Akron, Ohio

December 26, 1944

Dear Evelyn,

I received your lovely Greeting and your beautiful gift and Thanks so much. You couldn’t of given me any gift I liked so much because I haven’t any lunch cloths like that. I haven’t any nice luncheon cloths. I don’t know why I never have bought any. It is too bad your folks got hurt a little but lets hope it won’t prove fatal. It is five below in Akron this morning. It rained all day Christmas and then it finally snowed. The transportation is terrible. Busses can’t run and cars can’t make the grade. Akron is in terrible shape they don’t have mechanics to work on the busses and they don’t have enough men to work on the streets. Up where we live it is on a hill and we get the wind and icy streets. I had a nice Christmas but oh if Jack could only be here. The longer it goes the harder it is for me. Evelyn you never mention his name anymore. Maybe you want to forget. Well Evelyn you are with some one nice. I hope they will like you like Jack did. Jack was quiet and he never said a lot. I know if he came back you would of heard something nice. He carried that to his grave so I will never say anything. I turned the light on to write and the birds come down on their perch and they are singing just as hard as they can. It is just 5:30 am. Mr. D. isn’t so good. That is why I didn’t answer your letter at Thanksgiving time. They brought him home. He had a bad attack. He was home for eight days and this time he got so weak. He won’t be able to drive much any more. I didn’t know you were working in town at Christmas time well you were busy. It was terrible in Akron. I didn’t go in the stores much. They just charged prices that were awful. Last week I received Jack’s key case and pocketknife that is all they have found so far that belonged to him. I just wish you could see them. The key case is so stiff from water and mud and the knife was a mess. He still had our house key on his key ring. They sent me a card telling me he is buried in the first row – 11^th grave in Plot C in the 2^nd Division Marine Cemetery in Saipan. Oh how I wish I had him buried at home. I will just as soon as the war is over. Mr. D had a beautiful ring made for my Christmas present. He had a stickpin that had four diamonds in it and he had it made in a ring for me. I received a lot of nice hosiery and some pretty apron’s and all kinds of bath and toilet supplies. Little Jimmy gave me a pretty pair of red plastic salt and pepper shakers, that new kind you just press the button on top and the salt comes out the bottom. One of my neighbors crocheted six beautiful doilies for me. One of the boys gave me a pretty green hassock. The one on convoy sent me a five-pound box of candy. The boy that is in India sent me a letter and told me he sent me a real pretty present but I haven’t received it yet. Mail is very slow. I have our home fixed up nice and like it much better. I wish you could come and see me next summer or anytime. Your luncheon cloth looks so pretty on the breakfast table. We do have a nice breakfast nook. I am just going to use it for after meals cloth. Oh Evelyn I received a picture in color from that Art Studio in Hawaii were Jack had his pictures made like the one I sent you. It was just beautiful of Jack only I have cried and kissed that picture a dozen times a day. I pray that everything will go all right for you and your folks. I hope they will get all right. I heard that Jack’s grandfather Shelley is in the Ashland Hospital. I heard that he has his second stroke and he is dying. It is too bad, but if he is suffering, he is better off. Well I guess I better stop writing. You will get tired reading this letter. Excuse this writing I can’t write decent any more. The next time the young sailor comes home I am going to come out to see you. He will drive any place for me. Evelyn take care of your folks and yourself and be careful [in] this weather. I know you are busy so just write any time. Always glad to hear from you.

Love,

Mrs. D