January 22nd
– 1945 –
Dear Mom—
Several of your letters of mid and late November have come thru recently—and a few from early December—I certainly was surprised to hear that Gene’s ship was sunk—I too got a card stating he was to have a new address—but I didn’t know that he had lost his ship and 6 of is crew—I hope he is ok and that he’ll have better luck with his new vessel—
Things here are going along ok—I’m lucky to be here and have the many comforts that many of the other fellows miss so much—You said you worried about me. Please don’t. It’s not so bad as you might imagine—we in the medics don’t have it hard at all—True there are times when its tight—but they are few and far between—
The news is consistently good now—The Russians are in a great offensive—and are moving steadily. The news is on the radio now—Perhaps by the time you receive this letter the Germans will have suffered their biggest loss since the Falaise Gap in France—It’s terrible to retreat— I know and Germany is steadily retreating now—They’re withdrawing from their salient in Belgium and I hope we can push them right back to Berlin—The pacific war is ahead of schedule too—and going well—I was glad to hear that Cheatham didn’t have to go as yet—I hope he won’t go back—It must be terrible to return to the land of plenty and then leave for a land of mud and blood—knowing what is in store—It’s better to go not knowing –When we started for France I had no idea of what it would be like—and I think that made it easier—
I hope my package has arrived—there were things for so many people—Let me know—
Don’ worry
mom—you know the phenomenal luck of
Love
Jack