January eighth- Monday

Dear Mom-

Just a few lines to let you know that everything is ok- We’re pretty firmly established now in a very comfortable spot. We’re resting, and I mean resting. I spend most of the day reading or listening to the radio. Frankly I wish we were working again-for it gets very boring sitting around doing nothing. Tomorrow we’re going to start checking over equipment so perhaps it won’t be too long before we start back to work.

I believe I wrote you that I got a nice box of things from the Grahams I wrote them a note of thanks. I also got one from Edna Wagner and Florence. I lost the address though and can’t write them. Please call and tell them I think it was swell of them to think of me, and thanks a million. When not so long ago the danger of capture became eminent I destroyed all the addresses-(buried them) and then after I was captured and the suddenly freed I didn’t have time to retrieve the list. I held on to my radio though- it’s missing a tube right now but I hope to get one from the signal corps soon.

Anne’s Xmas arrived a couple of days ago. She sent a nice box of things. She wrote she was sending it when she wrote of her marriage. I’ll write her a note of thanks tonight.

Aunt Kate’s box arrived too and one from Alma. I’ve certainly had plenty to eat. I don’t have Tom’s address either and can’t write him. Wish you’d explain for me. You can tell him that we (some of the fellows and I) consumed the fruit cakes in what will probably be on of the world famous spots in history during a very historic battle, and it really hit the spot too.

Please don’t forget those stories and clippings I asked you to send me. You can put them in with your letters, or collect a bunch and send a first class package.

We had a “white Christmas” I hate to see snow over here for it means our advance is slowed and our air power hindered The going is tough now, and slow, but we’re still hopeful of an early victory and a quick return home. I could even do with a while in England, or some of the cities in France, anywhere I could sit and talk to someone about something other than the war- you get pretty damn tired of it 24 hours a day seven days a week. I’d give a months pay tonight to have a date, go dancing, to a show or do something that’s near normal for a change. However I guess the Frenchman sized it up when he made that world famous statement “C’est es guerre!”

I hope by now my package has arrived by now and that you’ve been able to send the different folks their gifts. It really isn’t much but a remembrance any how I hope to have some more pictures to send you soon. At the moment we haven’t the facilities for developing and printing, but I’ve sent some out to be done. We’ll get back at it again soon I hope.

So long for this time- I hope to write Anne and some other folks- Goodnight

Love

Jack