January 1, 1943

Hello Walt,

Sorry not to have answered your letters sooner, however, I have been very busy- last minute Christmas rush and all, that I just had to neglect my correspondence.

So you are in the Army, I thought you said you had enlisted in the Air Corps when you talked with me on the phone.

You mentioned in your first letter that you would have to study for three months to get a right to receive a commission. What sort of a commission will it be, Walt? How is Army life so far? Do you like Fort Sheridan? What does the CA (AA) stand for in your address?

I’m sorry to hear the inoculations have been so painful, but I guess you’ll be out of quarantine when you receive this letter. Which reminds me of your mentioning you would have your week-ends to yourself. Well frankly, it would do me no good to look up train schedules cause you will naturally have to plan your trips yourself since I don’t know when you are free – what time I mean, and when you have to be back. I understand I received a long- distance call from Chicago last Tuesday night. Was that you calling. How were you able to get to Chicago when you are supposed to be in quarantine? Yes, it is all very confusing, Walt. Where is Fort Sheridan, Ill? Is it very far from Cleveland? I don’t suppose you will get your 1^st leave much before the three months are up. Do you?

I had a wonderful Xmas. Spent four days out in Grafton with Inez and Frank and Frank’s people. It was a real old fashioned Christmas and on Christmas Eve all the relatives gathered at Frank’s mother’s home and the presents were all brought there to be passed out. They all appointed me as Miss Santa and it was such fun giving out the presents. We really all had a very grand time. Frank just had a 14 day leave and had to be back in Buffalo today.

I received many lovely gifts from the girls at the station, and from other friends. From Inez and Frank I received a pair of white satin pajamas and a Parker pen and pencil set. Everything is so lovely. Santa sure was good to me and made me very happy. I shall thank the Jakelskys for the card they sent you.

I hope your mother received the gift I sent her for Christmas and I hope she likes it. Her mind must have gone back to last Christmas this year and thought of the wonderful time that was had by all. I sincerely hope she will remain in good health in spite of the heartbreak she must feel. She is too sweet to know such sorrow, worry, and distress. I received a very nice letter from your father the other day and I’m glad to hear Rich in now in the Air Corps reserve. I sincerely do hope he won’t be taken out of Duke before the end of his first year.