France. Dec. 31, 1944.

Dear Mother & all,
         1944 will soon be a year of the past. In
fact in just about two hours time 1944 will be
history. It has been a year of excitement, sorrow,
and many incidences that will be with me
for many years to come. It has been a year that
the good old U.S never saw me. England the first
part and France the last. Last year all of us had
confidence that the US would see us in 44. Now
no one knows what forty-five holds for us.
     My mail has been very slow lately. Had a
Vmail from Lenore and Marie and an airmail from
Freeman of the 19th. No letters from you for over
three weeks now.
       Guy Lombardo's orchestra is one the radio
now. Gosh how I wish I was back in the good
of [sic] U.S to a dance this beautiful moonlit new
Years Eve. It would certainly be grand again. Three
years now since I have really celebrated a New
Year's Eve. We haven't had any passes now for

better then two weeks. It sure is getting to be a
lonesome dull life here in camp.
     I suppose all the rest of the kids are haveing
parties tonight and are looking forward to seeing the
old year out and the new year in. I might be in bed
before that time. I don't know just yet if I can stay awake
that long or not.
     The news tonight sounds much better, and they
said Hitler is makeing a speech to the German people
at 12:05 midnight tonight. Hope he says they have
had enough. I think this is his last try. I hope
so.
     When did your hear from Harley last? When you
write to him tell him to write me a little oftener
to me if he can find time. I sure would like to
hear from him.
     Here's hopeing to see the new year of 1945 bring us
peace and most of the soldiers back to the good old
US again. I am sending a church bulletin. It has a
look into the future in it. Goodnight for now. My
last letter of 44.
                                             Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on January 7th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Unfortunately, the church bulletin was not kept in the envelope with this letter.
• If you're not familiar with Guy Lombardo, here's some information:

Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist of Italian descent.

He formed the Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor, and other musicians from his hometown. They billed themselves as creating "the sweetest music this side of Heaven". The Lombardos are believed to have sold between 100 and 300 million records during their lifetimes,^[1] many featuring the band's lead singer, Kenny Gardner.

Lombardo is remembered for almost a half-century of New Year's Eve big band remotes, first on radio, then on television. His orchestra played at the Roosevelt Grill in the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City from 1929 ("radio's first nationwide New Year's eve broadcast")^[3] to 1959, and from then until 1976 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Live broadcasts (and later telecasts) of their performances were a large part of New Year's celebrations across North America; millions of people watched the show with friends at house parties. Because of this popularity, Lombardo was called "Mr. New Year's Eve".

• Hitler did make a speech. It's quite long. There are YouTube versions or you can read it at this site: https://nseuropa.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/adolf-hitler-new-years-proclamations-january-1-1945/

France. Dec. 28

Dear Brother,
           Received your letter of Dec. 19 today so
will answer it now. Your letter was the first
I had received from anyone back home that was
written in Dec. I don't think I have had a letter
from home for almost three week. I guess the
Christmas rush is holding them up. I think I
received most of my Christmas packages.
         Well old man winter has finally caught
up with us. It froze up last Friday night. It
is frozen for about 8 or 10 inches deep. We haven't
had any snow as yet, but feels as if it could
start in for a good snow tonight.
       Well the news hasn't been sounding so good
lately. I guess it gave everyone a scare around
Christmas time.
         I suppose everyone was able to get home for
one of mother's delicious Christmas dinners. We
has roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, beets, dressing
sliced peaches, ice cream, candy, apples, coffee, bread
and butter. No [sic] bad for being over here in France.

     We all were to have the day off but due to
circumstances beyond our control there was work just
as any other day. But it so happened it was my
day off anyway. Which I was very glad of.
     I haven't heard from Harley for a long time. I don't
know why he doesn't write to me a little more oftener.
I suppose he is kept rather busy at other things
besides writing letters.
     I wrote to Morgan Ford awhile back and told
him all about my trip into Paris. I have been there
twice and expect to go again. It really is a grand
place. One would never think it has gone through
four years of war. I like it a lot better than London.
There is no bomb damage in Paris. I guess my
old base in England caught a few V-2 after we
moved out. Boy am I glad we were gone from there.
     Well I can't think of anymore for now. Keep
the letters comeing this way. I will be looking
for them.
                                           Your brother
                                                 Bill.

