January 19, 1944

Hello Dot,

Glad to hear you had a swell XMAS. Boy bet the kids done all right this year. Bet Kate picked out the turkey old Joe would have give you one that was easy to catch, ha ha. Can’t figure how the devil the old man stayed sober, ha ha.

About sending that present you will have to write and tell me what it is, ha ha. That’s the laws when you get over seas. Send cigs Dot but take this and show them I asked for them. I mean to the post office. It’s a bummer law but that’s the way they want it. Cigs are hard as hell to get over here. So is candy so send both and the cigs anyhow.

Dot don’t send money cant use it. No place to spend the dam stuff.

Sorry as hell to hear Wally’s mother died. Bet poor old Wally is all shot to hell. She wasn’t such a bad old girl had lots of good meals at that house.

Marie has a swell mother there. He was mean as hell at times. But I always got along with him. He went through the last war so can allow a lot for any one who went through a dam war.

Glad to hear John is doing O.K. Boy if I was him I would leave her fast. She would drive any one nuts. I mean Gert. Boy bet when you wrote me was the first time you sit down since the 20. That poor little house sure got a hell of a going over, ha ha. Well kid write often say hello to old Fred for me, ha ha. Tell Gordon to hold on.

I am a hurrying,

Jim.