Dear Bryant Service Club:

Was well pleased to receive your swell X-mas gift. It's a lovely sweater and will sure come in handy when I go down South and during the winter months. Wish there were some way in which I could show my appreciation. Want to thank you a lot and say that I think it's a wonderful job you are all doing for us overseas. It's a good feeling to know that we haven't been forgotten.

By this time, many of the Bryant alumni are spread out wide and far over the globe. I've been over here 20 months now. Many of us have been here much longer. It's swell hearing from our alma mater now and then with news of those we formerly associated with in school. It helps not only to break the monotony of the months over here, but also gives us a feeling of pride and satisfaction in finding out how others of our former classmates are doing in the way of success and sacrifice, endeavor and fun, and what not throughout the different spots on the world battle fronts and theaters. Since being over here have met only one lad with whom I had contact in civilian life. He's stationed here at the same APO--Ameen, a former classmate in Accountancy and Finance Class. It was swell meeting up with him and, of course, we talked over past things.

I want to close for now, but first, wish to express my sincere thanks for your X-mas gift and the thoughts behind it.

--HAPPY NEW YEAR--MAY IT BE A PROSPEROUS ONE--

Sincerely,
Sgt. Lawrence A. Italiano
[Transcription ends]

30 August 1944

Dear Bryant Service Club:

Sometime ago I wrote you a V-mail letter requesting a transcript of my grades while at Bryant College. I also requested a recommendation as to my ability & character. In all probability this V-mail letter must have been lost in transit. Anything you can do for me along these lines will be greatly appreciated.

Also want to thank you for the sweater you sent me some time ago. Have been wearing it right along anytime the weather has been somewhat cold. How's everything at Bryant coming along? Haven't heard from you in a long time & am very interested in hearing from you & knowing how everything is coming along. There isn't much in the way of news over here. We have been real busy of late. Wishing & hoping to hear from you real soon, I remain sincerely yours,

Larry Italiano
[Transcription ends]

Hello, Bryant Service Club:

Received your letter of 6 April, 1944. Was indeed happy to hear from you. I'm o.k. Have met a classmate of mine while at Bryant. He's T/Sgt Ameen--no other. Am also corresponding with Cpl George Long, another former Bryant. Understand Mr. Lambert has put on quite a bit of weight. As the Aussies would say, I want to say, "Good on you, Yank." Sorry to hear about Mr. Ripley's resignation. Thanks a million for that woollen [sic] sweater you sent me some time ago. I sure have used it a lot. Have been overseas better than a year now & any news from Bryant is always welcome. Would be glad to hear from you again real soon.

Sincerely,
Larry
[Transcription ends]

Bryant Service Club
Hope & Benevolent Sts
Providence, R. I.
U. S. A.

Dear Bryant Service Club;

Have received your package of candies & cookies & am very thankful. It took some time for it to catch up with me but that's because we have moved so far from home. We are now somewhere in the Southwest pacific. Weather is plenty hot and it's only winter.

There's lots that goes on here, but the censor is always on the job, so, that leaves me with practically nothing to say. However, I want to thank you for the swell box of sweets, & also that I'm still well.

For recreation, we sometimes play a game of softball. Outside of that, we are always busy 7 days a week. Would welcome a letter or the Bryant newspaper to hear what goes on & how you are all getting along--especially news of some of my classmates in 1942. Am corresponding with two, George Long & Leonard Levin, both in the Army now.

As Ever
Lawrence A. Italiano
[Transcription ends]

Australia-
23 December, 1943

Dear Students of Bryant:

Received your X-mas present. It was a swell gift. Am corresponding with two other former Bryant students- George Long and Leonard Levin. Of course the mail is slow, and we’re lucky if we hear from each other even once a month. But when we do write, we have plenty to say.

It’s almost Christmas, now. Sure hope we’ll all be home for next Christmas.

How’s everything at Bryant? Want to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. So long and cheerio.

From,
Sgt. Larry [Transcription ends]

Sgt. Lawrence A. Italiano
528TH Bomb Sq. 3[??] TH Bomb Gp.
APO 921 c/o Postmaster
August 27, 1943

Bryant Service Club
Hope and Benevolent Aves.
Providence, Rhode Island
U.S.A.