The next letter will be posted on Dec. 31st.

Background Information (and comments):

• This letter to Ralph's youngest brother, Freeman, was included in the letters he had sent home to his mother/family, so I've included it in this blog. According to the address on the envelope, Freeman was not living with his parents; they had a Blissfield, MI address.

• Here is the information I found about the V-2:

The V-2[edit]

Main article: V-2 rocket

The aftermath of V-2 strike at Battersea, London (27 January 1945)

V-2 rocket launching sites were set up by the Germans around The Hague in the Netherlands on 6 September 1944. The first was launched from here against London on 8 September 1944 and took an estimated 5 minutes to fly the 200 miles from the Hague to London where it struck at 6.43pm on 8 September on Chiswick causing thirteen casualties.^[19] As the V2 explosions came without warning, the government initially attempted to conceal their cause by blaming them on defective gas mains. However, the public was not fooled and soon began sardonically referring to the V-2's as "Flying gas pipes".^[20]

By October the offensive became sustained. A particularly devastating strike was on 25 November 1944 when a V-2 exploded at the Woolworth's store in New Cross Road, killing 168 people and seriously injuring 121.^[21] Intercepting the supersonic V-2 missiles in flight proved virtually impossible and other counter measures, such as bombing the launch sites, were fairly ineffectual. Sustained bombardment continued until March 1945. The very last missiles arrived on 27 March 1945, with one of them killing 134 people and injuring 49 when it hit a block of flats in Stepney.^[22]

1,115 V-2s were fired at the United Kingdom. The vast majority of them were aimed at London, though about 40 targeted (and missed) Norwich. They killed an estimated 2,754 people in London with another 6,523 injured. A further 2,917 service personnel were killed as a result of the V weapon campaign. Since the V-2 was supersonic and could not be heard (and was rarely seen) as it approached the target, its psychological effect "suffered in comparison to the V-1."^[23]

The V-weapon offensive ended in March 1945, with the last V-2 landing in Kent on March 27 and the last V-1 two days later. In terms of casualties their effects had been less than their inventors hoped or their victims feared, though the damage to property was extensive, with 20,000 houses a day being damaged at the height of the campaign, causing a massive housing crisis in south-east England in late 1944 and early 1945.^[24]

The existential horror of the V-2 attack on London is the theme of Thomas Pynchon's novel Gravity's Rainbow.^[25]

France. Christmas Day, 1944.

Dear Mother & all,
         Christmas day in 42 Texas, 43
England, 44 France, 45? I am just
wondering where I will be then. Last
year I said I would be home. This
year I still say I will be home
next Christmas. A lot has happened
to me since these three Christmas
away from home. I have spent each
one of them as comfortable as could
be expected. This is about the only
one that was cold as we have it
at home. Yes a couple of days ago it
quit raining and the ground has
frozen solid. The sun has shone
brightly for the last two days, of which
we are very thankful for. As the
news sounds now our planes are
able to help the boys out up on
the front lines. I hope the news

                  continues to get better all
                  along now. For awhile it
looked dark for us. But now the
surprise push is over.
           I have just finished dinner. This
was our menu for this Christmas.
Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, giblet
gravy, sweetcorn, dressing, beets,
sliced peaches, ice cream, bread
butter, coffee, apples and candy. It
really was a grand meal. The
French people whom pick up the
garbage from the mess hall were here
at noon. They really loaded down
the little girl with apples, candy
and gave her all the ice cream
she could eat. The French kids all
like the Yank swell. The other night
one little girl asked me Amiricon.
I said "oui, oui". She then said
English no goot,  no chewing gum
or chocolate. I guess our shareing

