20 Dec. 1943

Dear Mom.

How is everything in the U.S.A. now? Over here everything is fine. Got your letter so am sitting right down to answer it.

Well, it won’t be long ‘till Christmas will it? You will probably have gotten this letter long since after Christmas, but anyway I wish you the best of everything. Can’t send you all anything for Christmas, because you can’t buy anything over here.

Have you heard from Virg lately? I got a letter form him quite a while ago, but have not gotten around to answer it yet. I guess he is still pretty busy. How is Charles & Teresa getting along? Got a letter from Polly and Paul the other day. She said that Paul was not feeling so very well and had gotten a sick leave and was up hunting with Laton and Charles. Hope they have good luck. Better than Laton and I had anyway.

You must be right in the middle of winter by now. The paper here says that there was an extreme cold wave on the Atlantic seaboard. Must be plenty cold in old VT.

How is old crow coming along. Still doing the same thing, I imagine. Have you heard from Grant lately? I wrote him a letter tonight. He had better answer it promptly, or else.

Well, mom, guess I have rambled on long enough, so will close, write soon, lots of love, John.