March 14, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 31157709, CoE 12th Infantry A.P.O. #4, U.S. Army Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-,

Received your letter day before yesterday but didn't get the oportunity to sit & answer till now & at that I haven't but very little time as I'm going on guard duty at four oclock.  We are out in the South Carolina woods as you probably know from my last letter & we will be here for some time yet & its cold as blazes hear at nite sleeping in tents.  How is Martha getting on now?  she should be in pretty good condition by this time.  Have you heard from Madeline yet?  I haven't had a letter from her for about two months now.  I got the magazines alright & you can forget about the pay book because I have a new one now.  I haven't heard how my Xray come out yet because being out here things are pretty well primative but I hope to get results because in this nite air that pain in my side raises the devil with me & also I seem to be loosing strength so I'll have to go to the doctors again (Its not much use because they won't do a damn thing for you anyway)  Well I don't know of any more news so I'll close for now I hope to hear from you soon.

Luck
George

March 8, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure, 31157709, CoE. 12th Infantry A.P.O. #4, U.S. Army, Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

Writing to tell you that I received your letter & also the magazines & that I went to the doctor about my chest & had an Xray taken but haven't heard the results of it yet.  The chances are that I won't either.  We are going out for a few weeks to train out in the woods & we will be sleeping out & on the ground & its still a little chilly here so I hope my luck holds out & I don't get sick.  I'm going to stop the Lt. when he comes in here for inspection & ask him if there can't be something done because I don't want to take the chance sleeping on the ground.  How is Martha getting on?  I got a letter from Jimmy today & he's still kicking about conditions at the roundhouse, well if he thinks he has grounds to kick he should be here.  There isn't much to say so I'll close till I hear from you again & you can continue to write to the same address.

Luck
George

Please excuse the pencil as my pen is packed away.

March 6, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 31157709, CoE. 12th Infantry, A.P.O. #4, U.S. Army Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

I received your letter the day before yesterday & received the magazines yesterday & was very glad to hear that Martha is home & alright so I hope that there won't be any more sickness up there, we have had quite a little of it here but I've been lucky so far I didn't get any of it.  I went to the dispensary yesterday to see the doctor & he sent me up to the hospital for an Xray so I won't know what the story is for a couple of days till the reports get back but I'll let you know.  It probably will be nothing but a big bluff like everything else they do here.  Well there isn't much to say so I'll cut this short & get to bed as the lites go out pretty soon now.  So write & let me know how Martha is getting along. & also if you here from Madeline, I write to her but don't get any answer.

Luck

George

March 1, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 31157709, CoE. 12th Infantry. A.P.O. #4, U.S. Army, Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia.

To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

I received your letter yesterday & have already answered it but right now I'm waiting to go on guard & haven't anything to do so I thought I'd use the oportunity to write again & find out how Martha is getting along.  Keep me informed as to how she is because if she should become any worse than she is I want to know so that I can put in for an emergency leave & come home  We are alowed to go home when there is serious illness at home but I hope that this letter will find things in better condition than they have been.  No I didn't have to go right to work drilling when I got back here because I still had one day left and I took it so that I could sleep & on the next day we didn't work either so that's two days I had to rest.  As yet I haven't talked to the medics about my trouble but I intend to just as soon as I get the chance to get over there.  Well I'll close now because the next thing I have to do is fill out the income tax blank.  It has to be done wethere we pay into it or not. (They get you coming & going in this place)

Luck

George

February 28, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 31157709, CoE. 12th Infantry, A.P.O. #4, U.S. Army, Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia.

To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

I got your letter today & was glad it came because I've been anxious to find out whats been going on up there.  I'm glad to hear that Martha is coming along okay & hope that she continues to improve.  Get the adress of the place where she is so that I can write to her.  There is quite a few cases of that same disease here in the camp but there isn't much chance of it spreading because we are watched pretty close also we are being watched & have to go to the dispensary twice each day so there isn't much danger of any sickness getting ahead of them.  As for those letters that you tried to deliver, just let them sit till Martha gets home or send them to me but I think Martha will look after them when she is well enough because the girl will be in to see her.  I'm going over to the kitchen & see what I can get to eat  I slept through supper & nobody woke me up.  We don't get enough to eat half the time on account of that darn rationing, they tell you people back home to sacrifice foods so that the soliders can have it well we don't get it we even have to eat margarine in place of butter also we have a god damn rebel in the kitchen who hates like hell to give any body anything all he knows how to say is (no more) I had a couple of jams with him so far & if it helps me I'll get him outside someday & pound hell out of him.  A lot of the other boys feel the same way too.  Well there isn't much of interest to say from here so I'll close hoping to hear from you soon.  If I go I've got to send those shields home because I'm not allowed to keep them but before I send them I'll clip the points.

Luck

George

February 21, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 31157709, CoE. 12th Infantry A.P.O. #4, U.S. Army, Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street., Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

As yet I have received no reply from my last letter that I sent out to you over a week ago so I'm writing to find out if you got it or not.  Well things are about the same as usual here, the same old thing day in & day out.  I want you to get those two railroad magazines with the streamliner pictures & send them down.  Well there isn't very much to say from here so I'll have to close now because I'm going out to go on guard in a few minutes so will look for those magazines.

Luck,

George

February 18, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 31157709, CoE. 12th Inf. A.P.O. #4, U.S. Army, Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia

To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston (Boston) Mass.

Dear Pa,-

Just a few lines to see how everything is going up there & to ask if you received my letter because I sent it out the day I got back here & I haven't received a reply yet.  There is a little more been added to our adress so I'll put the whole works on this letter so when you send letters use it the way that I have it because otherwise the letter may be turned back.  Well things are pretty much the same with me down here except that Its very cold here for this section (18 above) so it must be real cold up there.

Get those Railroad magazines with the streamliners in them & send them to me as I forgot to take them when I left.

Also if you see a little black book around there with a soldiers pay book inside of it send the pay book but put the black one away.  Well this is about all there is from here so I'll close for now.

Luck

George

February 14, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure, CoE. 12th Infantry, Camp Gordon, Augusta, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

Well here I am back in the same old place again after a long & tiresome trip.  I got the 6 o'clock train for New York & didn't get here till 5:30 Saturday morning.  Everything was fine til we got on the Atlantic Coast Lines then the trouble started, they stop at every bodys back yard & they are very & dirty.  I was a mess when I got here.  Well I'm going to close for now because I'm too tired & nervous to write.  Wrap up those two Railroad books that Jimmy has & send them down here.  Also there is a little book called the Soldiers pay book up there someplace so if you find it send it too, if you can't find it I can get another.  Well this is all for now.