                   our gum and candy with
                   them have really made
them think the Yanks are ok.
       I received all of my packages now
that I knew I had comeing. It has
really been a very nice Christmas for
me, although I am many hundreds
miles away from home.
       I suppose all of the family are home
today except Harley and I. I don't know
where he is spending his Christmas
but I suppose his will be spend in
a foxhole. I really can say that those
boys are the ones to get out of this
army first.
          I hope all of you folks write me
one of those long letters that everyone
writes a little bit in. It has been
quite some time since I have have
received any letters from home. I
realize that the Christmas mails
have been heavy. So now maybe

                      Christmas is over our
                      mail will come through
a little more oftener now.
       One of the fellows here in my
tent just came back from the front. He
had some rations left over from his
trip so today being my day off I
got up and made breakfast in the tent.
We had fried bacon, fresh fried postatoes
and he also had three fresh eggs, and
canned grapefruit. Coffee and french
bread. I guess it was almost a
Christmas present for him by haveing
breakfast in bed for a change. I sure
don't want to get anywhere near the
front from what he says he went thru.
I guess he has had enough of it too.
   Well this is about all for now.
Please write as often as possible. A
letter is always welcome.
                                       Love Ralph.
Here is how generous
the Yanks over here are. Enclosed clipping.

The next letter will be posted on December 28th

Background Information (and comments):

• I imagine Ralph's talk about the front lines and news of the planes helping out is still in reference to the Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 16, 1944 - Jan. 25, 1945).

• Here is the news clipping. Below it, I have typed up the article to make it easier to read.

                                         Chance to Walk Again Is Gift to Yvette

                              First TAF Men Present 128,000 Francs to 'Adopted' Girl

   A 17-year-old, legless French girl, adopted by a U.S. fighter-bomber group of the First TAF, yesterday received the biggest Christmas present of her life - 128,000 francs and the hope of walking again - from the men who have watched over her since last July.

   The girl, Yvette Hamel, is in a Paris Red Cross hospital, and her Christmas present will be used to pay the expenses of fitting her with artificial legs and for her future education.

   Yvette lost her legs in Normandy during the July battles, when fragments of a German shell injured them so badly that doctors in an American field hospital were forced to amputate to save her life.

   Men of a fighter-bomber group commanded by Col. Bingham Kleine, of Gonzles, Tex., unofficially adopted her, and took her with them when the field hospital moved on with the front lines.

                                                          Moved with Outfit

   She moved with the group five times as it advanced deeper into France. Each time her tent, lined with parachute silk contributed by the fliers, was set up near group headquarters and Yvette was made comfortable.

   Then the group learned that she might be fitted with artificial legs, following an operation, if she were returned to Paris. "The boys were sorry to see her go," said Capt. Lenoci, group flight surgeon, "but they knew it was the best thing for her."

   Yesterday, with Christmas two days away, four men from the group - on pass in Paris - came to see Yvette in the hospital. The men, Sgts. Rock A. Drouin, of Newburyport, Mass., and Clifford G. Trussel, of New Orleans; Cpl. Roland T. Potvin, of Fall River, Mass., and Pfc Anthony Kopaz, of Chicago, brought her candy, oranges, fruit juices, and flowers. They also brought her news of the 128,000-franc gift and the promise that she would be able to walk again.

France Dec. 22, 1944.

