February 10 and 12, 1943. A letter from the office and a postcard from a friend. Before Dad left for the war, he worked at Interstate Plumbing Supply in Albany as an office clerk. We get the first letter from the gang at the office dated February 10, 1943. Six folks from the office write, Bonnie, Bill, Jerry, Ellen, Margaret and Del. The letter contains the kind of light banter you would expect from your office mates. We learn that the boss (Mr. Ruch) is on his way to Florida for a vacation and Mr. O’Brien (the VP) is in New York on business. In other news from the office “everything is about as you left here only more so” and that “there are two new girls who started, but one of them only stayed a week.” Bill asks, “Have you got the Army under control?”
Letterhead of Interstate Plumbing Supply Co, Inc. where Dad worked before being inducted into the Army
Jerry reports that they “got a card from Russ… He is going around in circles in a plane or something.” He continues, “Hope you like it down there and wishing you lots of luck.” Meanwhile Margaret tells him, “I would give most anything if you were here to run that mimeograph.” Ellen tries to one-up her, “Margaret isn’t the only one who misses you. After they finished the inventory there were so many bills I thought we would never finish them.” Del reports that they received a card from Freddie Murphy (not sure if Freddie is a co-worker or a mutual friend) and that he is at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
Dad also received a postcard from Johnny Mudge, who is stationed at Fort Monmouth in Red Bank, NJ. The entirety of his correspondence is: “Hello, Anthony. So, you are down where it’s nice and warm. Lucky you. My luck is that I’m near home. My wife was down here Sunday. Like it here very much. Eats better than Upton. Glad to hear from you. Try it again, especially if you change your address. Lots of luck to you, and keep plugging. Your pal, Johnny”
Front of postcard sent by Johnny Mudge, Postmarked January 12, 1943