Christmas Eve

My dearest Hal,

There was a letter from you this morning so that will make my Christmas happier than anything else could except to have you home again.

We have just had a card telling us of Bob’s change of address. A.P.O. #9301 10 PM New York City. That doesn’t help make Xmas any merrier but everyone goes through such things. There will not be many homes this year that do not have someone absent.

Mother has the flu and has been in bed since Wednesday. Sam and I have had bad colds and I have kept Sam in bed for two days trying to get him well so he can enjoy tomorrow.

We have finished decorating the tree and as Sam always says “it’s the most beautifulest tree we have ever had.” As a matter of fact we have never had such a lovely tree as the one you took us out to Churchville to get one year. Do you remember what a beautiful one that was? I dream of “our house” and how we shall trim it for Xmas and all the wonderful times we shall have.

Hal, do you remember a Staff Sgt. who saw the PX in the Rest Camp you visited in July? His name was Bill Harvey and he is a bombardier in the Air Corps. He had been in a hospital for seven months and was grounded at the time you knew him. Yesterday I saw and talked to him. It all came about like this.

One day last week Peggy saw Helen Tilkeson in town and Helen said for me to call Mrs. Haunihon in Staunton and she could tell me about this boy who had met you. Of course I called and Mrs. H. said “Yes, this boy knows a Capt. Wilson Q.M.C. in India, who comes from Staunton--.” Bill Harvey married Mrs. Haunihon’s sister three days ago and the couple came to visit the Haunihons Wed. Mrs. H. called me up and asked me to come in so I could meet Sgt. Harvey. Of course I went and I wonder if you can imagine what it meant to talk to someone who had seen you in July. He spoke so nicely of you. He said you made an excellent officer and that your bars didn’t seem to go to your head as so many others had.” He said he was feeling pretty low when he talked to you but that your morale was wonderful and you cheered him up a lot.

He was very anxious to locate me and tell me you were all right and I shall always be grateful. He told me several things that helped me a lot but I don’t know whether I should tell you all the nice things he said about you. He seemed to think you were doing a rather disagreeable job in such a way that you were very popular with the men who work under you. I hope it is all true, it made wonderful listening and I believe the boy was sincere.

He sent you his “very best” and he hoped you would soon follow his example and come on home. Of course there isn’t any way to do that except spend seven months in the hospital I guess, anyway that is what he had done.

His wife was a real pretty little girl and they seemed so happy. Oh yes, Bill said “Be sure and tell the Captain what wonderful clean air we have over here and that every now and then I take a deep breath especially for him.” I think he will understand even if you don’t.” I hope it isn’t as bad as all that but I am afraid it isn’t so good.

Darling, we hope you have a nice Christmas. You are in our thoughts every minute and we can only say how much we love and miss you.

all my love,

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