Bryant Service Club
1 Orchard Avenue
Bryant College
Providence, R. I.

S/Sgt. J. W. Gorman 31038473
HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT
HEADQUARTERS, P. G. S. C.
A. P. O. 523, c/o POSTMASTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Nov. 28, 1943

PERSIAN
GULF
SERVICE
COMMAND

FROM PERSIA

SEASON'S GREETINGS

The Best of Luck to You All
John Gorman

[Transcription ends]

S/Sgt. John W. Gorman,
ASN31038473
Hq. & Hq. Company, P. C. C.
A. P. O. 523, c/o Postmaster
New York, New York
March 1, 1945

BRYANT SERVICE CLUB
BRYANT COLLEGE
PROVIDENCE,
RHODE ISLAND

Dear members of the Service Club,

I want to take this opportunity of thanking you all for you very kind and thoughtful remembrance of me at Christmastime. It was might fine, and I want you all to know that I appreciate your kind thoughts. Christmas away from our loved ones is a pretty tough proposition to contend with, but our sadness is softened considerably by these little reminders from friends and relatives that let us know that we aren’t forgotten. SO thanks a lot- here’s hoping I will be home, with all the other fellows in uniform, to enjoy our next in a manner more fitting the occasion.

I am awfully sorry for this delay in acknowledging the receipt of your very nice gift – but the fact is, I just recently returned to my present station after having enjoyed a grand furlough in Palestine and the Holy Land. The overall time for same was about four weeks, and upon my return there was a lot of unfinished business that had accumulated during my absence. You know, of course, that there is a war going on- and the job at hand, by necessity, had to receive number one priority. I trust you understand, dear people – and I am awfully sorry that I was unable to write you before this. From my address you will note that I am situated almost half way around the world – in a land that should be quite familiar to you as a result of what you have learned in Ancient History classes. However, don’t get the idea that there is anything glamorous about this part of the world – true, it is considered by many as the cradle of civilization. Well, if that is so, I am sorry to say that civilization must have died in the cradle because conditions and customs of the people have progressed very slowly during the past few centuries. I have been over here, now, pretty close to two and one-half years – and you will agree that is an awfully long time.

Our primary job, until recently, was to get those vital supplies through to Uncle Joe – and, if you have been following the progress of our Russian Allies, you will be better able to appreciate the fine job that has been done. True, we have not been fighting in the front lines, nevertheless we have had our difficulties and hardships over here in Persia. The heat in the summertime is really terrific – Persia, you know, is considered as one of the hottest spots on the globe- and, too, we have had to contend with malaria, typhus, dysentery and fly fever, and other tropical diseases…and these have caused numerous casualties. However, we have gotten the supplies through- the records speak for themselves.

Someday, soon, I hope to get back tot the good old U. S. A. and it is my honest intention to stop up to Bryant and renew old acquaintances – and, I trust, to make new ones too. It has been a long time since I have had the opportunity – and methinks there are quite a few new faces amongst the faculty. I am one of the old-timers, you know, and many pleasant memories of old Bryant flash through my mind very frequently. It is a great little school – if you do not appreciate that fact now, you will in time.

Here in Persia we are somewhat cut off from the outside world – our only news arrives by letter about once every two weeks. Would appreciate more news from Bryant – and no doubt many others feel the same way.

Thanks again and good luck.

Yours truly
John Gorman

[Transcription ends]

S/SGT. JOHN W. GORMAN
[indecipherable]
Hq. Detachment, Hq. F. G. C.
A. P. O. 523, c/o Postmaster
New York, New York March 25, 1944

BRYANT SERVICE CLUB
1 YOUNG ORCHARD AVEUE
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

Easter
IRAN
1944

Best Wishes
John Gorman PERSIAN GULF COMMAND [Transcription ends]

S/Sgt. John W. Gorman [?]
Hq. & Hq. Company, [?]
c/o Postmaster New York, N.Y.
June 4, 1943

Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Providence,
Rhode Island

Dear Members,

I received your very welcome letter a short time ago as well as your very welcome package sent to me as a belated Christmas gift. I am heartily sorry that I was unable to acknowledge their receipt sooner than this, but I hope and trust you folks understand that circumstances beyond my control were the main reasons. However, I do want you all to know that your kind thoughts and best wishes are certainly appreciated by me. Being one of the Bryant Fighting men, as you so aptly put it, I know you understand my position.

Was very much interested in your report as to just what Bryant College, its present and former students, was doing to hasten this end of this terrible carnage. It really makes one proud to be a part of that splendid group. Just continue to keep up the good work, and also please continue to drop a fellow a line as to what various ones are doing. And incidentally, you may be very much interested to know that there is also another former student with me – a fellow from Cranston, R. I., by the name of Raymond Gillard. He graduated in 1937, if I am not mistaken. Both of us are very friendly with each other and goes without saying that a great deal of our conversations revolve around former Bryant happenings and former members of the faculty.

Naturally, you people will be very much surprised to learn that I am located in the far away country of Iran – a country that to us is school was known as Persia. Can you imagine being so far away from all my loved ones and friends at home? However, you may be interested to know that things aren’t too bad – they could be a whole lot worse. Of course I am not permitted to tell too much about the things over here, although I am happy to inform you that the training I received at Bryant is certainly helping very much.

