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13 August 1945
Weiner, Sylvia (1912-2008)
to "Moe" Weiner
Sylvia writes that she hopes there might be another atomic bomb because the "Japanese deserve it."
GLC09414.0669
14 August 1945
It is the day of the Potsdam Declaration. Sylvia describes the hectic day that follows.
GLC09414.0670
16 August 1945
Sylvia describes the revelry that is taking place now that the war is over. This letter is missing pages
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15 May 1943
Weiner, Morris "Moe" (1909-1988)
to Sylvia Weiner
Moe had a steak dinner, and went to the movies. He mentions the Germans and the Russians, and responded to Sylvia's letters.
GLC09414.0701
30 May 1943
Moe's roommates are on a date so he is free to write to Sylvia. He said they have not yet given out ratings in their platoon, but when they do he hopes he will be made a T-4. He believes more soldiers should be educated as to what this war is about.
GLC09414.0714
13 June 1943
Moe has heard that Sammy will be in competition with Dad as far as business is concerned. He says Sammy "cares more about furthering his own end than others." He tells Sylvia to wait to see Alvin until she has seen Moe first. He suggests they see a...
GLC09414.0729
14 June 1943
Moe is excited about tomorrow when he will take the train to New York. He also finally heard from Jim who is in North Africa. He thanks Sylvia for sending the rambler rose from their bush at home.
GLC09414.0730
29 June 1943
Moe keeps Sylvia up to date on his journey. He had dinner with Harry the night before, and Harry wanted to know if anyone spoke Russian. It turned out that their waitress did. Moe hopes his short time home has been a comfort to her.
GLC09414.0732
7 September 1943
Moe speculates where they will go next. He says he is looking forward to going overseas. He tells Sylvia she is artistically talented and notes that Archie is in India.
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25 October 1943
Moe is finally able to tell Sylvia that he is now in England. He notes that Marty received a letter from Olga and he was a little jealous but knows mail from her is forthcoming. He says she would love England.
GLC09414.0798
31 October 1943
Moe apologizes for not writing Sylvia as much as he has been getting acquainted with England at government expense. He is still anxiously waiting for mail from her.
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5 November 1943
Moe recounts an incident in which he and Marty went to a teashop and met a very pleasant English lady with whom they discussed world events. He also responded to one of Sylvia's letters. He agrees that her latest suit must suit her very well.
GLC09414.0808
8 November 1943
Moe dropped his watch the other day and does not know how he will get it fixed. He received a letter from Jim the other day from Africa.
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11 November 1943
Moe thanks Sylvia for trying to find contacts for him in Italy. He hears a song that reminds him of her while out with Marty. He tells her to thank all their friends who inquired about him.
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12 November 1943
Moe went to a dance and met a British intellectual. She was a WAAF and they discussed the problem of Germany. She told him about her fiancé, a Polish flier she is absolutely crazy about.
GLC09414.0817
30 November 1943
Moe talks politics and the inevitability of finding the world embroiled in another upheaval after this one. He writes that it is comparatively unimportant what happens to their generation. That they will have lived through one of the most thrilling...
GLC09414.0837
Moe writes about the meeting of British American Circle whose job it is to foster good relations between the American soldiers and the British people.
GLC09414.0838
Moe mentions Dan and Lilian and says Sylvia should visit them. He agrees with her that while they all want peace they should not forget that what is happening would never happen again and that is what they are working on together.
GLC09414.0839
7 December 1943
Moe described the British American Circle meeting he attended and recounts a presentation given by Prof Newell, an American who has been living in England for 12 years.
GLC09414.0849
Moe recalls the Sunday afternoon war was declared. They took a walk with Paul and Bess and walked near Manhattan Beach, then turned on the radio to find out the news that would change the course of their lives.
GLC09414.0851
15 December 1943
Moe went to his favorite place, the English-Speaking Union. Afterwards, he was walking when suddenly he bumped into an elderly gentleman, but no harm done.
GLC09414.0860
17 December 1943
Moe describes the popular music program he has been listening to. For the past two weeks he has been taking walks into town, and he describes the sights and sounds and the people he sees during these walks.
GLC09414.0864
21 December 1943
Moe writes that it is the shortest day in the year, and that he will look out for the packages Sylvia has sent. He says her observation that English expressions have been creeping out in his letters is undoubtedly true.
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24 December 1943
Moe reports that last evening they went by truck to a town to celebrate the Festival of the Maccabees, or Chanukah. There were American and British soldiers participating and the ceremonies were presided over by an American and British chaplain.
GLC09414.0872
31 December 1943
Moe responds to Sylvia's letter, and comments on whether he brings home some anglicisms upon how much he has assimilated., saying a few might remain but most will fall by the wayside. He asks her to please send some newspapers.
GLC09414.0896
Moe agrees with Sylvia that the war is pointing toward the end. He reassures her that he is in no danger. He and the boys decided to have a party at home after all, after first having a few beers in town.