Luck

George

January 22, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 7709, Co E 12th Inf. A.P.O. No 4, Camp Gordon, Augusta Ga.
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa, -

Received your letter yesterday & was glad to hear that you received the insurance papers, photographs & camera. I want that camera put where it won't be carried off by Jimmy. Before he reports to the board tell him that I said to do everything in his power to stay out of the Infantry because it's too tough. We do have to make application for furlough & I've done so but for different reasons they canciled them so I was unable to get there. Evidently that lieutenant that told you I should have saved a sum of money by this time hasn't been in a camp like this because $50 isn't much for a whole month & it don't take very long to go through it. I got the presents from Theresa & Martha okay and have written to thank them for them but don't know if they got the letters or not. Well I must close now as lites will be out soon.

Luck Geoge

January 6, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure, Co E 12th Inf. Camp Gordon, Augusta, Ga.
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa:,

Here is the application I got for my insurance, I'm sending it to you as I think it will be safer with you because I'm liable to lose it. The government was supposed according to this application to have sent you the policy so if you didn't get it, go to a U.S. Army finance office in town & find out about it because there is no way that I can do it because it takes too long. You don't have to pay anybody any money as that is being taken care of by me. Well this is all for now.

Luck George

I'm sending some photos if I can get hold of stamps so be on the watch for them.

January 1, 1943

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure, CoE. 12th Infantry, Camp Gordon Augusta, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Garder Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

Received your letter today & I'm just dropping a line to tell you that I've received all the mail to date, it was late but I finally got it so there is no need to talk to anybody about it.  Well today was new years day & it was just another day for us, there is no enjoyment here at all just work and plenty off it.  We earn every cent of the fifty dollars a month that we get.  I've got another cold & it bothers my chest again but I think its due to this climate because its warm during the day & its cold at nite.  How did the holiday go off up there?  better than it did here I hope because we had to work so our Christmas wasn't anything to talk about.  Well this is about all there is from here so I'll close for now.  Tell Theresa if she is going to send any mail to me to send it as soon as she can because there is danger of floods here in the south & it may not get through for some time.

Luck

George

December 30, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure, Co E. 12th Inf, Camp Gordon, Augusta Ga.
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa, -

Just a short note to let you know that the railroad magazines have arrived & I have received all cards & letters from home. I also received a Christmas gift from Madeline & Tom, a pen & pencils set & some handkerchiefs which were just what I needed as they are so high priced here, we can't buy them Well this is about all for now so -

Happy New Year.

Luck George

December 27, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure, Co E. 12th Infantry, Camp Gordon, Augusta, Ga.
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa, -

I received your letter & card & was glad to hear that everything is okay up there. I also got a package from Madeline & Tom yesterday, it had a military pen & pencil set in it & some handkerchiefs, both of which I needed. I went up to the post exchange to buy some handkerchiefs the other day & they wanted $1.65 for six of them so I didn't by, so you can see from that what things cost here. Today is Sunday & its a duty day so we have to remain here & can't go out anywhere they are getting worse & worse all the time, Friday was Christmas & it also was a day of work, its getting so that when it comes Sunday or a holiday you can expect work & plenty of it. As yet there is no sign of the railroad magazines, I'll write & let you know when they come, the only way to send anything to this place is by air mail then it will get here otherwise you take a gamble on it getting through, this part of the country is 60 years behind the times. Well there isn't much to say so I'll close now hoping that you had a good holiday up there.

Luck
George

December 24, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure, Co E. 12th Infantry, Camp Gordon, Augusta, Ga.
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa, -

I received your letter yesterday and also the Christmas card but as yet there is no sign of the railroad magazines There have been three or four packages sent to me from Boston & I never got any of them so there is dirty work going on someplace I don't know wether its up there or in this camp but I don't get half of my mail and it don't do any good to say anything about it because these people in this area don't know any more about it than I do. I don't know how long it will be before I get a furlough as we have a new commanding officer and everything is all balled up, so I'll just have to wait but as usual the favorites went home for Christmas while the rest of us have to work. I received an Xmas from Madeline and her husband today but they didn't say anything about the baby so we will have to write to get the story on what caused its death. Well this is about all there is from here for now so I'll close.

Luck
George

I can't send any holiday cards as we are unable to get them here.

December 13, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo F. Gleasure, CoE. 12th. Infantry. Camp Gordon Ga.
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

I received your letter Friday but have been so busy that I didn't get a chance to answer it so I'm doing it now while I've a couple of hours to myself.  As for getting a railroad pass, there is no use in trying because we get a [redward?] rate & we are not alowed to use passes, and if I could it wouldn't be advisable to go to the trouble of getting one because we haven't any idea of when we can go because the only alow ten percent of the company to be absent from the post at one time so when the time comes they will tell us, we also have to pass a written test before we can qualify to go on furlough & being new in this division its going to be hard  I can't give you the name of the commanding officer or any numbers the address you have is sufficient.  You want to be sure that your fire insurance is okay because I think that block is a fire trap & you have some way picked to get out of the building that you could be sure nobody else would use, the best way is a long rope with a row of knots on it & wrap it around the wall between the two kitchen windows.  Yes I read about the Coconut Grove fire & I also know about a dozen people who were killed there.  If I could connect with the streamliner out of Columbia South Carolina I would be able to reach New York in 17 hrs. but the travel is so heavy that I doubt it and the railroads down here are slower than cold molasses but if there is a possible chance I'll get that one.  If you should send any reading matter, send some of those railroad magazines as I'm interested in them more than any others.  Well this is about all there is from here so I'll close now & hope to see you soon.

Luck George

December 6, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure. CoE. 12th. Infantry. Camp Gordon. Augusta Ga
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

I received the magazines today and was glad to get them as I've read about everything we have here with the exception of a few books in the reading room which are very uninteresting.  We had a parade here Friday and were viewed by General Ben Lear and he liked it so well that we got Saturday off.  You heard of Gen Lear, he's the one who was in the papers about a year ago over that yoo hoo business that they had some trouble over;  It's getting warm here again today and probably when we get up in the morning it will be cold again, that's the way this climate is, one day warm and the next freezing and due to that a lot of us have colds.  Well there isn't any more news so I'll close now.

Luck

George

December 4, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure., CoE. 12th Infantry, Camp Fordon, Augusta Ga.
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston, Mass (Boston)

Dear Pa.

