---
letter_date: undated (likely 1944, possibly Aug–Oct based on box bundle organization)
postmark_date: unclear from photo
postmark_location: U.S. Army Postal Service (APO 520)
arthurs_location: Italy
sender: Cpl. Arthur M. Yena
recipient: John Yena Sr. (Pop)
return_address: |
  Cpl. Arthur M. Yena
  A.S.N. 31289110
  783rd Bomb. Sq. (H)
  465th Bomb. Gp. (H)
  A.P.O. No. 520
  c/o Postmaster, N.Y., N.Y.
delivery_address: |
  Mr. John Yena Sr.
  Quaker Lane
  West Warwick
  Rhode Island
letter_type: Handwritten (cursive, ink), Air Mail
pages: 4 (visible)
censorship_passed: true (PASSED BY censor stamp visible)
transcription_status: blocked-on-rescan
transcription_confidence: low
---

# Letter — undated 1944 — Arthur to Pop

> **Status**: I cannot do a confident transcription from these scans. The four interior pages were photographed at sharper angles than letter 1, with finger occlusion across central text on multiple pages, and significant fold-shadow on the creases. I can read scattered words and confirm it's a multi-page letter from Arthur to his father — not enough to commit to a transcript.
>
> **Recommendation**: rescan this letter using Adobe Scan or iOS Notes Scan Documents, with the paper flattened (book on each corner) and in portrait orientation. The same letter will likely transcribe near-perfectly.

---

## What I can confirm from the scans

- **Salutation**: "Dear Pop —" (page 1)
- **Closing**: "Love · Art" (final page)
- **Format**: cursive ink, multiple pages
- **Envelope**: addressed to John Yena Sr., Quaker Lane, West Warwick RI; sent via Air Mail; has a "PASSED BY [censor#] U.S.A.P.C." censorship stamp confirming the letter was reviewed by the Army postal censor
- **Possible date clues**: the box overview photos show this letter was bundled with others labeled "August · Sept · Oct 1944" on a paper tag, which would place it in late summer / early fall 1944

## Words / phrases I can pick out across the four pages (low confidence)

- References to a wedding (possibly Anna's June 1944 wedding being recalled, or Lucille's earlier wedding, or another family member)
- "Kathleen" mentioned at least once
- "Diane" possibly mentioned in closing
- General family-update tone; not a heavy war-content letter

## Why I'm holding off on a full draft

Committing to specific words on pages 1–4 from these images would be guessing more than transcribing. Better to rescan once and transcribe right than to put low-confidence text in the index that we later have to redo.

---

## Scanning issues specific to this letter

- All five photos at sharp angles (sideways orientation, plus perspective tilt)
- Hand visible in frame on pages 1, 3, and 4 — covers central text
- Heavy fold creases — letter has likely been folded into thirds and quarters; the creases haven't relaxed, so the paper isn't flat against the table
- Pages overlap each other slightly in some shots (corners of other pages visible)

## Fix

Same as letter 1: Adobe Scan / iOS Notes scanner, books on the corners to flatten, one page per scan in portrait orientation, lift the hand out of frame.