Dec 15, 1943
Dearest Mom and Dad,
Boy it sure
is a nice cold day so better write a letter before the ink freezes in the pen. Dear
mom I received your lonely sweet Air Mail letter of the Nov 3. It sure was nice
to get a nice long letter like that. Yes you can write airmail as often as you
like. The mail seemed to travel pretty good but now
during the Christmas rush they are holding the letters back so that the
packages will get through. A few days ago I got a package from Amelia, and Ash.
Myrtle’s sister and her husband. They sent me 6
packages of tobacco and 3 bars of soap. It was a great surprise but I sure did
like it. I like Amelia a lot and she always wishes me the best of luck in the
letters Myrtle sends me. I got 6 letters from Myrtle the day I got yours. In
one she said she had received one #25 Bond and the
usual monthly check. She will get a Bond every 3 months now so soon we will
have quite a lot saved up.
Gee Mom, it
has been a long time since I got a letter from Dad but I guess it is held up
somewhere. I am so glad you now like your new job dad and hope you will
continue to get along with it O.K. Your job is similar as mine only you have
only one kind of article in yours. I carry electrical equipment, hardware,
office supplies and blank forms besides a few other things. I have a lot of
things I have taken off of salvaged planes that come in handy. Cpf Otton, the medical officer,
is quite interested in radio and he comes over and gets some things-I had about
30 small lights from a Bomb indicating panel and he wanted some small lights
like that and some-one told him I had them, so he come over. He sure was glad
because he couldn’t get them any place else. He bought me a dandy Radio Compass
swinging antenna and it is swell for my radio “when I get it working .” am
having quite a time of it as the darn set is marked in station and I have to
just trace the wires and figure out what they are.
It is too
bad you couldn’t go down and visit Myrtle and the folks for Christmas, but she
understands and so do
I would
like to be able to get a nice gift for Myrtle my self but as it is, it is
impossible, I know you will find something real nice for her. She has been so
nice to me and written such lovely letters that I can’t possibly get lonesome
because of not getting letters.
Yes I bet
Mrs. Freeman and the gang would gade around all
night. That’s one thing Myrtle and I will never do. I don’t believe in it and
neither does she. She is doing pretty good on the
bedspread. I bet it is pretty. I can’t make the boys believe I can crochet at
all.
I imagine
Henry is all moved by this time. I know where the store is. I bet he could get
a kick out of taking pictures out here especially the sun sets and sun rises.
They are simply beautiful and can never be described in words.
Gosh Mom I
will take an extra big hunk of that good cake. I haven’t had any cake since
leaving the States except a piece of fruitcake that Glen Freeman got from home.
It sure was good. Myrtle said she is going to send me a box of candy.
I am well
and not too lonesome. I get especial lonesome this time of the year, as I miss
being home with you all for Christmas. We all are the same
way but I will be O.K. so don’t worry to much about me. I have been in
the army 18 months today and it doesn’t seem that long. I don’t mind it so much
but will be glad to be back home. We have it fixed up
pretty nice now and we hate to have to move but no telling when we will.
I suppose
it is cold there now and a lot of snow in the mountains East of Salem.
Freeman is
playing Solitaire by himself now. He isn’t doing so well either. We three play
dominoes a lot in the evenings and get a lot of fun out of it. Not much else to
do as we have nothing to read. I got a Radio News magazine from one of the boys
and read t hat from cover to cover including the ads. It sure seemed good to
read once again.
Well I am
about run out of news so well have to close for this time so be careful and may
God Bless you all and keep you well for my return. Please give me regards to
everyone and tell them I think of them all.
Love to you both,
your Son
Hod