I'm writing this short letter to tell you that I have received that Christmas package from the New York Control.  It came yesterday & it has every kind of toilet article for me that they could think of, also a carton of cigaretts & candy, writing paper, pencils peanuts & a lot of other stuff that I can't name off hand.  I already sent out a card acknoleging the receipt of it & thanking them.  They say that there are 11000 men from the N.Y.C. spread all over the world, so that will cost them quite a little money.  Well there isn't anything to say from here so I'll close for now.  Send me the story on the death of Madeline's baby in your next letter as I didn't know anything about it till you mentioned it.

Luck

George

December 1, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure, CoE. 12th. Inf. Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa-

I received your letter yesterday but didn't answer till now as I've been very busy.  I don't know what the racket is with the mail but I don't get half of what I should & half what I send out don't get to its destination.  There isn't any reason to keep letters from you as I don't put any thing in them any different than an ordinary letter.  No I didn't get any letter from Madeline & I haven't heard from her since just after the baby was born.  No, as yet I haven't put on any weight, I lost for a while then I got it back, now I'm losing again.  I don't know how long the furlough will be for but if its long enough for me to get home & be back here on time I'll be home.  It won't take me three days to get home from here it can be done in about 27 hours on the Silver Meteor, a streamliner that runs from Columbia S.C. to New York & if it stops at Providence I can change to the Comet & get there sooner.  We will get what is called a furlough rate I don't know how much but I'm going to find out.  As for the card from Waldon, I never got it.  Well I think this is about all the news there is so I'll close & get to bed as I have a heavy cold.

Luck

George

November 22, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure, CoE. 12th. Infantry. Camp Gordon. Augusta GA.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.

I received your letter this afternoon (Sunday) & I was surprised to hear that you haddnt received my letter in regards to the change in address because I sent it out about two weeks ago & it should have arrived there long ago, the course of delay is delay is diffinetly at the other camp because since Ive been here the mail has been fairly good in coming in.  How will that slump that they are having on the railroad effect my job & some of the others who left there in the past year?  It looks to me like all the veterans of this war will have the same unemployment trouble that those of the last war had.  If we do go back & find no job it wont be taken by us as easy it was by the old war veterans.  I read about that fire in the Macon papers last week.  Yes I did mention Dr. Thompsons findings to the army doctor at Wheeler & he said the xray didnt show anything.  I didnt get any [?] from him so Im going to see the doctor in this camp as that pain is still there regardless of the xray saying negative, it could be something else or may be they were giving me the run around at Wheeler but Im going to find out anyway.  That furlough that I told you about should be due somewhere around the first couple of weeks in December.  If it comes through & as far as getting home Ill make it okay if we get paid before it comes up. we new ones who just arived in this camp havent yet signed the payroll so if we dont get it by then Ill only be able to get as far as New York City as Im a couple of dollars short of what I need.  The weather here today is hotter than blazes and it makes us lazy & sleepy, I dont like it atall, Id rather be up where its cold rather than down here where its hot.  Talking about strenuous forms of work, we have to go [out outs?] a large parade ground here about three times a week & run two miles, sofar I havent been able to do it, I go for about a mile & a half then I drop out its too much of a strain when you are not used to it.  Well this is about all the news from here so will close hoping to see you all soon.

Luck
George

November 17, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure, Co E. 12th Infantry, Camp Gordon, Augusta, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

Here I am once again.  I thought Id write & tell you that I may be able to come up there on a furlough sometime next month, this is not definite yet but the chances look pretty good so I hope I'll be able to get there.  Dont tell the rest of the family as I dont want them to know Im coming until I get there.  I dont think I'll be able to make it by Christmas but it will be somewhere around there.  If I get it.  How's the weather up there now?  Is there snow on the ground?  I want to know these things so I can wear proper clothes for that climate.  Ive only been here a short time & already I have a heavy cold so Ive got to be more carefull here than I was at Wheeler as its much cooler here.  Well this is about all there is for here so will close hoping to see you all very soon.

Luck
George

Let me know if you ge the pictures in last letter.

November 16, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure, CoE. 12th Infantry, Camp Gordon, Augusta, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa,-

I wrote you a short note the other day telling you not to write till you heard from me, well its okay to start writing again as Im settled in my new home for a while.  I dont know how long but Im here anyhow so you can send the mail to the above adress from now on if it changes again Ill let you know.  How is it that the railroad is slaking up in business?  I thought that it would be going full blast How does Jimmy like the Masons?  I think Ill try for aplication in the order either after I get home or possibly if I get settled someplace before I get back home.  I think this place is better than Wheeler every body here seem to be very friendly & willing to help you if you need it.

As for that condition in my chest, I was up to the hospital & had an exray taken and they said its negative but that pain is still there, I cant understand what would cause it, if it bothers me much here Ill see the doctor in this camp & he might be able to tell me what it is.  You can tell Martha & the others to send their letters to this adress.  This is all for now, so write soon.

Luck
George

Please excuse pencil as I broke the pen.

November 15, 1942

From: Geo. F. Gleasure, CoE. 12th Infantry, Camp Gardner, Augusta, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

I forgot to tell you in my last letter that there may be a letter sent there from a friend of mine who I met at Camp Wheeler so if it comes just put it into an envelope & mail it to me here, you see he couldn't send it hear because he don't know where I am so we figured that that would be the best way to get in touch with each other again.  Im also sending a few pictures we took.  I have to find out about that physical trouble of mine & when I do Ill let you know whats the cause of it.  Well this is about all for now.

Luck
George

November 12, 1942

From: Mai Baker, The Cottage, Ballincollig, Co Cork
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. USA

