Saturday-Christmas Day

Dear Mom-

This is the first Christmas I’ve ever spent away from home, and I don’t mind saying that I missed the thrill of getting up in the morning and being with you all and opening our presents together. Still I made the best of it. There are thousands of fellows much farther from home than I am, and they’re in fox-holes on battleships, in bombers, every where, so I’m comparatively well off.

I must say that I enjoyed my day got up this morning much later than usual wished all the fellows a merry Christmas and although it was not even light I opened my presents, see everything was grand! You certainly picked the things I wanted. Ginnie’s and Gene’s gifts were swell too. [The] socks, tie, belt, cards, and sweater were all wonderful. A little later the mail clerk brought a package from Hellen, a box of candy. It was awfully nice of her to send it. The other fellows were opening presents and offering cookies and candy around. It was a swell Christmas.

We had a wonderful dinner at noon, turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, oyster stew, dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls and tatter, mince pie and fruit cake, coffee, candy, nuts, cigarettes. Everything you might ask for. I certainly did enjoy it all.

I spent the rest of the day listening to the radio sleeping, nibbling cookies and candy and fruit. It’s raining like the dickens here. It’s really nice to have a day of rest.

Thanks a million mammy for the wonderful gifts, and thanks for doing my shopping for me. Let me know what you got for me for the different folks.

I’ll write again soon. It won’t be too long before I’ll be seeing you.

Lots of love and a

Very Merry Christmas,

Jack.