Richard Lee Holt Sr. letter to his wife Minneford Francis Holt, written the night of February 8, 1945

My Darling One. Thursday Night-Feb. 8. Well sweetheart here I am just like I promised you I would be. I know the letter I wrote this morning was very short and dident amount to much. So to-night while every thing is quiet a peaceful I am going to see if I can't do much better. To begin with I dident get any mail to-day. And I don't suppose I will after getting so much mail all at once. It seems that our mail comes in spurts now. The Capt has gone to Rome on another leave. And I rather expect I will be going there again my self before to long. There isnt much I care for there anymore, but there is a lot [less] up here. We still arent doing very much and the time sure dose drag by. To-day or rather this after noon. We had an inspection by Gen Jay & Staff. The photographers for the York Magize & the Stars and stripes were here also. It was a kind of an inspection & ceremonie at the same time. The Gen Pulled the laynard on the 125000 ch round we have fired since coming into Combat. Incidently we have about 413 days of combat duty. That is we have been in the front lin