Tuesday February 13^th

Dear Mom—

It’s been several days since I’ve written. I’ve been trying to answer some of the many letters I’ve received lately. Our mail is coming thru a little better now and lots of old mail is catching up with us.

Hope Gene is home by now and that he got a long leave- I hope he doesn’t have to go to the Pacific too soon. The war there seems to be going well however.

Things here are about the same. We’re still in rest period. We’ve had the chance lately to visit Liége and other nearby towns. It helps to break the monotony. We’ve been having movies almost every night too and that’s a big help. Perhaps we’ll go back to work soon.

I was terribly sorry to get your letter telling of Uncle Ned’s death. Several of your letters said he was very ill and then yesterday came the news of his death. I can hardly believe it. Aunt Hettie was the one who was ill so much of her life, then to love him; it must have been a terrible blow. Please express my sincere sympathy to all the family.

Only the day before I had a letter from Charlotte Hawthorne saying her father was hit by an automobile and had three gashes cut in his head. He wasn’t given anti-tetanus serum and developed lockjaw and dies shortly afterward. I’m so sorry for her. He was awfully nice to me. Owned a drugstore in Victoria and was mayor of the town. He was in the medics in the last war.

I’ve had notes from several people from the SSB but none of those long letters we used to write (the whole staff) when I was there.

Thanks so much for delivering and mailing all the Xmas presents. I’ll try to send some other little things for others when I can.

Your letters are coming there fine now. Please let me hear often. I’ll send some of the pictures I’ve taken recently soon.

Love,

Jack—