Transcription of Document FFDoc-1014.pdf

Frank: Inside please; disregard above unless you particularly like flowers.

J.

Dear Frank,

Those four little hands in the snapshot are exactly the reason this is the only paper I can lay hands on, now in the rare mood of writing.  The smaller is new to you - born in May. We called her Jill, to go with Jay, June, John. It all seemed to start with a wild dog I had first, named Jeff. If this sounds completely uncultured, lets blame it on the same thing as colloquialism - year after year I can more clearly see we Mariettans are little different from the Tennessee Mountaineers. The region is sort of a jungle through which little slips. In fact, between here and Columbus (110 miles) one fairly senses himself coming out of the brush into the outside world. Now there's little need to say I've seen none of thee 187's or 648's since the night about 18 mos. ago when Lou Lake showed up & I don't believe you knew him! Often wonder what the familiar names have come to. Guess I've said before, I thought I'd try the National Gd, back in 1948, there being a rifle company here. One thing led to another and sometime ago I got stuck as company commander (Boy, does that use up the spare time!) Anyhow, we were at Indiantown Gap, Pa last summer. That was just a few miles from Pottsville & I knew good & well that sounded mighty familiar in "Team 17". Now do you think I could stir myself to go see? No - I was too afraid it was Leiter & all I could think of in common with him was the foo-foo water bottle incident. Or maybe it was Potpinko & the place Pottstown (nearer Phila.), but I still can't play a violin - just pinochle.

This violates all principles of letter writing, about the addressee, but I clearly remember your last written words to be "more later". I also think they followed the reason this will be your biggest Christmas yet, & I surely hope so. I guess I enjoy writing about as much as receiving & feel you do too. Now I've come to believe it is a luxury to be indulged in only by shiftless globetrotting soldiers - never by the familyman. Best regards & hello to Leona also, until I can get at it again. Maybe some night when I spot a decent sheet of paper all nice & white. Everytime I think I have one I find Jay has been there first like the enclosed card - I bring them home for scratch note cards, but alas! they are just Jay's size.

Sincerely, John

[Note on back of Christmas Card]:

The T.V. is just a prop, Frank. Nearest stationis 100 miles & this seems to be the snowy season. J.