[outside of card]

HELLO!
MERRY CHRISTMAS

[inside of card]

and BEST WISHES for a HAPPY NEW YEAR
Henry Stadnicki

[Transcription ends]

T./Sgt. Henry Stadnicki
Det., Finance Dept.
51^st Troop Carrier Wing
A.P.O. 760
New York, N.Y.

Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Hope Street
Providence
Rhode Island

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Greetings
from Sicily

Henry Stadnicki

[Transcription ends]

To:
Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Providence
Rhode Island

Hello, Gang:

Here’s another Bryant Alumnus expressing his gratitude for your thoughtfulness and your kindness in regards to “ye olde grads.” This is the third Christmas that I’ve spent in the service, far way from home and from Bryant. However, on each year at Christmas time I have received some little gift from BSC knowing that you folks are really thinking of me. Incidentally, I think you would [be] interested to know just where I have been when I received my gifts. Well, in 1941, it was Florida; in 1942 it was North Africa; and in 1943, it was Sicily. It would be impossible for me to express my appreciation in writing for your gifts and letters, as it just can’t be done in words. I just hope you know what I mean when I say, “Thanks a lot, gang.”

I’ve received your letters, dated May 31st and November 9th, with their priceless bits of news about the Bryant Alumni. You see, you are the only source of information that we have in regards to them, and by that, you can readily judge how anxiously we look forward to your letters.

When I wrote my last letter to you, I was stationed in North Africa. At that time it was unwise and impossible to state where I had visited and what I had seen. Well, things are still about the same in regards to censorship regulations but I am permitted to mentioned [sic] a few of the cities that I had paid a visit; namely Oman, Algiers, Sidi-Bel-Abbes, Constantize [?], Kairouan, Couiza, and [Indecipherable]. It would surprise many of you to see how modern some parts of Algiers are, in spite of the countless Arabs who make up its population. However, I assure you, that after visiting the “Casbah” (native quarter) in Algiers, I was sadly disappointed. Nowhere could I find a semblance of the colorful native quarter shown in the movie “Algiers,” nor could I find a romantic pair such as Hedy Lamar and Charles Boyer. In Sidi-Bel-Abbes, I visited the headquarters of the French Foreign Legion in North Africa, along with its most interesting mosaics. Kairouan, in Tunisia, is the Moslems’ Holiest City in North Africa. They believe seven visits here equal 100 to Mecca and means their salvation. Also in Tunisia, I saw the remains of a Roman Coliseum built by Nero during the hieght [sic] of his Roman Empire….say, I hope you pardon me for the way I ran this letter into a geographic tour.

Well, time doesn’t make this V-Mail larger, so I must regretfully close. Please give my kindest regards to the faculty and the students. Here’s hoping that it won’t be long before we in the service will be able to return in peace to our homes, and we will all happily meet again….

Sgt. Henry Stadnicki
[Transcription ends]

T/Sgt. Henry Stadnicki
Finance Dept.
51st Troop Carrier Wing
A. P. O. 650
New York, N. Y.

BRYANT SERVICE CLUB
c/o Bryant College
Hope Street
Providence
Rhode Island

19 May 1943

Hello, “Gang”,

I received your delayed “Christmas” package which arrived in good condition. Due to my constant changing of stations and addresses, the package did not arrive until early in March, but it sure was a welcome surprise.

I’m no longer stationed in merry old England, but am at the present time in North Africa where I have been for over six months. Arriving here early during the Allied invasion of this continent, and by traveling a great deal in this theater of operations, I have been able to see much of North Africa, probably, much more than the average American soldier here does.

It was just about a year ago that I visited the Bryant campus, and then, it never occurred to me that a year later I would be a six-month’s old native of Northern Africa. As yet, in my travels overseas, I haven’t met any of my former classmates. So, I was wondering if there was any way that you generous folks have, in supplying addresses to soldiers overseas. If so, I would appreciate the address of the following alumni ; Russell Aliczi, Alfred Angelone, Carlo Conte, Leo Delaney, Raymond Marshall, William McGrath, Harry Melkonian, Bertrand Pinnsonnault, William Risso, and Douglas Ward. Nearly all of the above mentioned fellows are graduates of the class of 1940 (August). I realize that you may not have all these address[es], but any that you may send to me will be deeply appreciated.

I wish it were possible for me to write a much more interesting letter than this, but between the censor (and his strict censorship rules) and myself, it just can’t be done over here. Please give my sincerest regards to the “Old Men” of Bryant; Professors Gulski, Shors, Lee, Naylor, Appleby, Vinal, Mercer and Ripley. Well, here’s looking forward to writing you all from Berlin.

Sgt. Stadnicki [Transcription ends]

Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Hope Street
Providence
Rhode Island
U. S. A.

Cheerio!

“Thanks a million.”….that’s about all I can say to reply for your kind thoughts for we boys in the service, and I sure do mean what I say. It’s a cheerful feeling to get a small package from the gang at school, and it’s really appreciated.