My dear Frank,

What a pleasant surprise when I was just going to take my breakfast this morning at getting your letter, you bet I did not bother with breakfast until I read your letter over a couple of times so glad to hear yourself & family are well, its a relief to you they are all grown up now, you had a lot of worry while they were young but in married life there is always something or another.  I have not heard from Listowel for past two months they are a bit slow sometimes in writing or I think they are busy making lots of money, they are doing very well down there they have got the house next door and are enlarging their business.  There is not many in Listowel that you would know now the only ones belonging to your time would be girl & boys of Buckley's family.  Mollie Lyons.  Leane the Chemist & Dr. Dillons.  You know Behan house next door got burned to the ground.  George came near losing his home at that time also there are strangers there now all the Behans are left town & some of them are dead.  I suppose you remember Nell Dowling who used bring us the milk she has a provision shop at end of the Square & has a grown up family she used often ask about you her sister Maggie went to New York & done very well.  Paddy has the house at Woodford.  All the old people of Tullig & Mt. Cole are dead James Connor Uncle Adam & Wife some of the Parkinsons etc. and all their family's are grown up and have children of their own grown up also I would not know half of them as I am over twenty years left Listowel and it's 19 years since I was down there they never invite me down for a few days and I would like to go John & Jim Connor are at Mt. Cole John is married but Jim is not.  Sarah is married she was very bad during summer & had to be put in hospital suffering from cancer.  as you know all the Dillons are out of the police now Tom is here in Cork he has five in family all doing splendid Paddy is living in Listowel his wife is dead and he drinks a good deal himself Bridge is living near Lixnaw & has a grown family also do you ever meet Mike he buried his wife last March and then the Carrolls there is only one of them left here Henry & Matt are dead Jerry is in New York also two others and are doing well by what themselves say.  And now about myself I don't know if I told you I have seven boys eldest 21 and youngest 9.  my eldest boy is motor Mechanic and is very good at his trade my second boy is trying at present to get to Belfast to do some war work if he can but the country is a bit upset and its hard to get anything [?].  I had a hard struggle to rear them as the father is very much given to drink and I've had a terrible life up to this he is over in England at present and I hope he stops there you said you did not hear from George after you wrote to him they told me they answered your letter & did not hear from you since so you got a wrong idea about it the world is so upset for past few years a person don't know if the letter goes right or not.  I do not know how many times I've written to Annie but I'm sure it's about 20 letters anyway I never got an answer to any of them I even sent them to Mrs. Smyth.  I am posting another along with this to her.  I'll be delighted to get the parcel if you will be able to manage it I hope I did not give you too much trouble I never knew you should look for permission to send them.  George was not very well for past twelve months I met them in Cork last May they were up to take their boy home from hospital as he was in with apendix George got very old looking his wife is very good to me as she sends me all my clothes as the same things fit us and she get finished with hers before they are worn I'd be lost for clothes only for her as I could not buy them myself I will send them your new address this evening and I'm sure they will write to you you will be tired reading all this I hope you will write to me very soon again I've often and often thought about you and wished you would write ask Annie to write me also Hope this finds you all in best & wishing you all a Very Happy Xmas

Your loving sister,
Mai

November 3, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 7709, CoA. 15th [?] 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, GA
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,

I wrote and told you the other day that I was to apear before a reclasification board for a physical examination.  Well I went up yesterday to the hospital and had a three dimension exray made of my chest and I went back again this morning to see how it came out and they told me it was negative so I don't have to worry about T.B. or anything like that, but I still have a physical weakness that almost overpowers me when Im under any strain such as a long march or anything that requires any degree of endurance.  At the hospital they act as though everyone is faking, at least that is how they strike me.  But I still have that pain in my chest regardless of what they or the xray says, there is something wrong somewhere.  Im not the only one who is told that there isnt anything wrong when there is.  But one thing I do know & that is that I'll never be able to stand up against anybody who is of better physical condition than I am.  The doctor that I spoke to said that he would talk to the doctor who has jurisdiction over this company so I wont know till then just what the results will be.  I also had a talk with the Company Comander and he understands that there is a general physical weakness there because he had observed me himself and he was about to call me in and ask me about it when I came in myself.  So far he has done what he could, but Im going to have another talk with him as soon as possible.  So far as that lung is concerned there isn't anything to get alarmed about so Ill close for now and will write again as soon as I find out what is to be done.

Luck,

George

Here are a few pictures I had taken Sunday

November 1, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 7709, Co A. 15th Bn. 1st Platoon. Camp Wheeler. Macon, GA.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

Thought I'd write and see if everything is okay back home, I've been waiting for a letter from home but as yet none has arrived so I decided to write anyway.  How's the weather up there, cold?  It's still just like July & August here, hot as blazes.  Did you check on the stuff in the storeroom yet?  As for those tools just forget about them because if Jimmy hasn't the time to take care of them I'll take my chances on a furlough when we get shipped from here to get them myself.  We will only be here for about two more weeks then we move out to some other camp.  (North I hope)  I had a talk with the Commanding officer the other day & I'm due to go before a medical board sometime this week for a reclassification Martha met one of the officers from this camp up in boston & when he got back here he had me called into the office & we had a talk about my physical condition & as a result I'm to appear before this board.  His name is Lt. J.C. Leone.  she met him in some restaurant up there, he said he would have spoken to you when he was at the house but you were at work.  So I'll write & let you know the outcome as soon as you get it.  Well this is all for the present so will close for now.

Luck George.

October 23, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure 7709, Co A. 15th Bn. 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, GA.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

Received your letter this evening when I got in from a long march so I'm taking this time to answer as later on there may be work to do.  The only thing to do about those tools is to leave them there because you can't carry them as they are too heavy & too many & I'll take care of it myself as I probably will get a furlough before we are sent anyplace.  There is an empty space in the store room between the trunk and the box because I removed about 8 or 9 gallons of paint from there & you did not leave any trunk at Royal Street, that one thats in the store room now is the one that was in the cellar at Royal St.  You can check up and see if all of the oil burner is there, there should be one stand, one can, the valve, & two burners, there may be some copper tubeing there also but I doubt it, I think I used it on a job.  Well I think I'll close now because I'm tired after that march today & it was pretty hot too.

Luck

George

October 17, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure 7709, CoA. 15th Bn. 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler. Macon, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.

Got your letter at noon today, it has been quite some time since I last heard from any body back there that I wrote last nite to find out if everything was alright up there.  Yes we have an officers training school here but it is hard to get into because you have to pass a pretty stiff test and so far quite a few have been rejected so far.  David O'Malley from parsons street is here in camp with me and he has a pretty good education & he was rejected also.  He was telling me yesterday that Joe Dalon is getting married.  That Kelly you mentioned used to live in Allston once you know his father he was that drunken brakeman I think his name is George Kelly the last I heard of him he was in a cancer hospital.  Well there isn't much to write about so will close for now.  My gums are getting pretty hard now because I've been eating course heavy food and I have to wait my turn for teeth because there are about eighteen thousand besides myself.  K.P. is part of every mans duty we all get it but don't like it.

Best Wishes

George

October 15, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. F. Gleasure 7709, CoA. 15th Bn. 1st Platoon., Camp Wheeler. Macon, GA.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street. Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

I received word the other day that Jimmy goes up for his exam on friday and what I want to find out is if he went to get those tools I told him to get.  He's the only one there who knows where to go & Id like to have him get a car & bring them home before he goes away.  Have you written any letters lately?  because if you did I haven't been getting them, I haven't received any mail at all for over a week & a half now so I was wondering if there is any stoppage anywhere quite a few of the boys are complaining that they didn't get mail that they should have.  I just got in from sentry duty a little while ago & I'm glad that's over, that rifle is pretty heavy when you carry it on your shoulder for two hours it weighs about twelve pounds with the bayonet & bullets.  Well it's still very hot here & we feel it on the long marches.  The real test is coming next week when we get twenty mile night hikes, if I can stand up under that, I can stand anything.  Must close now as it's 11:30 and I have to clean that rifle and get to bed.