As for this country of Iran, well I must say it is rather peculiar in comparison to what we Americans are used to back in the states. Some of the cities and towns resemble cities and towns back home, but most of the resemblance is on the surface. Although there are many semi-modern buildings and streets, the contrast between modern and medieval is sometimes very striking. You all have seen, I am certain, those long caravans of camels in moving pictures or in books that definitely are associated with the Middle East. Well it is not an uncommon site to see just such a train wandering down one of the main streets hereabouts. And more often we soldiers get a glimpse of two or three small burros plodding along with a load of sticks, or whatever else could be loaded on a burro’s back, all while dodging in and out of the varied traffic whizzing by. Street cars, subways, and the like are unheard of hereabouts, but there are plenty of automobiles – in fact you would be surprised at the number over here.

As for principal means of public transportation, we find the horse drawn carriage – better known to we soldiers as the “droschky”. They are a common sight throughout the Middle East, and perhaps you have seen pictures of them sometime or other. However, the main fault we Americans find with these “droschkys” is the fact that the driver rarely understands English, especially when on tires to tell him his fee is too high. All in all, though, it does tend to break the monotony - if you get what I mean. Thanks again for your kindness, and write soon.

A Bryant Alumnus,
John W. Gorman, Jr. [Transcription ends]

Dear Sirs:

We can quite understand your concern regarding the non-acknowledgement of the package sent to John, our son. However, about the date you mentioned, Dec. 4, 1942 he had been transferred to another outfit with overseas service the objective. We are sure that had he received the package he surely would have had the courtesy to acknowledge it. We last heard from him Jan. 8. First in which he told us not to worry if we did not hear from him in quite some time. No doubt the package will follow him to his destination.

We cannot express in so many words our appreciation of Bryant’s fine work in remembering its boys in these trying times. It will surely make the tie more binding between the boys and the College when that happy day of Peace, for which we are all praying, finally arrives. Thanking you in behalf of John’s mother and myself.

I am
Very truly yours
John W. Gorman

New address:
Sgt. John W. Gorman Jr.
A. S. N. 31038473
A. P. O. 3422
c/o Postmaster
New York, N. Y.
[Transcription ends]

Chariman of The Bryant Service Club
Bryant Service Club
Bryant College,
Providence, R. I.

Dear Members,

I wish to take this opportunity of thanking all of you for your very fine thought. I was pleasantly surprised early this week upon the receipt of a gift package. Needless to inform you just how happy you made me feel. It is indeed a wonderful organization that you have set up at Bryant College composed of the students and members of the faculty, with the prime thought in mind of helping to make we fellows in the armed forces just a bit more happy. I am sure that all others who have received gifts similiar [sic] to the one I received were made just as happy as the receipt of same made me. Keep up the fine works—same keeps up the morale of all of us.

It is doubly encouraging to know that even though we are many miles, some here in the states and still others in far off places, we are not forgotten. Many members of your fine organization, no doubt, will shortly experience the thrill that I had experienced last week. When, and if they do, their thoughts will revert back to the pleasant days spent at Bryant College. And, too, they will understand only too well just how happy one can be made to feel when they know that folks “back home” still remember.

Incidentally, the package you sent me should have been received by me almost one month ago, if not longer. However, it was unavoidably delayed because I was no longer attached to the camp to which same was sent. I was transferred from Camp Wheeler, Ga. June 1st to help activate a new camp within the vicinity of Durham, N. C. This new camp is well on its way to being activated—and if I must say so, we fellows have done a very fine job here at Camp Butner. I was promoted to the rank of Corporal shortly before my transfer, and at this writing I am looking forward to another promotion.

I am attached to the Quartermaster Corps. My assignment in this particular branch of the army is that of Accounting—Property Accounting. It really is very interesting, and tends to keep my mind on the type of work that I was doing prior to my induction. Of course it is quite different to the ordinary Accounting that is done on the outside, nevertheless the basic fundamentals of accounting must be applied daily. My job is to keep a record of all property and equipment issued to the various organizations on the post, hence the term Property Accounting applies.

I have been in the service almost eighteen months now, being inducted March 18, 1941. However, I was released from active service last September 15th, I being over the twenty-eight year limit at that time. I realize only too well how fortunate I was to have been out at all. Was recalled to active service last January 6th. It was swell while it lasted, but it didn’t last long enough. I am reconciled to the fact that we have a job to do. Once the job is completed we all can go back to normal peaceful living once again. It is my sincere hope and prayer that it won’t be too long in coming.

Before closing let me take this opportunity in wishing all you members of the Bryant unit of the U.S.O. good luck and continued further success. Keep up the morale of we fellows in the service—we are depending on you to do just that. A little rembrance [sic] from time to time by the folks “back home” tend [sic] to give we fellows a big boost in spirits. Good-luck.

Very truly yours,
John W. Gorman, Jr.
Detach. Q.M.C. (W) S-C
Camp Butner, N. C.
[Transcription ends]