Dear Mother & all,
         Here it is almost Christmas. I
had my Christmas last night. We
went into town and brought out some
children to a Christmas party. They were
from four years to ten. There was
about 200 of them. They really had a
grand time. We had present for all
of them. This was all made up by
the chaplain. We all donated cookies
and candy from our PX rations. I
think this is the first time a lot of
those children have ever had a ride.
I know it has been the first time
since they have been away from
the town for sometime. Even though
I can't be there with you this Christmas
I know I have helped make Christmas
a happy one for some children. I
sure would like to see all of my

                  little nephew and nieces
                  and hold them. Some of these
children wanted to talk to us, but it
was no use, we just couldn't under
stand french. Some of them could speak
a few words of English. They sang all
the way out here and all the way
back into town again.
      Our war news doesn't sound so
good at present. Maybe it won't last to
long. I think it is almost a last final
push for the Germans. I hope that is
all that it is.
       I have received a few more Christmas
packages. One from Lenore and one from
her folks. I was surprised to get one
from her folks. I still haven't received
any from Cliffs. Maybe that has been
lost. I hope not.
     Our weather here is still cold
and wet. It has frozen as yet and
no snow. It doesn't seem

                     possible that Christmas
                     is just three days away.
I guess there is no seasons at all
anymore. I will be damn glad when
this war is over. I really don't know
why so many have to suffer just
on account of a few. I guess the
just have to suffer with the unjust.
I want to get home just as well as
any other person. But I guess I can't
complain. There are lots of fellows
going through worst things than we have
gone through. I guess it is just the
idea of being away from hone so long.
   Well I guess this is about all for
now. Please don't get discourage if
I don't write as much as I use to.
    Goodnight for now.
                                  Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on Dec. 25th.

Background Information (and comments):

• The war news that "doesn't sound so good at present" was probably the infamous Battle of the Bulge which took place on Dec. 16th. Here is an article from the History website:

World War II

1944

Battle of the Bulge

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On this day, the Germans launch the last major offensive of the war, Operation Mist, also known as the Ardennes Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge, an attempt to push the Allied front line west from northern France to northwestern Belgium. The Battle of the Bulge, so-called because the Germans created a “bulge” around the area of the Ardennes forest in pushing through the American defensive line, was the largest fought on the Western front.

The Germans threw 250,000 soldiers into the initial assault, 14 German infantry divisions guarded by five panzer divisions-against a mere 80,000 Americans. Their assault came in early morning at the weakest part of the Allied line, an 80-mile poorly protected stretch of hilly, woody forest (the Allies simply believed the Ardennes too difficult to traverse, and therefore an unlikely location for a German offensive). Between the vulnerability of the thin, isolated American units and the thick fog that prevented Allied air cover from discovering German movement, the Germans were able to push the Americans into retreat.

One particularly effective German trick was the use of English-speaking German commandos who infiltrated American lines and, using captured U.S. uniforms, trucks, and jeeps, impersonated U.S. military and sabotaged communications. The ploy caused widespread chaos and suspicion among the American troops as to the identity of fellow soldiers–even after the ruse was discovered. Even General Omar Bradley himself had to prove his identity three times–by answering questions about football and Betty Grable–before being allowed to pass a sentry point.

The battle raged for three weeks, resulting in a massive loss of American and civilian life. Nazi atrocities abounded, including the murder of 72 American soldiers by SS soldiers in the Ardennes town of Malmedy. Historian Stephen Ambrose estimated that by war’s end, “Of the 600,000 GIs involved, almost 20,000 were killed, another 20,000 were captured, and 40,000 were wounded.” The United States also suffered its second-largest surrender of troops of the war: More than 7,500 members of the 106th Infantry Division capitulated at one time at Schnee Eifel. The devastating ferocity of the conflict also made desertion an issue for the American troops; General Eisenhower was forced to make an example of Private Eddie Slovik, the first American executed for desertion since the Civil War.

France. December 13.

