Richard Lee Holt Sr. letter to his wife Minneford Francis Holt, September 20, 1944

MRS RICHARD L. HOLT 1st Sgt Richard L Holt FAYETTEVILLE Btry "B" 936th FA BN ARKANSAS APO 464% Post Master RFD 5 New York NY. September 20 1944 Italy My Dearest One Will try and write a few lines tonight to try and pass away a little time. We moved to another position late yesterday evening, so I have been pretty busy today getting settled. We usually stay at least two or three days in a place. We get our PX rations today but Lt. Pappas hasent gotten them broken down yet so I dontknow what all we got. I did see some beer tho. Well I get fooled again today, I didnt get any mail. I did get Mothers package tho. It was the candy. I guess the one with the cake and the cheese in it is still on the way. I am afraid you will have trouble reading this small print, but since I have started I will go ahead and finish with it. We were going to listen to the Radio tonight but something went wrong with it so I guess we wont. I hate it to because we get lots of late news over it.. To night is sure a dreary one. It is raining just a fine mist the wind is howling around the corner of the house one would think it was the middle of winter if it was just a little colder. Boy did we ever have a time getting into position last night. It was as dark as pitch and the reads were narrow. These Italians dident build these reads to take anything but a cart over, so you can imagine what a time we had getting our guns over them. I thought sure we would turn a gun or truck over, but we got them all in with out it. I guess it was a good thing, we got some experience back in Lousiana and Oklahoma during our training. We go ever some roads at night that when daylight comes you wonder how in the world you ever got over them. I dont know wheather I could drive with lights at night or not with out them so long. Honey I cant know if I will be able to think of enough to finish this v mail or not, it is getting harder all the time for me to write. Oh yes Honey before I forget it. Did you subscribe to the Caristine hereld and send it over seas to some one. The Chaplin of the Army Group we are attachedto came over to see me yesterday and asked me to write and tell you how much he appreciated it. He said he was going to write you personally but just wanted me to know about it. I dont remember of you ever telling me that you had sent it. I thought maby he had the wrong Holt but he said he was positive that you were the one as the address given to him was the same that I gave him. I guess you will be hearing from him before long. I dont even know his name. Perry Couch got a letter from Ora today. She said she had been talking to you that day and you had gotten five letter in one day from me, maby I will be lucky and get that many from you tomorrow. Well Sweetheart I see I have managed to fill this page out. I dont know how I managed to do it because I havent said a thing that amounted to anything. But you will at least know that I am ok, and I hope this finds you and the youngsters the same. Give my love to all the family and tell them that even tho I dont write that I think of them all real often. With all my Love Sweet P.S. I am going to Rome for Lee a few days for training