December 25, 1943

	I Love You Honey! Merry Xmas Darling! Friday Eve. My Dearest Darling Honey I don’t know how to start this – as I know I should get on my knees and Beg forgiveness for the letters I have been writing – but your not around for me to put on that type of demonstration – so I’ll have to just ask Honey – I am really sorry – I know I’ve did wrong – but for some reason couldn’t control myself – Honey will you ever forgive me? Something in me took a turn – guess I gave myself a good talking to – and decided it was time I quit feeling sorry for myself and get on the proverbial “ball” – It was really funny if you stop & really think of it – my mind was on the loose – and I’m not alone – as almost everyone here is the same - It gets so one loses control of himself – we’ve done things that we’d ever though of doing before. I realize Darling that this explanation or apology may not mean, or rather, bear out to you what I’ve really got to say – It’s difficult – but I know the next time I get feeling like I have I’ll take myself out next to the mountains and butt my head a few times
	against one of the rocks & let it go at that.. Honey will you forgive me?  Please write and say you can understand what I’m trying to put across!  I Love You My Darling Peggy and that is one thing I realize more & more as each day goes by!!  To me you are life – and life itself!! Santa Claus really came to me today! Four Boxes – and two of them from the Sweetest & most wonderful girl in the world – gee Thanks a Million Honey – everything you sent comes in mighty handy. I do like the pen. It’s running pretty smoothly! I can’t hardly use it – as you can plainly see because I’m so accustomed to the heavy point! But I know I’ll do better in my handwriting with it!  I Love You Honey! Received a box from Home. It had a fruit cake – candy – hankies - stockings – gum – and lo and behold cough drops! Guess Mom knows me better than anyone!! Also received a gift box from Kraft’s candy – handkerchief & a money belt-I now have three Money belts – wish I could fill them up! So Darling My Xmas is Complete right now – can’t say as how I want anything else! Oh yes – one
	thing – byt you won’t have to bring it – I want a Wedding Ring – size 7 1/2 – I’d like to get one so much so Honey will you search your area & see if you can find similar to yours & we’ll get it!  I Love You Darling!! The $10 enclosed is a little Xmas gift – had hoped to buy you something and send it – but it was no soap – everything they had around here was cheap junk and there wasn’t any sense in wasting money on something you wouldn’t use! So Darling a Merry Xmas – I wish to quote something from the Reader’s Digest ---- guess I can’t – cause I’ve lost the Copy – but it was something like this “ Peg Darling the Army may have thousands of miles apart during Xmas, but our spirits will be together in Prayer during this great feast day.”  Prayer & Prayer alone is the only consolation one has in an isolated spot as this..  Pray Honey that soon we may leave here.  I Love You My Darling Wife! A Merry Xmas to everyone at your house. I imagine there’ll be quite a few of you at home to celebrate – won’t be long they’ll have to set
	that extra place—that is when the war is over! We’ll really enjoy ourselves after all this is over – and Honey I don’t believe I’ll ever have to worry about a job.  Kraft’s sounds good to me.  In his letter he stated that we were all included in his post war plans & that he hoped this would be our last Xmas in the service! Everything looks really clear & happy to me tonight! Merry Xmas Darling!! I Love You!! Honey I was frankly very glad to hear you’re red headed cousin visited you – we definitely are in no position to give you the necessary care nor are we in position to Love a kid & give it the proper start!  No Honey as yet I’m not that ignorant to hope for something I know shouldn’t be!  I Love You Darling – and I want to be with you to share the bitterness & rejoicing there is to bringing our 1st child into the world.  It’ll someday happen – I Pray!  No kidding Honey that is one thing I look forward to – I believe we’ll make the 1st a boy! I Love you Darling. I really do! Well darling a very Merry Xmas & Happy New Year – I Love you Darling! God Bless You Love & Kisses Johnnie