                           1
   Dear Mother & all,
   Received your letter today of the 24th
so will try to answer it now. I have been
under the weather today. I have a very
hard cold. It seems to be a chest cold
but I think it is breaking now. I just
got out of bed long enough today to eat.
   I received a letter from Harley today.
He is in Germany now. Gosh he sure
is getting around over faster than I
am. He will receive his mail much
faster now that he is assigned to an
outfit. He didn't say much about it.
I imagine he has just arrived there.
   Your Thanksgiving dinner sounds as
if it was very good. I sure would like
to have some pumpkin pie and Jello.
We don't get much desert [sic] at all. Could
you believe it now that I ear carots
and cooked turnips? I guess a person

                              2 
              will eat almost anything if
              he gets hungry enough. We
       have been getting plenty of rice to eat.
It doesn't go so bad.
       I sure am glad Freeman has
been deferred again. Army life might
be ok if you are in the states, but you
can see just how rough Harley has
had it.
       Did you pay up my insurance
this fall? I hope you did. I should have
a very good account in the bank now.
I have sold my diamond ring and I
put the money in soldiers deposit.
They pay 4% interest. I think it is a
very good investment. I will be able
to draw it out upon discharge. I don't
know when that will be.
       I had a letter from Irene's mother.
From the sound of it I sent for the ring
and now I am engaged to someone
over here. I never mentioned to Irene

                             3
                   about writing to Kathyrn
                   Snyder (?) but maybe she
    got word someway and figured I wanted
the ring for her. Oh well, she had to tell
her folks someway. I never hear from
her anymore. I see by the clippings
Luella sent me, that the Bay View
Naval Training  Station is being
closed. Wonder what Irene will do
now. It sure will be lonesome for
her. Well she was the one that ask
for it.
     Thanks for Morgan's address. I
received a letter from him already and
have answered it. Donna Staup tells
me they expect Morgan Meham home
by Christmas. He sure deserves it. I
guess he has as much time overseas
as I do in the Army. Those boys
in the Pacific sure have had it
rougher than we have. I guess Morgan
has had Malaria a couple of times.

                            4         
                    I hope your package and
           Luella's will come through ok. I
have only received Luella's and your
Christmas packages as yet. Last year they
all came so early it didn't seem like
Christmas. I told one of the fellows today
I hoped it would snow for Christmas.
I hope the packages all get here before
Christmas. We all treat each other
after we get our packages. In a tent of
six we really get varities.
      Had a USO show last night. It
was rather good. Our thearte [sic] is a
big building that the Germans had. It
wasn't put up but comes in sections.
It is 40 x 100 feet and has plenty of room.
We have four legged stools which
the Germans also provided. Most of
our office equipment is German stuff.
We found a German diesiel engine
generator and that provides our lights.

                             5
                One can find almost anything
         he wants if we can use it we get
it. I bet it would burn the Germans up
if they knew we was using a lot of this
equipment.
       Well I guess this is about all for
now. Please write as often as possible.
Just what happened to Clareance F.
that he was killed?
       Goodnight for now. Merry Christmas
to all of you.
                                     Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on December 22nd.

Background Information (and comments):

• Here's what I found about the Bayview Naval Station (also referred to as Bayview Naval Armory):

On March 1, 1896, an act was passed by the Ohio General Assembly providing for the organization of two battalions to be known as the Naval Brigade of the National Guard of Ohio. Without funds for outfitting or maintenance, they mustered in Toledo in July and through further organization, one battalion was located in Cleveland and one in Toledo. In 1898, the United States Congress declared war against Spain. In an effort to get Spain out of Cuba, President William McKinley was authorized to use all land and naval forces, as well as militia to enforce Congressional demands. At this time, the naval forces in the State of Ohio became the Ohio Naval Militia (ONM). The Ohio Naval Militia participated in the war, fighting as part of the 10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The ONM later purchased the old revenue cutter Andrew Johnson, which was refitted accordingly. The U.S. Navy also assigned the USS Michigan to train naval militias on the Great Lakes. The first training was at Johnson's Island in Sandusky Bay in July 1897. On 20 April 1917 the USS Dorothea Ship's Company at Cleveland, part of the ONM, was the first Ohio National Guard unit activated for service in the First World War. In 1936, a new Naval Militia Armory, located in Bayview Park in Toledo and built by the W.P.A. was dedicated. It served the needs of the ONM until 1947 when it was taken over by the newly-formed U.S. Naval Reserve. The ONM was deactivated following World War II, and remained so for nearly 30 years. In 1974, the former Lieutenant Governor, John W. Brown began the process of reactivating the Ohio Naval Militia; and on November 1, 1977 the ONM was reactivated with John W. Brown as the first commandant. Currently the Ohio Naval Militia is headquartered at the Camp Perry Joint Training Center in Port Clinton, Ohio. It consists of a Communications and Operations Center, office space, training facilities, a workshop, and barracks.

