France. Feb. 4, 1945.

Dear Mother & all,
       Received your letter yesterday
dated Jan. 9. I guess the mail is
slow in getting through either way
right now. Also had a letter from
Clifford and one from Luella. The
day before I received a letter from
Harley of Jan. 28. He said he was
well and getting good meals.
      We have gotten rid of our
snow now. It warmed up and
rained now we have this
darn mud to contend with. I
would just as soon have the
snow.
      I was in Paris yesterday. I
took some pictures and did

quite a bit of sightseeing. I visited
Napoleon's tomb. This is a big
dome building and it is really a
beautiful place. Paris is so much
nicer looking than London. There
are hardly any marks of the war
in Paris. In Pairs there are 34
bridges across the Seine river in
Paris and not one has been
damaged. I would like to buy some
souvenirs to send home but things
seem to be so high. Would you
like some perfume?
      Yes I had my tooth filled and
I had one more that needed it.
This is the first time I ever had
to have any work done to my
teeth. I don't care for anymore

   I sure wish I was home to
enjoy some of that fresh pork and
beef. The people on the farms are
lucky they can have all the meat
they want.
      Has Rev. Meyer decided to stay
at Berkey? I sent a letter to him
the other day. Our chaplain is in
the hospital so I don't know if they
had services today or not. I was
to busy at the time to attend
today.
     Yes I guess all the young fellows
at home are getting married. I will
have to begin all over again. Oh
well I am glad it turned out this
way. I have been gone so long now
and both of us have changed.

    What I can't see is how so
many of the fellows are staying out
of the Army. Has Homer Ford gone
into the Army yet? I notice by the
paper Bob Ziss is out yet, also
Junior Carr. Well, one thing I am
seeing a lot of places and countries,
that I never would have seen
before.
    I guess this will have to be
a letter for tonight. There isn't much
to write about anymore. Goodnight
for now.
                                       Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on February 10th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Here is a picture I found on the internet of Napoleon's tomb (it is NOT Ralph's photo).