The company is wiring in the whole front. They are expecting a large counter attack. All of the troops and service companys are moving back to a new area. We loaded our truck up today and we are to move tomorrow. Played some cards again tonight. I’m on guard tonight.
Did a little work around the supply this morning. Had to unload the truck as they are going to use it to haul barb-wire. Played some cards, and wrote a few letters.
Had a couple of the fellows wounded yesterday. Not much doing here. Wrote some letters and listened to the radio.
Dear Mother & Dad
Merry Christmas Mom & Dad. I was just thinking about home, so I thought I would write a letter. I’ve been a pretty good boy this Christmas. I went three masses yesterday and two today. Not bad, eh?
What was Christmas like it at home? Did you have a nice time? We had a tree. I thought it was going to be a bare tree, but the people in the village started giving us trimmings so by the time we had everything put on the tree it look pretty.
Christmas was just about the same as any other day here. We had a swell dinner though. Turkey with all the trimmings.
Last night one of my boyfriends and I went out scouting & patrolling. We would stop in front of every house that had a light shining from the window and sing Christmas carols. We had to sing in front of a lot of houses before we got into one, ha, ha. We had a nice time though, and they served as hot wine and cookies.
Boy it’s really getting cold here now. It is stopped raining and that’s the main thing. I have a few of your letters here to answer. That dates run from Nov 20, 24, 28 – Dec 2, 5, 7, 9, 15. Did I ever tell you I received the film you sent me. Then I wrote home to have dad write to me & then I get a letter from him. Boy I’ll be glad when I get home so we will all be together again. I have 
mailed a box home & there’s some papers and there that I don’t want anyone to ever look at. So when you take them out of the box put them away someplace where no one can get them till I get home. Now Please for a favor to me, please don’t look at it. I have it wrapped up in the bottom of the box with string around it. Boy was I surprised to hear that John Collins was getting married. He’s really a swell kid though. So they finally got Gus in the army. Well it’s a shame with the two kids and all, but that’s life. Too bad about Ormand, but I had a letter from him & he’s getting along swell now. Well mom about this Rita deal. When I don’t know what to tell you. If I was home maybe I could work it out okea, but I’m afraid I’m losing all interest in Rita. I don’t think she 
would make me a good wife in the first place. She’s a swell girl, but I’m afraid she’s not for me. I don’t think you know much about Pat Smith, and I don’t want you to say anything to any one or even mention her name to anyone, because talked causes a lot of trouble, and anything could happen after I get home. But Pat has been very faithful in writing. She’s a very sensible girl and not spend thrifty like Rita. She wrote me the other day and said she was leaving to cook, and also a few other things that a good wife should know. I’m telling you these things because you are my mother and I wanted you to know how I felt. Before you have told me to forget Rita, and I wouldn’t do it. She has broken my heart too many times. I don’t know what you think of 
this, but I thought I would tell you. Pat’s very sensible about it and does say much about it. She’s like me, we will just have to wait until I get home and see what happens. You always said that I deserve the best. Well she rates pretty high with me at the present time. I hate it more than anything, as Mrs. Fleshner has been so good to me. But I am not daring her, and I’m afraid she has spoiled her daughter. Remember you have told me it’s my life and I must live it. It’s not worth worrying over now though because too many things can happen. Write and tell me what you think, because Mother always knows best. By By two you both, and I love you from the bottom of my heart.
Your Son
“Chick”
Uttech, Brueing, Oliver, Swanson, Wellman, Chick
Not much of a Merry Christmas. Every thing is dead and the company is working. I went to two masses again today and wrote a few letters home. Listened to the radio tonight and played a little cards.
I went to mass at 8 o’clock and again at 11 o’clock. We got a Christmas tree, but didn’t have anything to put on it but tracing tape and cartridges. Some of the people gave us some trimmings so now it looks real nice. They can’t have a midnight mass here so they are having it at 5 o’clock. So I went. We listened to the radio for a while. Then Zirkel and I went out to see if we could have some fun. We tried yelling in front of the houses to attract attention but it failed. So we then started singing Christmas Carols. That worked after a while and we got in. We had some cookies and hot wine. Came home and went to bed.
We hooked up the generator today and got the radio going. I wrote some letters. God its really cold here. Every thing is froze up.
Dear Mother & Dad
The well it looks as if the damned old Germans tore down our play house. We were to have a swell time Christmas. But no, now we will spend Christmas in the field. The people really counted on us being there are to. The family that I was visiting cried when I told them I was leaving. I was treated like a son by them. They want me to come back and visit them after the war. For the first time I really enjoyed myself. I doubt if I’ll forget that place. Boy all of the Fellows are just sick because we had to leave, but that’s the army. But I’ll write you and tell you the kind of Christmas I did have.
The weather is not so bad now days. It’s foggy and damp, but not too cold. I wish for people at home working in war plants would get on the ball and put out some work. This war is a long way from being over. By By Mom & Dad & I’ll write more later.
Your Son
“Chick”
Not much doing. The company is out working today. I wrote a few letters and that was about all.
We were up early and left at 9:00. I had to drive a truck as we were short drivers. We got to our new bivouac about noon. We are in St. Pilt. There is plenty of shooting going on. The 36th div. was really trounced in here a week ago. We got set up and that was about all.