   

France. December 10.

Dear Mom & all,
      Received your letter of Nov. 29
yesterday and your V mail of Nov. 7 today.
So you can see just how this
mail is mixed up. I received a letter
today from Irene's Mother it was
sent out Oct. 12.
      Well I have quite a bit of news
for you tonight. I had a pass
yesterday and I visited Gay Paree.
Paris is so much different than
London. Hardly any damage at all. It
really seemed good to see a large
city again that wasn't damaged. Just
a few bullet holes was all that
I saw. I was right in the heart
of Paris to. I visited L'Arc de Triomphe
The Eiffel tower and quite a few
other places of interest. I guess there
is to much even to try and write
about it. It is to large of a city to

try to see places of interest in the
short time we were there. I guess
I am seeing quite a bit of this old
world though. I have read quite a
bit about London, Paris and all the
other places that I have visited. I
never thought I would ever get to
see all of them. But best of all I sure
would like to get to see the old home
town again. That would be the best.
         I receive the Record once in
awhile but just now the Christmas
mail is so slow and so much of it
they just don't send them through now.
      I guess winter is setting in here
now. It is cold, and blowing, the
air and rain is about half sleet
tonight. I sure am glad we have
out [sic] tent winterized. It isn't so bad
setting right here by the stove,

     I am glad that the men have the
crops all harvested this fall. They sure
are haveing a time getting these beets out
over here. It is so wet and muddy
all the time.
      I guess this is about all for this
letter. I must write quite a few letters
tonight. Please write as often as
you can.
                               Love Ralph


The next letter will be posted on December 13th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Did you notice that this letter began "Dear Mom & all" and not "Dear Mother & all"?
• Aren't we all wondering what Irene's mother wrote in her letter?
• The Record refers to a hometown newspaper.
• Ralph has been writing his recent letters on tablet paper. This letter was sent on "Sky Mail" paper in an airmail envelope with a 6-cent airmail stamp. (see photos)

France. Dec. 4, 1944.

Dear Mother & all,
          Another week has begun for us again.
Last week was very good to me. I had quite a
few letters and also received two packages.
Luella's and yours. I can use everything that
was sent me. Some of the candy, I am going to
give it to the chaplain. He is making up gifts
for French children and just before Christmas
we are planning a party here for about 200 of
them.
      Last night while eating supper on of my teeth
chipped off. I was to the dentist today and he said
there is a decay there. I guess he will be able
to fill it. This is the first time in my life I
have ever been to a dentist.
       Had a letter from Harley. I hope by this
time he has received my letter telling him I
am in France now. Also had letters from Luella,
Marie & Lenore. I really don't know what to
write to any of them anymore. We did have
a bad thing happen today. But things will soon

pass by. I guess our outfit is not use to
these things and all of us feel it more.
     Last night was a horrible night here. The wind
blew so hard sometimes I thought our tent was
going with it. Once I even flashed my light on
to see if it was still here. Then with the wind
it tried to rain. I thought of the boys that were
sleeping on the front lines. I am glad I am right where
I am.
    I don't have much news to write about tonight. I guess
I will go to the movies tonight. We have them right
here on our base now. Tonight they are "Sensations
of 1945".
         I can't think of anymore for now. Goodnight for
now. I am sending our church bulletin. It has a
nice poem in it. You never did tell me if you
receive these bulletins.
                                              Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on December 10th.

Background Information (and comments):

• There was no church bulletin in the envelope with the letter, so either his mother never received it or it was separated from the letter and not kept.

