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Christmas Day 1944 Letter from Luther Murkins Winsor-Incomplete?






Christmas Day 1944

My Dear son, Luther,
Yesterday evening I was greatly relieved to receive your letter of December 6 postmarked December 9. It was written before the big push really began. I have been terribly anxious because you are somewhere in the area where the enemy struck back with such power.

Your letters have been coming through so regularly and in such short time it seems strange that mine should require so much time to reach you.

I haven't had much heart for this Christmas especially when I was forced to think of you in your present situation. Today it is reported that they have bypassed at least a portion of the first Army. Just what that means we can only guess-we who are so far removed from the actual scene of action. The enemy seems to have plenty of punch left in him yet. Of course we have realized that it would be plenty tough as our boys have pushed further into enemy territory.

All I can do is wait and pray for your success and safety.

I'm writing this from the lobby of the Officer's Club where I take most of my meals when here at headquarters. I helped the committee obtain decorations for this and also the chappel at the main camp. The boys have fixed it up nicely at both spots. I was able to secure some lovely trees and evergreens for trimming.

Here the large Lobby where I am writing has two large fireplaces, one at each end to give a homey feeling to the place. We have a very fine group of Polish girls and women as waiters & etc. They have just been in singing Christmas songs, in Polish of course, but it was very good. I could enjoy it very much under other circumstances but I have a heavy heart today no matter how I try to overcome it. So all I can do is write to each of my family and wait for a happier Christmas next year. God being willing.

Yesterday I had a lovely Christmas dinner with Dr. Boyce & family & Dr. Jordan who is here for a short time. They are American missionaries, you know, who are educators as well. They operated the American College here for many years and did a world of good.

Yesterday evening-Sunday-the boys of our church who could come met at my quarters and participated in a Sacrament meeting. We have held 18 such meetings to date. Yesterday we had a new member come in Sgt. Jas. ? Arrigon? from Salt Lake. He has filled a mission and was a guide on temple block for 5 years. He knew mother quite well. He was surely pleased....

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