Cpl John S Renza, 31382992
158th Engineer C Battalion
APO 230, %Postmaster
27 April 1944

MISS CLARA C BLANEY
BRYANT COLLEGE
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
U. S. A.

Dear Miss Blaney,

It has been some time since I have last heard from you. I thought I did have a letter coming from you, but evidently enough time has gone by to prove to me that I must be wrong.

Somehow or other, my memories of Bryant cannot creep out of my mind. It seems to me as though my time spent there has been years of happiness and success. Maybe it is the time of the year, the season, and the wonderful picturesque environment of England that recalls to my mind such memories. Wherever I turn here, I’m surrounded by large patches of beautiful green grass, similar to your campus. This country is really extraordinary in beauty; I suppose you already know this for a fact, for you must have gone through it in your travels.

A few days ago, I received a letter from Dick Hearn. Of course he told me that he had been home on furlough and up to visit you people. I somewhat envied him for he and I had our furloughs together the last time. As it so happens and is the case, we are so far away from each other and will remain to be like that for some time.

How is everything up at school coming along? I understand there have been a few changes made in the staff. Is Dotty Hines still there? You tell her that I’m asking for her, and remember me to everyone else. I shall have to close now for my paper is limited.

I surely would like to hear from you in the very near future.

Sincerely,
John [Transcription ends]

Nov. 8 [1943]

Dear Miss Blaney,

I know I did not keep my promise of coming to see you before I left but you will have to excuse me please.

We are on maneuvers, the whole 3rd Army, in Louisiana, + it is not so nice.

Is Nick Coracci attached to the 3rd Army? If he is will you please send me [his] address so I may look him up?

There is very little time to write letters, that I’m catching up on my correspondence with postal cards, so you understand.

Remember me to all at school + I’d appreciate it very much if I heard from the club. So long for now.

As ever,
John [Transcription ends]

158 Engineers,
H. + S. Company,
Camp Maxey, Texas
5 – 23 – 43

Dear Miss Blaney,

I am quite a way from home and very lonesome for the while. This camp, which is located in Paris, Texas is about 2200 miles from good old Providence. You really don’t know how much you miss home + your friends until you are so far away from them all.

How is the Service Club functioning? I hope it is going on as good as usual. Under your management, Miss Blaney, I know it will always keep on, because you really put everything you got into it, and then the students will like working with you, I know. I enjoyed every bit of it, especially when you are doing it for your country and for those of whom you know.

I have been at this camp for three days and at Ft. Devens five days. I left Devens last Tuesday afternoon at 2:15 on a troop train- real class. Pullman cars. We also ate on the train, and slept there too. We arrived in Texas, Friday morning at 2:30, all tired + sleepy. What a ride it was!

On our way down here we experienced a very spectacular incident. We were caught in a flood in Indiana. The Wabash River was rising at the rate of 2 inches per hour. We were forced to stop because the water was over the rails. The engineer finally solved the problem by taking a detour so to escape the flood. You should have seen the people standing on their home sites just watching their houses being washed away. What a horrible thing to witness, that is something I will always remember.

Is there much excitement at school now or aren’t there enough fellows? I hope everything could be back to normal conditions when we lived so freely and enjoyed everything we did- especially the times at Bryant, such as Greek Letter dance, Commencement, fraternity dances, etc. By the way, are they going to have the Greek Letter this year?

I have quite a few letters to write, Miss Blaney, so I’ll close hoping you are in the best of health and everything else is all right.

Yours truly,
John [Transcription ends]

“Belgium”
9 January 1945.

Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, Rhode Island

Dear Members,

I want to acknowledge receipt of your Christmas package containing the sweater. The sweater is really coming in handy; it is so full of warmth and comfort, and I just could not have asked for a better fit. May I thank you very much for your thoughtfulness in sending me such an excellent gift.

The package was received on 18 December--quite some time ago, but this has been the first time I’ve had to myself to take care of some personal correspondence.

The reason is that a couple days after, we were forced to face the enemy; and since then, we were on the go right along. Rather a nice way to have spent the holidays, isn’t it? As a result of all the commotion, I lost all of my personal belongings plus my Christmas packages which I had received a few days before. The only gift which was saved was your sweater, and only because I was wearing it. I’m so glad now that I had it on my person, otherwise I would have lost it too.

In closing, may I express my wishes for the continued success of the Bryant Service Club, and once again, thank you very much.

Sincerely,
John [Transcription ends]

Dec. 25 [1944]

[UNITED STATES ARMY]

Dear Members of Bryant Service Club,

A few days ago I received your candy and I want to thank you all for it.

It was very thoughtful of you to send it and you can rest assured I appreciated it very much.

The Club is doing some splendid work and it is something which will always be remembered by all.

I won’t be too lengthy with this letter, so I’ll close now. May I thank you again for the candy.

Sincerely,
John [Transcription ends]

Tues., June 15, 1943

Dear Miss Blaney,

I finally got around to answer your letter.

At the present time, I am a very busy man in our Uncle’s Army.

During the day I am working at Battalion Headquarters office and at night, I’m teaching a group of illiterates. So you see, I have very little time to myself.