George

Tell the others to write

October 8, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo F Gleasure 7709, Co A. 15th Bn. 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

I received your letter this evening when I got back from work, they had me on kitchen police for two days now & I still have one more to go.  They pay you $50 per month and you earn every cent of it too.  That k.p. is a killer you have thirteen & one half hours a day for three days & the start in by getting you out of bed at 4.30 am.  it seems that you no sooner shut your eyes when some monkey is yelling "fall out."  I figured that sooner or later somebody would clamp down on that draft board, its about time somebody did & I hope they put some of those rats in a camp like this one.  Yes I got the letter from Madeline & also a card but where did they get that name they hung on the kid?  If you can't get an iron let it go Ill get by with out it.  Did Jimmy make out alright in the Masons?  I'll never get used to the heat down here because it doesn't seem natural for it to be hot this time of the year.  Well this is about all the news there is from this end so I'll close now as I get up at four thirty in the morning.

Luck

George

September 27, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure 7709, COA 15th Bat. 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

I didn't mention in my first letter which should arive at the same time as this one but what I want to know is if you can pick up a small travelers electric iron in Liggits.  Dont get anything expensive they have them made to fold up flat and go into a box.  I don't want anything too costly as I probably will be doing a lot of traveling.  You people think you have heavy rain storms up there, well you should be here today and yesterday.  its been pouring steady with a high gale.  I think it might be the tale end of that hurricane that wiped out Camp Huber in Texas.  I received a letter from Madeline yesterday and she mentioned that she has not heard from you for some time.  She asked me if I had heard from you, I told her that I did but that the others are too busy with other things to be bothered writing.  I was talking to some of the boys here about the railroad unit & they seem to be of the opinion that the paratroops are the ones who handle that end of the work.  I don't think I'd care much for jumping out of a plane five or six thousand feet in the air, but you can inquire from Pacillis and see what's what.  Well I've got to close so I can get my clothes, shoes & gun ready for tomorrow.  If they want more than three dollars for an iron don't get it  Don't send by express, just regular mail because if it comes any other way I've got to go through a lot of red tape to get it.

George

September 21, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure 7709, COA 15th Batallion 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, GA
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston, Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa-,

Im sending a picture I had taken here by electric camera Sunday nite.  I haven't much time to do any writing as I have some work to do so will write again a little later.

George

Tell Theresa to write
Also Jimmy.

September 16, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure 7709 C.A. 15th Batallion 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa,-

I received your letter this afternoon in the last mail and also one from Martha.  There isn't much I could do about my eyes as far as sentry duty at night is concerned because every man in the camp has to stand guard when his turn comes and when I go on at night I don't have to make up any time, if I was on days I'd have to make up the time lost at drill.  I haven't spoken yet about the pain in my side because I was out on the range to qualify for marksman and we could not be away from there unless it was absolutly necessary.  Well anyway I think I made the mark.  I tried to quality on the automatic rifle but don't know yet how I'll come out, tomorrow we go out for machine gun instructions, things certainly move fast around here.  Has Theresa got home?  If so tell her to write.  How was the weather up there today, down here the heat would fry eggs.  Well this is all the news for now.

George

I"m going to see the docto tomorrow or the next day.

September 11, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo Gleasure 7709, C.A. 15th Batallion, 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass (Boston)

I received your letter today just as I was going to write and see if everything was alright up there.  I thought that something might be wrong as I hadn't received a letter since Sept 4th and the letters that Martha is supposed to take care of are not getting there.  I got the money order & check okay.  Tell Jimmy to get wise to himself and bid off some job and stay put or he will find himself in the same fix as me and its no joke.  Did Theresa get home yet?  If she is tell her to write - the only enjoyment we have down here is receiving and answering letters.  Its all we have time for.  Well I guess I'll close now because there isn't any news.

George

September 6, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure 31157709, C.M 15th Training Batallion, 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

I received the package yesterday & the check today & I wish you had kept that money as some payment on the money I borrowed before I left home.  Why is it the railroad only grants me a year?  I thought the leave of absence was to be for an indefinite period of time untill my release six months after the duration.  I'd talk to Ritch & find out about that because that means no job when I get back if I'm gone over a year.  It looks to me like another of those dirty tricks like the one they pulled of in the last war.  I haven't had any further trouble with my eyes excepting its kind of hard for me to see at night when I'm on sentry post.  Well I guess this is all for now.  Let me know what Ritch has to say.

George

September 4, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo Gleasure 31157709, C.A. 15th Training Batallion, 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston Mass. (Boston)

Dear Pa.-

I got your letter this noon & was glad to hear that Jimmy came out alright.  I don't think that he can hold his job much longer as the army is pulling them in faster than ever before.  I had nine teeth pulled yesterday and I had today off on account of it, they are going to put in a lower plate before I leave here.  so thats so much money saved.  I haven't been able to eat any solids since yesterday morning I've been drinking coffee lemonade and eating stewed tomatoes but when I do get some solid I'll eat plenty, I think I can start in the morning.  I don't know how I'm going to make out in this outfit as that pain I had in my chest is back again and when we go on heavy drill I get pretty well played out and I'm losing weight fast so if it don't improve within the next week I'm going to see the Colonel and see what he can do about it.  That pack we carry is pretty heavy along with the rifle, bayonet and the heavy belt we have to wear its quite a load.  I've already written & received an answer from Madeline, I took a guess at the adress & got it right.  I wrote to her again today I also got a letter from Martha today.  If Jimmy writes have somebody adress it for him so that will be readable because the envelopes have to be plain or they will have trouble knowing who its for because there are thousands here.  Well I think I'll close now because lites go out soon & I've got to clean my gun.  Write soon.

