DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | John William Graham letters, August-September 1944 | 1944-08-08 John Graham to Mr. & Mrs. W.J. Graham Page 1

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John William Graham letters, August-September 1944

1944-08-08 John Graham to Mr. & Mrs. W.J. Graham Page 1

August 8, 1944
Italy
Dear Dad, Mom & Grandmother:
Expect you've wondered what has happened to me the past few days and why I haven't written but here's the story. I quite unexpectedly got a chance for a three day pass so I made a trip to Naples. Got a plane ride over which is fine as it cuts down the time spent travelling so much. Was quite a thrill to fly over Vesuvius and see how the molten lava had poured out recently and run down the hill, surely wouldnt want to live near a place like that but it's nice to see. From the air and at a distance these towns are quite beautiful. The houses and buildings are all stone or stucco and painted with delicate shades of pink, blue, tan, green etc so they blend into a nice shade. They are built right around the hills, maybe a house will have street openings on several different stories. The sidewalks are almost half steps. you will be walking along a street when you come to a dead end and have to climb fifty steps or so and continue on at a different level. Rode a funny little cable-cog wheel railroad such as they have in San Francisco and known as the Funiculii. Their street cars are very small, much like the "Toonerville Trolley" but holly how the people pile on them every place there is room to hang on someone is riding. At first we (Bill Barron & I) kind of hung back and let the others on first but found that didnt pay so we elbowed our way on with the best of them. Got lost a dozen times but always found our way back and saw lots of things we wouldnt have otherwise.

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August 8, 1944 Italy Dear Dad, Mom & Grandmother: Expect you've wondered what has happened to me the past few days and why I haven't written but here's the story. I quite unexpectedly got a chance for a three day pass so I made a trip to Naples. Got a plane ride over which is fine as it cuts down the time spent travelling so much. Was quite a thrill to fly over Vesuvius and see how the molten lava had poured out recently and run down the hill, surely wouldnt want to live near a place like that but it's nice to see. From the air and at a distance these towns are quite beautiful. The houses and buildings are all stone or stucco and painted with delicate shades of pink, blue, tan, green etc so they blend into a nice shade. They are built right around the hills, maybe a house will have street openings on several different stories. The sidewalks are almost half steps. you will be walking along a street when you come to a dead end and have to climb fifty steps or so and continue on at a different level. Rode a funny little cable-cog wheel railroad such as they have in San Francisco and known as the Funiculii. Their street cars are very small, much like the "Toonerville Trolley" but holly how the people pile on them every place there is room to hang on someone is riding. At first we (Bill Barron & I) kind of hung back and let the others on first but found that didnt pay so we elbowed our way on with the best of them. Got lost a dozen times but always found our way back and saw lots of things we wouldnt have otherwise.