Sensations of 1945 is a 1944 American musical-comedy film directed by Andrew Stone. Released by United Artists, the film was an attempt to recapture the ensemble style of films such as Broadway Melody of 1936 by showcasing a number of top musical and comedy acts of the day, in a film linked together by a loose storyline. Sensations of 1945 stars dancer Eleanor Powell and Dennis O'Keefe as two rival publicists who fall in love, but the film's main purpose is to showcase a variety of different acts, ranging from tightrope walking to comedy to Powell's athletic tap dancing.

• The picture is notable for several reasons. It was Powell's first and only film after leaving Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where she became a star nearly a decade earlier; it was also her final starring role in a film, after which she would only make a cameo in MGM's Duchess of Idaho in 1950 and some unused footage of her would appear in a 1946 MGM compilation, The Great Morgan. Powell's dance inside a giant pinball machine (as part of the song, "Spin Little Pinball") has been cited by critics variously as both a highlight and as the nadir of her film career.
  W.C. Fields makes his final movie appearance before his death in 1946.
  Other performers in the film include Sophie Tucker, Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Donegan, Cab Calloway, Gene Rodgers, Woody Herman, and Les Paul. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music Scoring.

France. Dec. 1, 1944.

Dear Mother & all,
          December already and before I know it
we will have another year. Gee it seems as
if the year of 44 was a very short one. I guess there
was to much excitement to make things go to
slow. I just wonder when this war will be over
with.
       I have sold my ring so the money from
it I will put in soldiers deposit. I will have
a very good sum in this by the time I get back. We
will be able to draw this out as soon as we
are discharged. Wish I knew when that will be.
    I haven't heard from Harley as yet. When you write
to him tell him to drop me a few lines. I would
like to have his new address again. I had a letter
from Gail Sanderson. He is in Belgium in the first
army.
      This is my day off, so this morning I went
into town with one of the fellows going to the laundry
where we get our laundry done. Gosh I get so

mad at myself for not being able to speak
French. Sure wish I could. When we get our clothes
back they are all pressed, even to our fatigues
and they do it all by hand, the ironing I mean.
      Received a couple of letters from you this week.
I guess the postoffice at home must be about a
month slow. The postscript was dated Oct. 15 and
your letter inside was Nov. 15. That is twice now
that it has been that way. Had a letter from Sis.
It was from Sept. 15 so you can see how slow
some of the mail comes through.
     I hope your Christmas packages comes very soon
now. All our packages are rather slow in getting
here. I guess most of the mail goes to the front line
soldiers first. If they have room then they bring ours.
A few packages are coming through each day so
yours are bound to catch up with me some day.
I suppose everyone will be a little peeved at me
for not writing very often. But really I haven't a thing

to write about. If you could see where we are
living you probably would wonder where we ever
get an inspiration to write.
       From what news I read in the paper and hear
on the radio we are a lot safer where we are
than if we were still in England. I guess those U2
are raising havoc over there now. I had enough
of England anyway. Now I just want to see France. I
was at Criel a few days ago. It is nice country
down that way and it surprised me to see that
there was very little damage done on the way there.
I guess they just tried to hit military objectives.
Well this will be about all for this letter. I will
wait to see what mail I have today.
     Well mail call is over and I finally came
out with four letters. One of them from Harley. So
now I have his address. One from Marie & Luella
and one from Pearl Myers niece.
     I went to the movie tonight and church. So that
just about ends my day. I must write a couple of
letters yet. Please write soon.
                                              Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on December 4th.

Background Information (and comments):

• The ring he sold would be the engagement ring returned to him by his fiance Irene.

• I'm guessing that Criel refers to Criel-sur-Mer. Here's where it's located: "The city of Criel-sur-Mer is a small town located north of France. The city of Criel-sur-Mer is located in the department of Seine-Maritime of the french region Haute-Normandie. The city of Criel-sur-Mer is located in the township of Eu part of the district of Dieppe. " (Look for #76 below)