George

August 26, 1942

From: Pvt. Geo. Gleasure, COA 15th Training Batallion, 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner Street, Allston (Boston), Massachusetts

Dear Pa-

I got your letter at this noon's mail call & was glad to here from somebody back home.  I don't like this country down here at all, the people from around here are not very sociable at all  I haven't been into Macon yet but those that have tell me that the people have little or no use for a soldier.  You don't have to waste paper like that when you write, you can write on boath sides because I don't think they sensure any letters other than those that go outside of the country and if they do they don't cut out any parts, they will just blot the words they dont want us to see they have a regular blot out stamp for that purpose.  Teddy might have been out looking for me the time he was gone for a week, because he used to sit up in front of Moskos every nite till he saw me coming.  I wrote to Madeline the other day but I'm not sure whether I had the adress rite or not, but I think it is 717 El Dorado Ave. Valejo Cal.  If this is wrong tell me.  How did Jimmy make out with his girl & Shepherd?  Tell Theresa, Jimmy & Martha to write I want to here from everybody back in Allston, it's the only enjoyment I have here because I'm holed up in this place and things are about the same every day, same old thing fall out for this & fall out for that they keep us on the jump from 5.30 in the morning till 9.00 at nite and the drilling is tough as hell, I don't know if I can stand up under it on account of the heat or not but I'll hang on anyway and see.  Are you thinking of having your sister come to live with the family?  I got the check alright and it come in handy.  Thanks.  I can't tell you much of what is going on down here because we are not alowed to mention anything of a millitary nature to anybody.  Well I think I'll sign off now as there isn't any more news from here for now.

George

August 20, 1942

From: Annie Gleasure, 205 Beach 147 St. Rockaway Park, L.I. N.Y.
To: Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner St. Allston, Mass. U.S.A.

My Dear Frank

It was a real surprise to hear from you after all these years.  Mrs Smyth sent me your letter, addressed to her last month, and I had intended to write to you several times since, but as you know I was and still am very lax in my corrospondence.  I have been in this locality for the past nine years, thought not at the same address.  Well how are you and the family?  I often wondered how you got on.  I haven't even an idea what age your children would be now.  Please write and tell me everything.

I was over at Floral Park a week ago last Sunday the 9th and Jean showed me another letter which you sent her.  She has been real nice since I came over here.  You know she is a sister-in-law of George's wife.  We never hear from the other side anymore.  I think its about two years since I heard from Mai.

Well good bye for the present hoping to hear from you soon

Affectionately Annie.

August 19, 1942

From: George F. Gleasure, Camp Wheeler, Georgia
To: Frank Gleasure (This letter is not in an envelope so no address)

Dear Pa,

Well I finally stopped jumping around the country and I'm now settled here for the next three months.  The heat down here is terrible, its boiling hot all day long from early in the morning till about nine at nite.  I don't like the climate at all.  The adress that your to use when you write is:

Pvt. George F. Gleasure, CO-A 15th Training Batallion, 1st Platoon, Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia.

I haven't very much to say because we haven't had a chance to get out of the camp yet.  One thing I'm glad to get off the train because we had a long hot ride and most of us couldn't sleep at all  I don't know how long it will be before I'll be able to see any of you (3 months anyway) possibly longer.  Well this is all for now so write soon.

George

There is another letter coming with this one - give it to Martha she knows what to do with it.

August 18, 1942

From: G.F. Gleasure No 31157709
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner St. Allston, Mass

Dear Pa,

I've been excepted and am in transit and I don't know where I'll be stationed so I can't tell you anything definite, but as soon as we are settled I'll write and let you know.

George

August 6, 1942

From: May Baker, The Cottage, Ballincolling, Co. Cork.
To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Gardner St. Allston, Mass.

My dear Frank,

Im sure you will be very surprised to hear from me its such years since I heard from you I often wondered why you never wrote to me I think it was in 1925 I heard from you last George's wife told me you wrote to them some-time ago & asked for my address they said they sent it to you but you never wrote to me.  I suppose you have many changes in your family since I heard from you before, the same as myself.  I have 7 boys in family the youngest is 9 years & the eldest 21 years he is a motor mechanic.  I had a great struggle to bring them up as their father has not being very sensible.  I'm sure all your family are working now for you I would like very much to hear from you all about them Annie is over in the States for a number of years now she did not write to me for last four years she is very slow at writing.  I wonder Frank would you send me a few pounds of tea we get very little of it here as it is rationed out to us.  I know several people who get tea from their friends in America.  And if you could send me some dried fruit raisins currants and sultana's I would be very thankful to you if you could manage those for me, but don't say that is the reason I write you for if you never sent them I should like to hear from you I was going to write to Annie also but I've very little hope of getting an answer from her I wrote her several times for last few years & she never answered.  I hope you will send me an answer to this.  George has done very well for himself he has succeeded and made lots of money, but he has a small family.  he has his own house bought out.  Did you ever take a notion of taking a visit home to ireland of course its out of the question now owing to the war but if it were over you might take a trip.  we'd be delighted to see you  Besure & send an answer to this by return I will be looking out every day for it.  Try to send me the few things I asked for I'd be very thankful Hope yourself & family are all well write a good long letter by return best wishes from sister

Mai Baker.

July 17, 1938

From: Jimmy Gleasure, Citizens Military Training Camp, Fort McKinley, Maine
To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Royal St. Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa, I am having a swell time.  One of the kids in my room in school was up to see me.  he is staying at Pearl Island across the bay.  Fort McKinley is known as the Great Diamond Island.  Tell George to make a key for my suite case because I lost mine throwing javleins.

Tell him to make a copple so one will be sure of fiting.  If he can make it till him to go up harvard ave key shop accross from [Myaskos?] lunch and tell the gang about it he will rember.  Dont forget because  my cloth are in the case.  Tomorrow I have table waitering.  All the kids have some time or anther.  I was down the rifle range yesterday and qualified shoot the rifle I scored 18 out of 25.  Next week we shoot the 30th  I am going out for a marksman medal also tell Martha to send up a picture of Whitehead  I will ahve to close now because I turn in

Your Loving Son
Jimmy

ps  I am broke

the key looks like this long + thin

July 10, 1938

From: Jimmy Gleasure, Citizens Military Training Camp, Fort McKinley, Maine

To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Royal St. Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa,

I arrived yesterday we got of at Portland, then got a ride to the wharver.  a ship comes and brought us to the island.  We get up at 5.40 get dressed and make our bed and be out a 6.5.  then we line up for inspection.  Next is breakfast.  After breakfast is exercise then drill to twelve then dinner and more drill. 

The "[enearshion?]" is K.P. auther words is table water for 24 hours You have to wate at the side for breakfast dinner + supper then wash the dishes.  And boy are you pauped then is guard duty 2 hours a night.  Tell Martha, Theresa, George + Madeline to right.  If I don't write for a while that means they ran out of stamps and I will have to what a while untill the ship brings the stamps across the bay.  Well I have to go to bed now

Your Son

Jimmy

COH

July 9, 1938

From: Jimmy Gleasure (Frank's son), Fort McKinley, Portland, Maine
To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Royal Street, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa,

We just got to camp yesterday.  It is not as easy as you think we drill about 4 hours a day or nearly 6 hours.  there is about 800 outhers guys here we get up a 6.40 get dressed and make our bed and get out a 7 oclock well I have to go to bed I will send the address latter

Your son Jimmy

March 14, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, VT
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I am writing to ask you to send me some stamps and some cigaretts as I cannot get time to go down town and get them because after working all day Im tired and besides I am broke.  The Captain asked us who wanted to re enlist over again and I told him no, so I ought to be home by the first or third of April I don't know what to write about as there is no news except that the senate instead of abolishing the CC Camps entirely are going to have them cut down to one hundred men to each camp, so that means a lot of guys will be without work after the first of the month  Well this is all for now  Don't forget to write and send the stamps.

