It’s about the same thing to do here every day so there is little to write about. We had a small air raid last night. Not much to get excited about. Had to go over to the Bn. a few times. Played cards, wrote a few letters and went to bed. Oh yes I went over and visited with Snook for a while. He fried us an egg. I can’t remember the last time I ever ate an egg.
Dear Mother & Dad;
Today is Easter Sunday, and a gloomy day it is. The weather has been swell for the last two weeks just like summer, but today it has to rain. I was going over and see Snook today but the weather put a stop to that. He was over here to see me Friday but couldn’t stay long. He came over on a British motorcycle. They did have a German motorcycle but traded it for if the British one. We had a nice talk together.
I went to mass today, the first time in about two months. It’s pretty hard to get to go now but I go every chance I get. I’m sorry for not writing more 
often but there is nothing to write about at all and I get tired of saying the same thing over and over. There are so many little things to do here that it keeps you on the go all of the time. I did get to see another show. Lena Horne and Bill Roberson in “Sstormy Weather” I it was a good show. Funny what a fellow world due to see a show. Here it is raining and we had to walk to the show. It’s quite a treat as we very seldom get to see a show.
I’m going to try and answer all of my letters to day and that’s really a job. There are quite a few and nothing to write in them. I have sent home another package. There are a lot of postcard pictures of Africa, Sicily and 
Italy also a book on Pompeii. There are three bracelets in there that I have been caring around in my barracks bag and they got all the mashed up. If you can get them fixed, give one to yourself, Esther and Gee. They would cost quite a bit if they had been imported from here too the U.S.. Out here they are fairly cheap. To me they look cheap but you may think their beautiful.
Did you and dad put on your Easter bonnet and go to mass. Did you get yourselves any new outfits for Easter. While this time next year I should be home and we will go to mass together. Well I guess this is all I have to say for now so goodbye to you both and I love you from the bottom of my heart
Your Son,
“Chick”
We got to sleep late today. I took a shower and drove the fellows to church. Went to Communion. It started raining. After dinner I went over to “B” Co. to a show. Lena Horn in “Stormy Weather”. Pretty good. Didn’t get to go see “Snook” on account of the rain. Played cards and wrote a few letters before going to bed.
Had a big air raid last night. They dropped personnel bombs about 300 yrds from us. They were bombing all over the beachhead. Two planes burst into fire and fell to the ground. Was quite a sight. We turned in our combat clothes and overcoats today. It’s really swell weather here now. Played cards, wrote letter, pulled guard and then went to bed.
Frank ‘Snook’ Barber,
Chick’s brother-in-law
Another quiet night. Today was about the same as yesterday. Not much to do. They lobbed a few shells over, but none fell close to us. “Snook” came down on his British motorcycle that he had traded for. We had a nice talk, but he couldn’t stay long. Played cards, fried pancakes and went to bed.
Dear Mother & Dad;
Well I have some good news for you. I have been over to see “Snook”. He was just a little ways from me but it’s awful hard to get the time. We had a nice talk together. Maybe we will be able to see one another again one of these days. Now we have come on to something that we can use all our “C” ration biscuits for. Usually we throw them away because they are so hard and don’t have any flavor. Well today I tried something, I soaked the crackers in water and then fried them In grease. They tasted just like doughnuts, boy were they good. I fried them and Joe waters was the fellow that soaked them. We couldn’t get over it. Now we never will throw our biscuits away. Guess that’s all for today. Nothing new to write about. Goodbye and I love you both.
Your Son,
“Chick”
Very little to write about it was quiet all last night and I slept like a baby. We did odd jobs around the supply room, and I had to go over to the Battalion a couple of times. Played a little cards and went to bed.
Last night was swell. No ach, ach at all and no shells that came close. Not much to do all day today. Went after our Mosquito fans and head nets. Part of us can go to a show tonight so I think I’ll go. Wrote a few letters and went to bed.