GLC09414.0897
1 January 1944
Moe asks Sylvia to think back to New Year's Day 1937 when Chiang Kai-Shek was kidnapped. No one knew that later that year the war with Japan would start. It was "one of the unexpected milestones" to war and to his being there.
GLC09414.0899
9 January 1944
Moe describes his recent trip with Marty, calling it The Winchester Adventure. Moe mentions the basic history of the city, and seeing a statue of King Alfred, the cathedral. Winchester College, etc.
GLC09414.0920
13 January 1944
Moe describes what it is like to ask for directions in England.
GLC09414.0933
22 January 1944
Moe tells Sylvia throughout the letter not to worry about him, for there is no reason to worry, and responds to various letters. He says the Chinese food she had can't be as bad as the Chinese food they had in England. He also says she should have...
GLC09414.0953
25 January 1944
Moe attended lectures on British currency.
GLC09414.0956
16 February 1944
Moe is overwhelmed by the number of letters he has to answer. He tells Sylvia she must keep better hours so she can get up on time. He tells her some English colloquialisms that he has learned and says he will write to Hilda Selm whom Sylvia heard is...
GLC09414.0988
25 February 1944
Moe talks about the moon and compares nightlife in New York to nightlife in England. He says the war may end soon but not as soon as people think.
GLC09414.0999
27 February 1944
Moe just returned from Winchester where he took two fellow soldiers and acted as a guide this time. Upon his return, received a letter from Hilda Selm. He also reports meeting a friendly Englishman in a cathedral.
GLC09414.1004
17 March 1944
Moe mentions Eddie's and his ongoing problems. He also mentions Sam, and that he wrote to Hilda but hasn't heard back. He asks how Sylvia's father is doing in Florida. He notes the use of fire bombs in the current raids.
GLC09414.1029
29 March 1944
Moe went into town with Jack to do some shopping, have a haircut, and see a movie. They met an old Scotsman on their outing who'd been in the Navy for most of his life and had traveled to the Black Sea.
GLC09414.1041
12 April 1944
Moe mentions he is afraid that certain divisive factors that exist in the US are the same ones that existed in Germany prior to Hitler and France from 1938 onward. He is also glad to hear Joe is feeling better.
GLC09414.1054
5 June 1944
Moe went into town with Jack. He is very close to Rome, and saw many varieties of roses, visited a cathedral and went to a movie. He chastises Sylvia for keeping late hours again.
GLC09414.1107
6 June 1944
Moe read in the papers that Rome has been taken. He finally managed to hook up Jack's radio. He remembers how he used to envy Sylvia because on Saturdays he still had to wake up at the usual time.
GLC09414.1108
7 June 1944
Moe comments that Sylvia has not received any mail from him in a week and Moe thinks it may been deliberately upheld because of the current situation. He feels badly about the Polish situation. He is glad she is warming to the idea of living in the...
GLC09414.1109
14 June 1944
Moe had classes in an open field where they discovered strawberries growing. He finally received Sylvia's letter written on D-Day. He thought it very well written. He doesn't think the Germans will last much longer.
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29 June 1944
Moe is working a lot, which makes time pass quickly. He mentions that he finally got hold of a newspaper. He is glad the Russians have begun their big push.
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8 July 1944
Moe responds to Sylvia's thoughts on Fascism and the talk she went to. He believes their country would never accept a Fascist order. At the same time he is very angry that too many people in America don't seem to be interested or even care about what...
GLC09414.1134
14 July 1944
Moe is surprised that Sylvia's father is keeping her brother in the dark about his condition. He writes that he hopes the American public will wake up now and realize they are at war. He is glad the Warsaw battle did not go unnoticed.
GLC09414.1140
15 July 1944
Moe continues his quest for a decent shower. He responds to Sylvia's letter about the Ouija board by saying it's just another way of seeking answers in the occult when reality gets too tough. As to the end of the war, he says it could any time.
GLC09414.1141
17 July 1944
Moe reports that the company has formed a baseball league. His shift's name is called Detroit. He can't wait until the Russians cross the border and are fighting the Germans.
GLC09414.1143
18 July 1944
Moe thinks back to how the war began. When reports of Italian and German intervention first came out, everyone cried "Propaganda." He laments the fact that if only proper steps could have been taken at the proper time, the war could have been...
GLC09414.1144
25 July 1944
Moe played baseball, and heard from Marge who told him the family knew of his whereabouts. He instructs Sylvia to tell Bess he'll write a real letter soon. He jokes that she is becoming quite the beer critic. He briefly discusses why they went to war...
GLC09414.1152
6 August 1944
Moe is sitting in Jack's place drinking grapefruit juice. He enjoyed Sylvia's description of herself sitting in the blue chair reading. He also says there are Russian women and French civilians working down here at the depot.
GLC09414.1163
9 August 1944
Moe met a Russian doctor, and spoke to her in Yiddish. He notes that it is a year ago today that he saw Sylvia off at the station in Tacoma. He is glad she is enjoying her work, and writes that a couple years ago he increased the value of Barralino...
GLC09414.1167
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