George.

March 9, 1935

From: George Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, VT
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear

I received your letter the other day and I could not write on account of not having any money to buy stamps, but I managed to get this stamp from one of the boys.  Well anyway I and sending you the key to my trunk so you can lock it.  The government cheque will be there on or about the 10 or 15 of the month and when it comes let me know how much it is so we won't get chiseled and if it isn't there by the eighteenth or nineteenth of the month write and tell me.  Well this is all for now.  This fountain pen don't write very good.  Don't forget to write.

George.

February 25, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I am writing to let you know that I reached camp all right, the train we went up in had two engines on it and we reached the Bellows Falls Railroad station at eleven thirty.  On the way up a bunch of the wise ones pulled the air brakes when the conductor was not in the car and it stopped the train out in the woods.  Well thats all the news there is for now.  I think I forgot to lock up my trunk so if its open see that Jimmy don't bother it because there is a couple of knives in it.  Don't forget to write.

George

February 13, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, VT
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I am writing to let you know that next thursday we don't work in the afternoon so I am going to try and come home for a three day leave.  It costs two dolars & thirty cents for a round trip so if you can spare it send it to me.  My time in this place will be up at the first of april so Ill be home then.  I read in a vermont paper where they want 100,000 CCC boys to go in the Army so Im getting out while the goings good.

Dont forget to write

George

February 7, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I went up to the hospital at Fort Ethan Allan and I could not get any medical discharge so I am going to remain in the camp as I only signed up for three months and i will be released on the last of March or the first of april.  My Ears and every thing are all right.  I want you to send me a couple of bucks if you can so I can use it to get a round trip train ticket to come home for a visit over Washingtons birth day.  It isn't so cold up here now it is getting warmer so I think every thing will turn out OK.

Don't forget to write and let me know whats going on at home.

George

January 28, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston-Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa,

I went to the doctor and the captain to get a medical discharge so I am going to be sent to Fort Eathen Allan for an examination and receive my discharge and I expect to be home pretty soon It was thirty six below zero here this morning and its to cold up here the boys are leaving by the dozens every weak, so don't write any letters to me untill you here from me first.

George

I told them that the rupture bothered me so I'll get a discharge on that.

January 25, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston-Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa

I received that letter you forwarded to me and Im sending you the key to my trunk and you will find an envelope in it with nine medals, do them up and send them to the Lane Company 44 Washington Street Providence, R.I. and put the enclosed note with them I think my ears are going to be ok now as they are all healed up and Im keeping them well covered.  Thanks for the cigaretts and the dollar.  I think Ill try to hold out for the winter but if it gets too tough Ill find some way to get out of here.  I wrote to Dalton and told him to hold the teeth untill I can get down there to see him my self.  Let me know if you here anything about that railroad job.  Don't forget to write and let me know whats going on at home.  Did the jew fix that ceiling yet?  Im sending a souvinere of this camp. so put it away some place.

George

January 18, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa.

I thought Id write and give you some bad news.  I started out to work monday morning and got both my ears frozen solid so now they got me working on a camp detail all in side work and on top of that I got a couple of big [bayles?] and I can't go to town on account of the ears so if you can get me some cigaretts about three or four packages mail them to me.  Will you see if you can get after that railroad police chief see if you can get me a job as a railroad cap because I dont want to stay here all the time its too damn cold here you freeze in no time no matter how much clothes you got on.

Don't forget to write

George

January 13, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure (Frank's son), CO 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston-Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I received the money order all right but had to go through a lot of red tape to have it cashed so if you send any more money just put it into the letter because if you send an order I have to hike two miles to cash it and its below zero here.  They have me working out in the woods on wood detail 14 miles from camp and we have to ride back and forth in an open truck and its terrible cold when that truck is moving.  The gang up here are a bunch of crooks so I ordered a CCC trunk that is going to cost me $4 and they take it out of my pay at the end of the month

I have a heavy cold ever since I left Camp Devens last week and I can't get rid of it.  If you can get a jack knife for about a quarter send one up to me by mail.  The cheapest one here cost one dollar.

Don't forget to write.

George.

Go up to Daltons office and get my false teeth I didn't have time to get them my self.

April 16, 1929

From: Annie Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry. Irish Free State
To: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, 6 Roseclair Street, Dorchester, Boston, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Aunt Lizzie,

No doubt you will be surprised at receiving a letter from me, but I write to ask if you can give me any news of my brother Frank, whom I have not heard from for over three years.  His last address is 89 surrey Street, Brighton.  Both my sister and self have wrote to him a few times since then, but have received no reply to our letters.  I wonder if you would look him up and kindly let me know what is the reason of his not answering.

Sometimes I wonder if anything has happened to him.  You know the work in which he is employed is so dangerous.  Then, he asked me to go out to him when his wife died, but I did not feel very strong at the time, perhaps he did not like my refusal, though I am very sorry I did not go.  It was very hard on him to try to keep the home and children together.  I hope he is allright and that you will give me some account of him.  I hope you and Aunt Annie and Uncle Nick are all well.  How I would love to see you all again.  Aunt Bridge is fairly well though she suffers from one of her eyes very much, she was to go up to Cork to have it attended to.

Aunt Johanna Carroll is keeping strong, and comes to town sometimes, she would I'm sure wish to be remembered to you all, if she knew I was writing.  She is the last of the old people now.  Aunt Mary's daughter Hannie, is staying with her.  I wonder you, or Aunt Annie never thought of taking a trip home, excursions are rather reasonable now.  But I suppose when people have a home and family to attend to, its impossible to get away for any sort of long holiday.

My brother is married here for the past five years, they have one little boy, just two years, he is very cute.  They are doing good buisness.  I am the only unmarried one of the family.

Well I hope Dear Aunt you will write to me when you receive this and let me know all.

Your Affectionate Niece

Annie Gleasure.

With love and best wishes to all.

