CAMP CROWDER MISSOURI

Dec 25, 1942.

Dearest Ruth:

Thanks a lot for the Xmas present, just what I wanted most of all. We had a good time last night after all the presents were passed around. Captain Newell makes a good Santa Clause (sic). We all ate candy and cookies till we were full in the face. At 11 o’click most all went to church, it was filled to the roof.

Both yesterday and today we slept till 7:30, went to breakfast, and back to bed till noon. I am sending you a menu so you can see what a dinner we had today. But there don’t seem to be the spirit to it like home, even if it is as good as it would have been at home. This afternoon we went to the Field House for the broadcast, maybe you heard it.

Both Tom Brown and Robert Preston < actors > are in our battalion. Here they are only Pvts. like all the rest, even when it comes to K. P. Both are on duty Sunday.

 Tom Brown, actor
 Robert Preston, actor, show poster

I am waiting to get it New Year’s but that day will be the same as every other day here except for pay on New Year’s Eve. I have only 47¢ and 2 pkgs cigarettes left so there will be a hot time in camp that night.

Had a letter from Dayton < Sneve, a neighbor back home > today. You can let him see the menu for he was wondering if we would have a good Xmas dinner. I haven’t got time to answer right away. Only been in school 2 days this week and a test coming up tomorrow so I will have to do some studying tonight yet, before lights go out.

Wishing you a Happy New Year.

Love, Thorgel.

P.S.

Has Marion seen her sailor sir? Or is he froze in at the lakes.
< This is a joke. My mom’s sister later married Art Serr, who was in the Navy at Pearl Harbor. >