Richard Lee Holt Sr. letter to his wife Minneford Francis Holt, January 29, 1944

Somewhere in Italy January 29th 1944 My Dearest One Good evening my sweet and how is my best girl tonight? As for me I couldent be better. No sweet my bathe dident give me a cold. I thought sure that it would. We have had another beautifull day. I guess the rainy season is really over. I sure hope so. Well we got another quota of men for rest camp today, eight men get to go this time. I cant tell you where it is. I really dont care wheather I ever go to one of them or not, anyhow it would probably be some time in April before I would get to go and I hope this thingis over by that time. If I coluld believe half what I read and hear it would be a grand old world. But I believe they are worse about sta- rting rumors over here than they were back in the states, Well old Jerry finaly came to life after two days silence, they are going over and down in the valley from us. This war is a funny thing you will go along for a day or two and nothing will happen, then out of a clear sky they will start shelling. It lasts some time for and hour and other times only for a few minutes. The Itallian people have begin to filter back to their homes. It dosent look like they would want to come back to them. There isnt a house left standing. They have all either been blown down or the army has torn them down to make roads out of. And they are all stone houses you never see a frame house over here. The people here as well as most of the places are about half nacked and starved to death. We still see little kids that look like they would freeze to death they are so thin and poor. I can kind of stand seeing the older people, but these youngsters sure do make me feel like I could just about take on some of these people single handed. Of course I relize that it was only a short time ago that some of the Itallians we see now were probably shooting at our own boys so I cant feel to sorry for them. They would probably turn on us if they thought they could get by with it. Honey you spoke about the kids likeing to admire theirselves before the mirror on your dressing table. I wonder if I dont have a wife who still likes to admire herself in one also. I seem to rem- ember the time when you did. Oh yes sweetheart I sit around and do a lot of thinking sometimes, I can recall lots of things that would make me a much happier man if I were where I colud be with you my sweet. Well there I go again getting off the deep end. Sweetheart I try and not think to much but some times it just has to come out, To night I am sitting here in the Command post tent all by my self with nothing to bother me, except a longing desire to be with the one that I love more than anything in the world. Honey Keep the home fires burning for you have a husband that is comming home one of these days and you and I have a lot of lost time to make up for. Honey you had better just read this one yourself I am afraid some people wouldn't understand. Not that I dont want them to know how I feel about things but Honey this is just between you and I. Well dear girl I had better quit this foolishness beforel have you feeling worse than I do. So good night my sweet I will see you in my dreams. With all my love to the only one in the world. And may god bless you and keep you safe untill I return. Le