XXXX

December 16, 1926

From: Annie Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey Street, Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank,

The end of the year has almost come round again, and with it the time to exchange the Christmas greetings.  Time flies so quickly and it seems so short since I last heard from you.  I wrote you in answer to that but I suppose you had been so busy over one thing and another that you had no time to write.  I'm really sorry I didn't go over to you long ago, and even, I always said I would when Father would have no need of me.  But then my health was not good and I thought it just as well to stay here.  People here said America was not a good country and that the work was very hard, is that so?  I had been up to Mai last month I was looking for a house to start buisness but the rent of any decent place would be four or five pound a week and that would not suit as I'd have to board myself also, so I failed in my object.  The city was lovely I like a busy place all bustle, etc.  Round here is always dull and trade is very slack.  Mai has two very nice children, the eldest boy is very smart and quick to learn, he has been going to school a few months, but he is down with the measles at present.  The youngest is very like a photo of you that we have, when taken very young and he is very fond of music.  How are you getting on now with your family I suppose the most of them are going to school.  I know it is rather hard trying to look after your home and then going out to work, but all the same you won't feel them growing up.  Are there any Listowel people round where you live, or do you ever come across any of the Dillons.  All the people here are quite well, old James Connor of Mount Cole is alive still he is nearly ninety years of age, but never comes to town now.  His son John's wife had a little boy two months ago they called it James and the old man is crazy about it.  Well I must close now wishing you all a

Happy Xmas and a Bright New Year
from Your Affectionate sister Annie.

December 12, 1926

From: May Baker, 12 Dunedin Connaught Ave. Cork.
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey St. Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank.

Once again I am sending you those few lines hoping they will find you and all the children in good health and doing well, for the last couple of months I was going to write to you but as usual kept putting it off but Xmas time always seems to stir a person up for writing everyone seems to remember to write to their own and think of them more at this season than at other times.  How are you doing ever since also the children have you as much trouble in getting a person to mind them as you used.  I forget about the ages of your children is there any of them old enough to house-keep yet for you, but I suppose they must attend school, your youngest is not such a care now as he was, but as the saying is they are always a care.  My eldest boy Joe will be 6 years next March.  he is just after a fit of the Measels, George the other boy who is 2 this Xmas did not get them as yet, nor myself as it seems I did not get them when I was young George got them at home last spring.  I had Annie here on a visit for a couple of week late in November, she has got stronger than when I saw her last she would like to start business for herself here in the city but its hard to find a suitable place for her, she is very discontented as naurally at this time of her life she would like to be doing something for herself.  George and wife are quite well but business in Listowel is very quiet now compared with a few years ago, in fact its quiet everywhere they have no family in Listowel as yet.  I was asking Annie if she heard lately from you & she said you never answered a letter she wrote to you last January, she said she would write to you for Xmas.  How is business & times over there I expect you are never out of work yourself I suppose you never meet any Listowel people there what bout the Buckley girls you used to know do you ever meet them now.  I don't know that I've any more to say this time but I hope you'll write to me for Xmas, as I will be anxious to hear from you and the children  Wishing you all a happy Xmas & Bright New Year

Your loving sister
May.

P.S. Adam out at Tullig & family are all well he has two of his daughters married now.

January 18, 1926

From: Annie Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ire.
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey Street Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank,

Well I received your letter about three weeks ago and if I put off writing any longer I'm afraid it would be some time before you would hear from me for I'm not much good for letter writing.  Needless to say we were delighted to hear from you and that you are going along all right, of course it won't be altogether easy until the girls grow up and take charge of the housekeeping, but after another few years you won't feel them growing up.  It was too bad you meeting so much dissapointment in your married life.  I would have liked to have gone over after Father died but the way George was placed and then I wasn't very strong either, my health broke down altogether after-wards but I'm quite strong again now.  I expect it would be like going to a new country if I went now it would be rather strange to me.  Quite a lot of people go from here I don't know how they all get work.  Aunt Bridge's daughter left where she was and went out to Chicago.  I suppose you hardly ever see Uncle Mike or Aunt Annie?  All the people in Tullig are going on well the eldest girl is married in Castlemaine seven miles outside Tralee, they keep a grocery shop and the second eldest boy is here with us in the shop for the past year.  I don't think you would know any one round here now the people have changed so and its awfully quiet here. Well I must come to a close now wishing you every prosperity.  With love from all
Your affectionate sister Annie.

April 20, 1925

From: May Baker, 12 Dunedin, Connaught Ave. Cork.
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey St. Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My dear Frank,

I received your most welcomed letter last week and was delighted at hearing from you once again.  I was very sorry you had such bad news for me in it, you must feel very upset over it, death is a terrible thing in a family and your children all so young, your wife is an awful loss, for really there is no one like a mother to children its a pity some one of us is not out near you to be some help to you with them. I sent your letter home to Annie but I did not hear from her since perhaps she may change her mind and go over to you its very hard to say what she intends to do she says one thing now and then she changes her mind to another thing and you would not like & advise her as she may blame a person after for anything. she would like to start business here in Cork but its very hard to get a suitable place for her and rent is very high in the city which she don't seem to think so.  Are there any of your wifes people over there near you.  I wrote to you about the end of March and sent it to Parsons St I suppose you did not get it, I hope you will write to me regular in the future I often wondered during last two years how you were and why you were not writing.  I'd often think if you had met with an accident so many things strike into a persons head.  About things at home business is slack enough Annie told me in her last letter but George has gone into other things beside the liquor trade he has a van going through the country with stuff and buying eggs and shipping them he also goes in for the salmon fishing business he has ten boats and nets of his own and does very well that is if the season is good for the fish, he also does a little in the cattle dealing business. a person must do something to make ends meet and the drink business is not what it was years ago.  As for myself I am still living here with my people-in law.  trying to make both ends meet at times, there has being so much war in this country that it caused a lot of unemployment and loss of money, people were all idle.  I have two little boys now Joe the eldest aged 4 years and George who was born last Xmas Eve.  George come near losing his wife last year she had a premature birth, the baby having being dead for some time she was pretty bad for awhile.  I suppose you don't meet any of the Dillons now or hear from Miss Reardon.  I often wonder if we will ever see you again.  I don't suppose we would know one another now if we met by the way have you any Photo of yourself and family.  I would like to have one especially of yourself as they had none to spare of you at home will you send me one of yourself if you have it.  I would be glad to have one.  the Photo's I sent you while I was at home were the Photo's of us all when we were young its a pity they went astray.  I don't think I have any more to write about this time but I hope I'll hear from you very soon again.  I hope you'll be good to the kiddies I feel for you all especially the children. as they are all so young without a mother may God comfort and take care of you all with best wishes from
Yours loving sister
May