NOTE:

Please notice that today's post is posted under page 26. It contains more pictures from Casablanca and it seemed more appropriate to post them there.

A LETTER FROM SAINT LOUIS - PAGE 28

William Valencheck

USS PRIDE

George Radlick USCG

USNAS Lambert Field
St. Louis MO, (21)

Thursday

Hello Bill,

Answering your letter the very day I got it. That’s pretty good. Huh?

Well, I guess I can call you a sailor now can’t I? Got the salt caked all over your body yet, or did you have that before you went to sea?

It must really be wonderful to say you’ve been to Casablanca. I have aspirations of getting out of this racket (?) some day and do some sailing. Well Bill, let me tell you what I’m doing.

I’m stationed at a naval air station in St. Louis MO. Remember when I left Tonawanda to go to that day school? Well we trained dogs for guard duty and all we do down here is stand guard duty with dogs. All this duty is night work. We work two days and off one. It’s a pretty good deal but I’d like to get out of it if I could but the trouble is a fellow can’t get out of this duty no how. Remember Philyrs from Tonawanda? The guy you always used to call Gary? He’s down here with me too he says hello.

I just got a letter from Maise’s sister. She still writes to me. I also got a letter form Maise. The (*) lost thirty pounds! Penny still writes to me. She’s going to come to Chicago on a vacation sometime in April. I may go up and see her. (. . .)

Gee Bill, I wish now I would not have gone to that dog school. Just think, I could be working right along with you, and maybe have a rate pay now.

Maybe we’ll meet before this thing is over yet and we don’t, don’t forget about our date after this is over.

Guess I’ll be closing for now. Say hello to Mitch for me. Good luck and write soon.

Your pal,

George Radlick

SAFE FIRST JOURNEY - PAGE 27

These are some random pictures from that first journey overseas. Next stop: New York! Pictured below is Gibraltar 1944.

On the back of the picture below is written, "Tunis, North Africa, 1944"
Port of Bizerte North Africa, 1944. Though it looks like a desert notice the ship that is actually in the water to the left of the tower.
The following pictures are quite out of order but they were just recently found. The first that we was taken in North Dakota simply has "1942" written at the bottom.
The man in this great picture is identified as John Muldon.

CASABLANCA - PAGE 26

More sights around Casablanca on that first voyage over seas. A first major voyage for most of the men on the ship.

SEEING THE WORLD - PAGE 25

Can you imagine having the world opened up to you for the first time? It was horrible that war had to be experienced in order for it to happen, but the men were still able to take in parts of the world that they may not otherwise be able to see. Here are some more pictures from Casablanca.

FIRST CONVOY - PAGE 24

For the next twelve months the USS PRIDE escorted badly needed men and materials to the fighting fronts in the Mediterranean area. The first convoy was to Algeria and though there were rough seas with which to contend aboard the not very stable Destroyer Escort (giving many men difficult stomachs) there were no challenges made by German submarines. They docked in Casablanca. They may not encountered any fighting themselves they were witnesses to the destruction wrought by war. These pictures show Casablanca Harbor littered with sunken ships.

MAIL BAG - PAGE 23

Perhaps this letter was in with the mail also.

Niles California
January 24, 1944

Dear Bill,

Recieved your card asking me for Laurence Moise address. Sorry that I couldn't sent it to you sooner but the reason was that I didn't have it until now. We hadn't heard from him for quite a while but thank God we finally did. He wrote to me asking me to send him the picture of his four pals from North Dakota so I sent him the picture of you four boys. I almost know you boys by the way Lawrence used to talk about you.

It does a mother good to know that her son has met some nice boys and that they think so much of one another. So Bill write to him as often as you can as I know he will appreciate it. Of course Lawrence is awful to write himself. I sure have a time getting letters from him but still he isn't bad. I thought he would be worse but as long as I get a letter every so often that's enough for me. I just hope he is well and happy as I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and if ever you should be out this way I hope you will come to see us. You know you are always welcomed.

So Bill I wish you the best of luck and I pray and hope that this war will soon be over so all of our dear boys will come home to us so I will give you his address.

(The address is listed)

P.S. When you write to him tell him that I wrote you. He will be gald to hear it again. Thanks for you card.

Love,

Mrs. Mario Moise

Niles Calif.

P.O. Box 223