It is still plenty cold. We stayed in the supply room all day. Not much doing. We are going to leave tomorrow to go back to Naples. Looks like another landing coming up. Went to the show, then came home and read until bed time.
Your Son, ‘Chick’
December 29, 1943 – Wednesday
Letter Home – December 28, 1943
Dear Mother & Dad,
Well there’s not many days left in this month is there? Boy is it cold here at the present time. There is a strong wind blowing and what I mean it’s really blowing. It has been snowing up in the mountains for the last three days. We had to stake our tent completely down to keep it from blowing away.
I’m having a hard time trying to keep up with my letter writing. I have so many letters. It’s funny that there aren’t any Kae Woodie pipes around. I notice there are quite a few advertisements out on them. If you ever find any send me a couple or three. Also I’ll take some more popcorn and comic books. O yes, now I’m starting to get book that you took out on subscription.
I’m including a letter to Juanita. They sent me a package and I lost their address. Well Mom & Dad, I had better bring this to a close. Sorry that there is so little to write about but at least it’s a letter to let you know I’m OK. Goodbye and I love you both very much.
Your Son
“Chick”
December 28, 1943 – Tuesday
Boy it is ever cold out. The ground is froze solid. The wind is blowing hard and it’s really miserable out. We worked on three time forms all day. Played cards at night, read a little and went to bed.
December 27, 1943 – Monday
It’s very cold and rainy today. Rumors are that we are moving. the rain stopped but the wind is blowing hard and it’s cold. We played a little cards and then went to bed.
December 26, 1943 – Sunday
It is snowing up in the Mts. this morning. I am going to 10 AM mass. Worked most of the afternoon. Played chess until supper time and then went to the show. It sure is cold out and I’m about froze. Wrote a couple of letters and went to bed.
Letter Home – December 25, 1943
Dear Mother & Dad,
I have been thinking of you both all day, and wondering what kind of Christmas you had. I bet it was swell. As for me, well I guess you can call it another day. We had a swell dinner though and I had all of the Turkey I could eat. I went to 9:00 AM mass this morning. It is raining out at the present time. Did you have a white Christmas? Let’s hope and pray that next Christmas we will be together. I wish I had something to write about so I could at least write a decent letter to you.
I received another package and your letter with the clippings in it. Congratulations on you making president mother. The letters were dated November 21 in December 2. Mail here is all messed up. So far I have received 28 Christmas packages. Your last package was swell. We celebrated Christmas eve last night with some champagne, and the cheese “It” came in very handy. Thanks also for the Fannie Mae candy. I’ll try to answer some of your questions. There for about two months I never did get to go to church, but lately I have been going all the time. It just depends on the conditions of things. The church’s our beautiful here. It’s really hard to explain in a letter. I have all ready sent those clippings home that I wanted you to get for me. Just follow the papers mom and you can’t tell where I am. Even when we are in a rest camp we are not far from the front. I think I told you before that I received the tea bags. Received Mr. Kuhn’s money order yesterday. Not much, but it helps $10.00, ha ha. Dad go ahead and send me the Kay Woodie and if you can run across another K.W. someplace, send it also. New one I mean. Maybe Esther can find some and Chicago.
Write and tell me what you received for Christmas? Well I guess I had better call it quits for now so goodbye to you both and I love you both from the bottom of my heart. May the new year bring us all the happiness in the world.
Your Son
“Chick”
December 25, 1943 – Saturday
Christmas Day and oh what a head I have. Wow! I didn’t get up until 9:00AM and then I beat it down to HQ company to mass. Boy do I feel terrible. We had a swell time last night and everyone was feeling plenty happy. We had a swell dinner and I had all the turkey I could eat. Played chess and then I went over to my tent to write a few letters.
December 24, 1943 – Friday
Today is Christmas Eve. It has been raining all day so we were not in the spirit at all. We have been working all day and the company has to put a bridge across the Volturno river tonight. “B” company lost three men up at the front today. We should be up there soon. Lucky were going to get to spend Christmas here. We have quite a bit of Champagne and Cognac to celebrate tonight.
Letter Home – December 23, 1943
Dear Mother & Dad,
Better drop you a line before I get way behind again. Unless I’m in the mood I just don’t write letters. I have about eight staring me in the face now waiting to be answered. I received a check or a money order from Mr. Kuhn today $10.00 ha, ha. How much money do I have at home now? There is sure very little too write about here. Oh yea! Let me know how the checks are still coming in. If they don’t change I’ll see the company clerk again. Just think only two more days until Christmas. Boy it sure doesn’t seem that way to me. Oh well, let’s hope I will be home next Christmas and then we can for get everything that has happened. Doubt if I will get to see Snook for a while now. Maybe someday we will come across each other again. Well mom and Dad, I had better call it quits for the night. Goodbye and I love you both very much.
Your Son
“Chick”
December 23, 1943 – Thursday
Not much to do today. Just a few odd jobs. Received two more packages today. It has been raining all day. There is a show tonight guess I’ll go. Just got home from the show. It’s still raining and is miserable. Wrote a few letters and now I am going to bed. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.
