Dear Mother & Dad,
We we left Picket about the 24 of October. I guess you could tell that by not getting any letters from me. We landed at — CENSORED — on the 8th of Nov. I’m sorry I couldn’t write to you but I just couldn’t. I know you have been worrying about me but I have come through my first battle in good shape. Boy what a battle it was too. It lasted about four days and we took two cities —- CENSORED —
Fedella is a small town and Casablanca is about 250,000 people. We are in French Morocco, Africa. Remember I said I bet we go to Africa. The climate here is perfect. I like it better than California.
I’ll try and tell you a little about the trip and battle. After we boarded the troop transfer we did not have a place to sleep it was so crowded. When we finally got a place, it was the last place to sleep on board. We were in the officers lounge and we really had a nice crossing. The water was rough for about three days and I was a little sick on one of the days. I think each of the fellows bought about a box of candy a day. We played cards and sang almost all of the way. Of a night when it was dark on ship we would group on deck and look at the stars t see if we could tell which way we were going.
The battle started on the 8th of Nov. about 2:00am and boy what a battle it was. Its something Ill never forget. Everyone was out on deck watching it. I sure felt sorry for the town but they tried to compromise first and they didn’t want to. When day break came you could see the guns firing on the land and where they were coming from. I watched a sea battle that I will never forget because I’ll probably never get to see another one. We were on ship guard to keep the other solders down in the holes so we had a good view. I didn’t get scared at all even though the sells were hitting close, until the aircraft started bombing and then I turned green. Boy to see those babies drop three bombs and strafe the beaches was something. One bomber flew right over the top of us and everyone was shooting at him. I expected any moment to be blown to bits but I guess he was too high to drop his bombs.
When we went to shore, everything seemed quiet until some bombers came back. You should have see the fellows hit the ground. Its one feeling you will never get over. You don’t know how lucky you are to live back in America. All of the houses are blown up, its some thing the people back home should see then they would realize what it would be like if war came to America. I’m glad I’m fighting over here. The French people are the natives sure were glad that we had come. In Casablanca they just about cried they were so happy. They liked our gum and cigarettes, also candy. In fact any sweets we had because they didn’t have any. They couldn’t understand why the American soldier was so big and fat and healthy looking. Here we gripe because we have to eat the ‘C’ rations and they are tickled to death to get them.
You should see the Arabs, boy what people. The men ride on mules and the woman walk. The woman go around caring things on top of their heads. Everything looks just the same as some the the travel clips I have seen in the movies.
I guess you will have to pass this letter around as they will be few and far between. Don’t worry about me at all. I am having a fine time and I am will and happy. Good by and I will be thinking of you both always. Say hello to everyone for me and Ill have a lot of interesting things to tell of these days. Don’t forget I love you both very much.
Your son, “Chick”
Your Son, ‘Chick’