Dear Service Club

It’s been some time now since I’ve left the states. Sometimes, I wonder where some of my former classmates are now + what they’re doing. I would appreciate receiving the Alumni news, it it’s possible. Am now corresponding with two of my former classmates, George Long and Leonard Levin. Both are now in the Armed Forces of the United States. George Bunnell, understand, is in the Navy and doing well. How’s the faculty coming along? No doubt some are already seeing service.

Before going further, want to thank you again for the presents you’ve already sent me. There isn’t much in the way of recreation here + I find letters or news from the U.S. really recreational. We’re getting along o.k. We’re somewhere in Australia.

Well, hope Bryant is coming along fine there isn’t much more to say. Probably, what I should say is I can’t think of anything else to say. Well, anyway, want to close and want to wish you all good luck and continued success.

As Ever
Lawrence A. Italiano [Transcription ends]

Dear Chairman,

Was very glad indeed to receive the swell box of candy. Of course, as is the story always, what one buddy has the others have, too. And for me & my buddies, I want to thank you very much for the gift. We sure did enjoy it.

Well, there isn’t very much to say. The air echelon has left & now the ground echelon is here at Lowry Field all alone.

Was also very glad to have heard from Bryant College. Hope everything is o.k. there.

Well, until next mail call, cheerio.

As Ever,
Cpl. Lawrence A. Italiano
[Transcription ends]

ONE FLAG
ONE COUNTRY

3-26-43

Hello Bryant:

Have received the long letter from Bryant Service Club + was sure glad to hear from you all. Have just returned back to camp from a 7-day furlough. Am still somewhat weary from the long train ride, but never too weary to hear from Bryant College.

The Bryant Service Club is sure doing a wonderful job + I appreciate the cigarettes you sent me for X-mas. Wish I could put into words my feeling of appreciation. I’m sure many of our boys have for higher moral because a Bryant Service Club exists. All I can say is keep up the swell work. We soldiers sure appreciate it.. especially the letters letting us know what goes on at Bryant. Nick Coracci’s words go for me also.

I note that some of our faculty is now serving Uncle Sam, that the courses have been changed somewhat to fit in with our war effort. Things sure do change. I enjoyed reading your letter + hope to hear again from you all very soon.

As ever,
Corp. Laurence Italiano

P.S. Am now in the Finance Section.
Payroll is our biggest job + worry. [Transcription ends]

August 26, 1942 [Postmark date]

Bryant Service Club
Hope and Benevolent St.
Providence, R.I.

I’m in the U.S. Army Air Corps for the duration of this war. Atlantic City is a beautiful city and sure has plenty of hotels. I have been writing letters for over 2 hours steady now and still have plenty to go. I’ll be here for 25 days for preliminary training and classification--job I’m to be trained for. I’m confined to the hotel for 7 days after which a pass may be granted to me. How is Bryant College? Army life is sure some change from civilian life. Write soon. Until then--

Cheerio--
Laurence A. Italiano
[Transcription ends]

12/31/42

Hi Bryant:

Was very glad to receive your letter. Have a new address now as you probably have already noticed on the envelope. Biggs Field is a swell place. True, we don’t have any green lawns here, but it’s sure always warm. The sand is o.k. to play games on. During our spare time we manage to get in a soft ball game or a game of touch football. Been corresponding with two of my former Bryant classmates, & they have given me quite a bit of news concerning many of the Bryant ’42 class. Wish the Bryant Service Club great success for 1943. We enter our 2nd phase of training starting January 1. Most likely, we’ll cross the pond in, well, sometime next year—1943, of course. Ours is a heavy bombardment squadron. Came to Biggs Field as an armorer, but they have or are trying to make a Personnel Clerk out of me. The new rookies at Bryant sound plenty interesting. Wish I could be back there. Thanks for writing. Sure glad to hear how things are coming out at Bryant. Hope all have had a merry X-mas & will have a happy 1943.

From a former Bryant lad,
Pvt. Lawrence F. Italiano
[Transcription ends]