It is really a site [sic], Miss Blaney, to see so many soldiers who can’t either read or write. You would never think that such a condition existed in this land of ours which has equal opportunities for all.

Before I go any further, I want to thank you personally for that nice box of “goodies.” That was really nice of you.

I was awfully glad to hear from you that Ben Scuda has been found. I bet that brought much happiness to his family. He must have a lot of interesting stories to tell.

I really haven’t much to say as to my activities as a soldier. All I do is clerical work and teach illiterates. As far as being a soldier, I’m one just in uniform.

How is the Bryant Ledger working out? I bet those girls are doing just as well a job as the fellows have in the post or even better.

Is Mr. Mercier still free from Uncle Sam?

How are all the other teachers, Miss Hines, Miss Collins, etc.? I should like to write to them individually, but time doesn’t permit. Someday I shall surprise them with a letter.

I’m sorry I have to write such a short letter, but I must get back to work.

Give everyone at school my regards and in closing, thanks a lot for that package.

Sincerely,
John [Transcription ends]

HEADQUARTERS, 158TH ENGINEER (C) BATTALION
Camp Maxey, Texas

12 June 1943

Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, Rhode Island

Dear Club Members,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful gift; you can rest assured that I appreciate it wholeheartedly and from the bottom of my heart too.

As one of the founders of the Service Club, I predicted the success of its good deeds which many service men are benefiting throughout the land. While I was attending the Institution, the Club was progressing rapidly and was under competent management.

In closing, may I express my gratitude for the gift once more, and may the Bryant Service Club keep up its good work.

Respectfully,
(hand-written signature)
John S. Renza [Transcription ends]

Courtesy of SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY

Thurs., June 10, 1943

Dear Miss Blaney,

First of all, I don’t want you to regard this as a letter, just a note to let you know I have received your most interesting letter. Thanks a lot.

At the present time I am waiting in the telephone station so that I may call my home. I thought I could make use of my time by writing a few letters on the stationery they supply.

I’ll tell you a little of myself and my duties, Miss Blaney.

At the present time I am working in the Battalion Headquarters’ office, doing all sorts of clerical work, but I’m supposed to be a stenographer. I can type stencils in my sleep so many I type during the day. Everything in the Army is done on a stencil. Thanks to Mr. Mercier for teaching me.

Besides my regular duty I have been assigned to teach at an Illiterate School they have here for such soldiers. It really is fun + very interesting. The clever things these “grownups” say- you’ll be surprised. I am glad I have been assigned to this because it will keep me in trim as a teacher. The only disadvantage of this is that I have to do it on my own time- at night from 6 to 8 o’clock.

I’m sorry, Miss Blaney, but space limits my writing so I’ll have to close. How is the Service Club running, yearbook, and newspaper? Let me know, I’m interested.

Sincerely-John Renza [Transcription ends]

“Somewhere in Belgium”
30 November 1944

Dear Miss Blaney,

I have been procrastinating this brief note for quite some time, but finally I’m letting out with a few lines. Honestly, Miss Blaney, I owe you a great apology for not writing much sooner. Am I excused?

Since you have last heard from me, I have done quite a bit of traveling, some probably which may be somewhat familiar to you. I can say that I have four countries to my credit, namely, England, France, Luxembourg, and Belgium. At one time, I was fortunate to take a little trip to Maastricht, Holland, and also a couple of German villages.

Of all the countries, my travels were most extensive in France. I landed in Normandy in June and from there I proceeded to Montebourg, Ste Marie Eglise, Valognes, St. Lo, etc. Yes, I was fortunate enough to take in Paris, too. Paris, the most beautiful place I have ever seen with its numerous historical sites, the Arc of Triumph, Trocadero, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, Napoleon’s Tomb, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier--why, I could go on forever naming these places!

In Belgium, I have visited a few places, such as, Liege, Namur, Chaleroi [sic], Waterloo, Napoleon’s battleground, etc..

How is everything at Bryant? Have there been any changes in the teaching staff? How is “Dottie” Hines? You give her my regard for me, please, Miss Blaney.

I shall close for now; my space is limited. Remember me to all at school, and if this gets to you before Christmas, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely, John [Transcription ends]

HEADQUARTERS
158th Engineer Combat Battalion
APO 230, %Postmaster
New York, New York

“Somewhere in Belgium”
30 November 1944

Bryant Service Club,
Bryant College,
Providence, Rhode Island.

Dear Members:

Your kindness and thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the package of candy you made available to me.

When I was attending Bryant, the Service Club came into existence. Membership to the Club was purely on a voluntary basis, and believe you me, we had a large roster. Somehow or other, I had a premonition that the Club was going to be a total success. I was right!

Being in the Army now, I can better understand the pleasures derived from receiving a “little something” from your Alma Mater. Honestly, I can assure you that we former members really and truly appreciate your outstanding work.

In closing, may I once again express my thanks to each and everyone of you, and may the coming year bring loads of success to the Bryant Service Club.

Sincerely,
(hand-written signature)
JOHN S. RENZA. P.S. An example of life in the E. T. O. (over please). [Transcription ends]