183. 12/1/44-France. The Colonel joked about his performance at the party where he went to sleep. 184. 12/3/44-France. Duty Officer tonight. No longer in envelope: picture taken at Cherbourg of a coastal defense gun. 185. 12/11/44-France. Acknowledged to her that he had been at Verdun. Tried another court martial. No longer in envelope: Photographer's card (photos he took of him weren't ready yet); photos of some cemeteries and monuments he took on some of his tours of the countryside. 186. 12/12/44-France. Battery office is an abandoned home with no roof. 187. 12/13/44-France. Pitched some large squad tents and found some stoves to keep the men warm. Thoughts on how America has conveniences like steam heat and how French homes are heated with fireplaces. 188. 12/14/44-France. Went into town to a French shower room (douche room) for a shower. 189. 12/15/44-France. People in town trying to repair their homes. No longer in envelope: photos of the Trench of Bayonets-trench full of men who were buried alive. Also duplicates of Laval, the cemetery at Verdun, and the Shanty Town they built at Verdun. Postmark 12/5/44-Christmas card to Natalie. Postmark 12/22/44-Christmas greetings to Natalie's parents. 190. 12/23/44-France. Moved a lot and seeing some action so hard to write. No longer in envelope: some of the commendations the Battery has received. 191. 12/25/44-France. One page of the letter is burned up! First page was not burned. Envelope and letter are inside another envelope that is addressed to "Mrs. A. Jessey Wolff, Jr." at Natalie's address. Moving through France. Blasted their way through the Maginot Line and are sheltering in a nearby house. No longer in envelope: photo of the monument erected to Andre Maginot. 192. 12/26/44-France. Explanation of why the first page of the previous letter wasn't burnt: mixed up 1st pages and originally sent her the first page of his letter to his brother, Norman. Told her to tear up Norman's page and add this one. 193. 12/29/44-France. Received package she sent containing cookies and orange juice. 194. 12/31/44-France. Drank a toast of the orange juice for the New Year. Marking dates: landed in Scotland 1 year ago. 14 months ago said goodbye to her. 13 months ago left the shores of the USA. Almost 17 months ago they were married by Rabbi Harris. Almost 7 months came to France. Is Duty Officer. Heard Hitler's speech on the radio at "five past midnight." Hitler said that they will fight on. And that "there will always be a five after twelve for Germany." He had no idea what that meant. He is in France, but the people speak German more than French. Shop signs all German names. Staying in a home with a pro-French family. Lots of pro-German spirit in the town. No longer in envelope: cartoon about French latrines and 2 pictures of Verdun.