Encoded for the Veterans History Project, September 23, 2021.
All letters in the Henry Walker McIver collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by Veterans History Project staff. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
75
[[The top half of the page is a sketch of a man behind a military tent, possibly getting changed, drawn in pencil. A cot and footlocker can be seen inside the tent while a mess kit, helmet, rucksack, and assault rifle are placed outside. Hazy mountains can be seen in the distance behind the man.]]
June 4th
Italy
Dear Mother -
This is my home, as of June 4th '44. It was staked up by moon light .. a joint project by my current roommate and I. The area is on the bias (what part of the Italy isn't) and is walled in the familiar style ... field stove being used liberally to secure the soil. That supplies the head of our shelter. The use of
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the pup tent doesn't follow basic training instructions .. but serves us very well. All the belongings I'm using are visible ... the jumbled item on the ground being a near empty barracks bag - I throw blankets, cot, and tent inside when moving .. the mussette [sic.] bag carries my toilet articles and clean pair of sox and underware [sic.] and mess kit .. so I can get along with that alone for 4 or 5 days .... and the box is a German shell case - recently acquired and very convenient. In it I've got my switch pair of fatigues (that's what we're wearing now) a set of OD's - pair of shoes - the rest of my sox + underwear - a jacket and writing paper .... and at present, the box of candy I'm (or we're) eating tonight. The mosquito nets are necessary and not too bothersome. The skeeters come only after dark.
That is home as I know it now - plenty adequate - but nothing like the one at 202 Milburn. There are several fellows I've run into, Mother, whose homes have either broken up - or they don't care about going back - and I can realize what a
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wonderful job you and Dad have done to make ours as wonderful as it is. So this June 29th I'll be thinking of it more than ever. This year I won't be able to give you any presents - or phone to say hello - but can only pray that I'll be around next June 29th to join the celebration.
So, a happy birthday to you, Mother, and lots of love-
Hank
CPL H W McIver 12130759
6759 SIGNAL DET (PROV)
APO 464 c/o Postm NEW YORK
Mrs Henry W McIver
202 MILBURN STREET
ROCHESTER 7, NEW YORK