What a night last night was. Air raid and Jerry shelled us all night. The shells felt like they were going to roll up the tent as they went over. Threw dirt on our tent a couple of times. That’s the closest they came. We issued clothes out today and went over to the battalion Supply.
Dear Mother & Dad;
Here is the way that I have received your letters, and I will answer all of the questions I can. In some of your letters you have asked me the same question over and over so I will just skip though those. Here is the way the letters came and that I have on hand at present. Feb 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, Dads 20, 21, 22 card, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, March 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18.
Yes I hear how little Marry is getting along in school. She writes to me quite often. She sure wishes she was back home going to school. I would have liked to have 
been home for that snow. All of the snow I have seen this year has been on mountain tops. All of you and the weige board must have some time together, ha ha. I get quite a kick out of it. Clark’s picture that I sent two you was an an envelope. He is sitting in a jeep. Yes I got a few Valentines. I had to laugh when you told me that Mrs. Nelson thought bud was on that ship that was lost. You should know by now that the Army and Navy never disclose anything for a couple of months after in has happened, and Bud had just left the states. Looked how long it took before they told where we were at. Mother, any one with the same APO# as mine is in the same division that I am. It is hard to get to see one another during combat but after 
combat I can’t look them up. Send me John Murry’s address again I have lost to the one I have. Well dad how did you make out in your pools. Boy Champaign must have had a good team this year.
By moms letters I guess you wished I was home to shovel the snow off the sidewalks. Well by now you must have planted your grass seed. You should hear me brag you up to the fellows here on your lawns. I tell them you have they prettiest lawns in the whole neighborhood which you do have. Tell all of the gang up at the store hello for me. Bet the kitchen look swell since you fixed it up. Why don’t you take some of my money and fix all of the windows. Those blinds make a 
house look really pretty. You wrote and told me of the Laws boy injury. I knew about it a long time ago but you see I am unable to write anything like that in the mail. I ran into one of the Fellows from his outfit the next day after it happened. Let me know if he comes back again to his outfit and maybe I’ll be able to see him. He made a comeback though.
Thanks a million for your card, it was swell of you & dad to send it. Remember I told you not to get your hopes up to high about this coming homed deel. I’m afraid a big stink will have to be raised before we ever get to come home. At the rate they go it will be 20 years before I make it, ha ha. Yes, the Italians take our money money from us so that’s why I never send anything home. They want too much. The spreads that I sent home now sells for about $50.00 and one not as good as the others I sent home. My spreads came from Caserta, a town outside of Naples. I bought them just before we crossed the Volturno River. They just happen to make them in the town, I was pretty lucky. You see when we take a town things that they have to sell are cheap but all of the good things are gone or hidden. Well we move on and then they bring that out of hiding. By the time we get a rest and come back to these towns the prices are sky high. So I never buy anything. I was sure tickled to hear that Es was getting along okay. She is so thin that I worry about her each time she gets sick.
Poor Bud, he has a lot to learn before he gets to come home. So he is not crazy about England, ha ha He should have been the places I have. Then he really would gripe. So far I don’t mind it so much, but I am beginning to get tired of Italy. Bernard must have a real business built up. I’m glad he was different. Yes I received the popcorn, filters, comics, marshmallows, pipe and pipe cleaners and tobacco pouch, pouch and piper. The pipes I sold got $40.00 out of them, and put it in soldiers deposit. I should write Mrs. Fleshner but some how I never find time. Tell her hello and that she is still tops with me. Tell her I think of her a lot even though I don’t write. The reason Gee was fooled because Snook didn’t come in till after the beachhead had already been established. I’m glad to hear that you your leg is getting better. Take it easy mom and rest all of you can . I’ll be home one of these days and then I’ll take care of you. You won’t have to worry about me getting out of your site because I won’t let you or dad out of my mine. Guess this is all for now so will close. Goodbye to you both and I love you from the bottom of my heart.
Your Son,
“Chick”
