave Desert, and into California. The scenery was undescribably beautiful — like you, Vi. Mountains, valleys, hills, etc. While passing the desert the heat was 130° — whew!
This camp I'm stationed at now is very fine. There are great mountains surrounding us and we are in sort of a flat valley. Nice to see but hot in the day time and cold at nite.
The things I miss most here are you. When you write, please tell me how you’ve been and what you’re doing. Gosh I miss you.
All my love,
Toni
P.S. “Kocham Cie” in 17 languages.
T.
“Mojave Desert. The Japanese concentration camp is not far from here.” He’s probably talking about Manzanar. In school, I’ve only ever heard the term “internment camps” used, which downplays the cruel reality. They were, in fact, concentration camps for Japanese-American citizens.
“A good view of our camp. Notice how large our drill field is.” Camp Roberts was one of the largest training camps during WWII. 436,000 troops trained here throughout the war.
