Your Loving Son, "Ed"

Dear Mom,

On this bitterly cold rainy day in September I decided to write you another letter of assurance. So I am still well but wet, kicking but cold, wishing this thing were over but knowing it won’t be for a long time yet despite what the papers say. I personally believe that they would be doing just as much for their readers by being much less optimistic as the situation really demands. I feel that people back home should know that they aren’t going to see their sons & husbands for many, many months yet. Knowing this the disappointment won’t be so great. This demobilization plan has to be taken with a grain of salt. Darn few of us will go home at the end of this war. A lot of us will go to the Far East to be used in the war against Japan. That is the way the situation stands, so if you look at it in that light you won’t be disappointed and God willing you might be surprised. Now to go into a pleasanter vein, we had a rather unforeseen surprise the other day when Bing Crosby & his troupe put on a show for us somewhere in France here. There were five altogether in the show beside Bing. A comedian, two musicians and two very beautiful, talented girls. The old grand dad of song was at his best and sang a few old ones and one or two from his latest pictures. Something would you like to be a fish or a donkey, etc. Bing was really on the ball with his faux pas and between himself and this comedian (who he was I don’t know but he was certainly good), they put forth an hour and a half of real good enjoyment. Bing is quite bald without his toupee and the old wrinkles are beginning to show when you look at him up close but he is still all there for my money. Now here is something that should prove interesting to you. At least it will give you an idea of where your wandering red head has been. In each letter I will name about four or five places I have been in and you can read the news reports to determine what went on. The first five were Montebourg which gave me my first idea of what destruction means. Carentan, Isigney, Caumont, Ballyray. So old Dad can grab his atlas and in each succeeding letter he can find where his red head has been. So keep watching. You know that is a great idea about sending me or getting me a subscription to Time magazine, also one to some other good one with stories, editorials, etc., like Cosmopolitan American. That would be wonderful. I never thought of it before. Also don’t forget my monthly ration of candy bars, etc. That is my first love next to reading matter. Oh another thing, I don’t know if I asked for it before or not. I forget. But what I really need is three or four pair of light- heavy wool socks. I will explain what I need then you can use your judgment as to the kind. If they are too light, when my feet sweat the stocking gets wet. Secondly, my feet get cold. If they are too heavy, they take up too much room in my shoe & it is hard to walk. Nothing fancy because they take a lot of wear. I want something that you can scrape on barb wire & they don’t tear. Now do you know what I mean. I will leave it up to you. Well, I have had some funny experiences which some day I hope to be able to tell you. One which should strike you as amusing. Last night I slept in a small barn with a billy goat. Yes, he smelled all right but I was tired so I didn’t care. God knows where I will sleep tonight. Well, that is all for tonight. I shall try to write again soon. By the way, I received a letter from you today from the White Mountains. I don’t know how you got there or what you are doing but I imagine I shall find out when the past mail catches up. For now, good nite.

I remain