December 8, 1943

My own Dear Father and Mother,

            What a lovely package you sent me for Christmas—full of all the tender thoughts you had and I surely do appreciate the time and consideration in the purchase of each little gift. The scout knife is most useful and all the other gifts. I shall enjoy to the full and think of you each time one is used.

            This year I shall not be able to buy you any presents as the jungles and mountains offer nothing in the way of presents or gifts of any kind and the time we have to ourselves is not enough to make anything. We shall celebrate Christmas after we win this war and then the lid will be off. I admit I’m still the “Black Sheep” of the family but I love you all very much and some day we can all be together again and review all that has taken place since our last reunion.

            If all goes well this war can’t last for many more years and I hope that we will be able to take a trip to the East to visit you all again in Little Compton, or better still—that you can come out to visit us—What fun we could have.

            Billie and I are all set to get a ranch in Oregon after the war and we hope that you will be able to enjoy it with us. We are both been about that part of the country and ranch life appeals to us very much.

            The weather here has been very warm lately—well over 100 degrees during the day and quite a bit of rain. However the country is beautiful with all the lush green hill angling off into the rich jungles and rivers, I have spent a great deal of time with my men of the intelligence sections covering this beautiful country. The wilderness is our home and I love all that nature has to offer. Sometimes she makes it pretty tough going but we get [a lot] out of it and know that in the long run she is only looking after our welfare.

            Someday I hope that you will be able to visit and enjoy these Islands—they are most interesting.

            Well dear ones, it is way past my bed time so I shall have to close and get some much wanted sleep. Please take good care of yourselves and keep up the wonderful letters which are a world of sunshine to this old grizzled soldier-- With loads of love—

                                                                        Your devoted son,

                                                                                    Willard

 

PS- Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 1944.