December 20, 1943

	I Love You Honey! Thursday 9AM 15 miles S.E. of CoNanb My Darling Wife: Enclosed you will find a letter from Ma - for some reason it made me very happy and I want you to read it- after you're finished please destroy it!    Was very surprised to hear you went home -- or at least that you planned on leaving for home - as yet I never heard from you from Kingsford.  Monday was the last letter I received - have been patiently & anxiously waiting for word from you but I suppose there was a bit to be done & a lot to talk about.  I Love You Honey!    Honey you no what? I got very much lonesome for you & Home -- gee all the kids are growing up -- Tom and Billy will never know me when I come around - and Janet will be a fair sized little girl.
	It was Pa's Birthday yesterday - guess he must be 51 or 52 - getting pretty old. And Grandma is getting pretty well up in years to.  Gosh I missed them all so much-- Joe over there taking a crack at the Heimies.  Everything seems ??????? last night I was thinking of the 1st time you came Home with me - I'm sure that they now realize just how much you mean to me and things will be different! At least it is one of the few times they have sent a letter to me as the one enclosed! I can remember years back just now we would be planning for Xmas now.  I'd be up to Church putting up the Crib & Trees.  I never did think of a good way to get the needles off the floor.  We'd be practicing for an alter Boy singing from the alter - and gosh everything was so real!  And now - well -- It's a lot grimmer -- there isn't a tree in miles let alone a xmas tree!
	I had written about 12 pages to you but they are outdated so I won't send them- meant to write each day as our Company is in reserve-but they shoved the (Marlins?) guns up in front - so I was busy day & night - right now the enemy is hitting us - but they're blanks so I figured I may as well write - I can mail it when we get in tonight--  I Love You Honey! I sure do!    Thanks for the X-mas cards Honey.  They were realy nice!  I Love You So darn much. I also received a x-max card from Home & from some neighbors.  I gather now that they must be having a xmax somewhere.  Around now is almost the time a guy would like to blow his stack - It's so darn miserable in a place like this around a Holiday! I Love You!
	So you plan on going to Milwaukee Hay? Well ….    silence is golden--    I'm so darn dirty it will take two weeks to get clean -- haven't showered for 5 days - nor have I washed my face for like period -- Oh yes - sanitation nuts.    If you're wondering why I'm scribbling like I am - I may tell you I have my gloves on - It's colder the heck out - still pretty early - soon the Sun will be at work an we'll strip everything we have on off -- this country has the most annoying temperatures -- we'll freeze to death yet in Sunny California -- I have my Long John P Sullivans (winter underwear) out here - but every time I want them on it's to cold to put them on - so the result is I've never warn them -- I Love You Honey!
	Honey I haven't any idea as to what's going to happen to this outfit - Boy they - or I should say - we are lonely.  It would be suicide to fight with this outfit.  And one of the leading factors - moral - is very low. Why heck Honey there are brawls within the Companies now -- I've really got a low opinion of the army - and Ill curse the day I enlisted till I get bumped off unless things change -- I Love You Honey!    The desert fly was really at work last night - I have knots all over my head (maybe they're natural) -- there are also quite a few Tarantula spiders out there - their bodies are almost the size of a silver dollar--    We are going to withdraw from here tonight - another 4 days have been
	wasted -- we'll get a tremendous break until next Monday when we come out again till Xmas Eve - then I don't know or do I care what they do -- more than likely we'll get Division Maneuvers & move out of here - and how I wish the move is East!!  I Love You Darling!    Give my regards to all - And Peggy Honey take care of yourself & have a good time -- I Love You Darling! God Bless You! Love & Kisses Johnnie    Honey please be sure & destroy Mom's letter ! I Love You!
	[Editors note - Here is Mon's letter, not destroyed.] Dear Johnnie - We received your letter. Where glad to hear from you. But felt bad to hear you are not well. Johnnie we sent off a little Christmas box no matter what I send for I could not get no candy no nuts So am sending just a little to show you we think of you & that we all love you. I have a sick call crucifix home for you and Peggy. I am going to try and have a few things for you kids when you go housekeeping. Johnnie you would laugh [continues on back, but not scanned.]