The more I travel, the smaller the world seems to get. At the present time, I’m calling England my home. Yes sir, I’m touring the Old World and getting paid for it, plus the experiences I’m acquiring. Besides, it never occurred to me while I was in school, that I would ever set foot on the soil of England, but here I am. Now that I’ve got some odds and ends off my mind, I’ll try to write something of interest.

England…what is it like?...well, I imagine there may be thousands of other questions that could be asked, but it would be impossible to answer them for obvious reasons. All in all I’d say that it really don’t look much different as we see it in our motion picture theatres. The scenery here is beautiful, everything here seems to be green and brown, with green predominating. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel in the air over the territory around this vicinity, and that’s when you really get a clearer picture of the beauty of this land. However, I’m sorry I can’t say the same about the weather here, as most of the time it’s misty and cold with a good proportion of rain mixed in. Guide books here say that this weather is comparable to the climate, say in Seattle or Boston, but I doubt that sincerely. Even in August, I found it much too cool to go in swimming here.

I think every person who has visited in England, has visited London, and I’m no exception. My two-day stay in London was quite enjoyable and interesting, and if the opportunity were present, I could write quite a story about it, but that’s impossible under the present circumstances. However I can mention some of the historical sights I had seen in London, mostly: Westminster Cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Parliament Building with Big Ben, London Bridge, Hyde Park, Picadilly [sic] Circus, Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square with Nelson’s Monument, Buckingham Palace and a host of others. I was fortunate enough to be in front of the palace when a change of guard took place, which happens once every 24 hours, and I can assure you that they put on quite a show for that occasion.

I wish some of you folks would tell Mr. Gulski, Mr. Lee, Mr. Appleby, Mr. Naylor, Mr. Mercier, Mr. Shors, Mr. Fisal, Mr. Ripley, and the rest of the gang that I’m asking for them…and On THE, don’t forget to note the change in my address. Until….

S/Sgt Henry Stadnicki
[Transcription ends]

Hi everyone!

Sorry that I have to be so brief in this letter, but I’m about to catch a reservation on one of Uncle Sam’s famous cruises across the pond; you know, the one that includes a tour of Berlin and Rome.

About all I can give you right now is the necessary information for my new address, and here it is:

S/Sgt Henry Stadnicki
C/o Finance Office
51st Troop Carrier Wing
APO 1255, c/o Postmaster
New York, N. Y.

I’m depending on the Service Club to furnish the school with my new address so that I can be kept informed on the news back home from the school paper. Give my regards to all the faculty and students, and tell them I’m sorry that they couldn’t come along with me.

“One of the gang”
Henry Stadnicki

P.S. Please excuse all errors, as this was done in a hurry.
[Transcription ends]

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE OFFICER
FIFTY-FIRST TROOP CARRIER WING
Pope Field, Fort Bragg, N. C.

July 14, 1942

Hello . . . . . . . . . .

Well, my Uncle Sam has finally terminated my most enjoyable stay in Orlando, Florida, and now he has sent me here to get a taste of the rough ole army life again. I’m no longer attached to a permanent post, but instead I’m assigned to the Fifty-First Troop Carrier Wing, along with the rest of our finance personnel. I’ve been appointed to the position of Chief Clerk, which means that I am in charge of this office, which will place much responsibility upon my shoulders.

I’m sorry that I’m not able to write a much longer letter, but due to the circumstances, I just can’t. However you may be sure that I’ll keep in touch with the school, and when the opportunity presents itself, I’ll try to write a longer, more interesting letter.

I’d like to thank the Bryant Service Club for its efforts to keep its old gang in the service in a cheerful frame of mind. I’ve received my Bryant Alumni Bulletin regularly, and for that, I’m grateful. Kindly give my regards to all of the professors, as well as everyone else in Bryant College.

Henry Stadnicki

My new address is:

S/Sgt Henry Stadnicki
Finance Office
51st Troop Carrier Wing
Pope Field, Fort Bragg, N. C.

[Transcription ends]

ORLANDO AIR BASE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA

May 14, 1942

Dear Sir,

“THANK YOU ALL” I wish this typewriter had larger type, so I could really indicate my appreciation to the Bryant Service Club for the work [in which] they are now engaged. It sure is nice to know that “gang” back home is still rooting for us boys in the service. I’m sure that if the girls and boys of Bryant College really could see the cheerfulness they spread through their efforts, they would feel amply rewarded.

I have been in service of The Army of the United States for the past fourteen months, and I have found that my Bryant education gave me my proper foundation for my work in the Army, which happens to be in the Finance Department. At the present time I’m a Staff Sergeant and am about to be put in charge of a separate finance detachment.

During my travels to the various bases in the country, from Massachusetts to Florida, I’ve come in contact with many of my old school mates, most of whom have also advanced quite rapidly in the army. The last Bryant chap I’ve come in contact with was John Kulig, class of 1939, who is now a Staff Sergeant at Morrison Field, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

There are many more things that I would like to mention, but time and other circumstances prevent me. Incidentally, I believe that I may be able to obtain a furlough home within the next week or two, and so I’ll probably pay a visit to the school.

Best of luck and success in your work.

“Keep ‘em Flying”
Henry Stadnicki
[Transcription ends]