195. 1/1/45-France. New Year's Day. They sent turkeys to the front line troops. 196. 1/2/45-France. They are in a "hot spot". Lots of firing, but not like at Averanches or Verdun. They call it a Spam ribbon "because they have been fed so much Spam". Actually, ribbon denotes service over seas in various locations. Stars denote major battles or operations declared by the War Dept. Enlisted men get points for each battle star, but the officers don't. It is 10 degrees outside. No longer in envelope: Photo from Time magazine of the beach landing in Normandy. Also photos of scenes of British streets taken by Chaplain Fichlin and his driver. 197. 1/3/45-France. No longer has "Little Shrimp" jeep. It went back to the Battalion. He is still waiting for a promotion. Got a battle star for Fontainebleau. They were the first heavy equipment to go across the Seine at that point on a pontoon bridge. Some information on the French family and home they are staying in. 198. 1/6/45-France. Staying with a family. The daughter's name is Peggy and she is 11 years old. She is teaching him German and he's teaching her English. She gave him a "Free French cross." 199. 1/7/45-France. Written on US Army Stationery that Natalie sent to him. Very fancy. He has a sore arm from shots. Saw the dentist and he has an infected tooth. 200. 1/8/45-France. It's snowing and the wet soaks through his shoes. Combat troops get five packs of cigarettes and candy a week. Girls will sell themselves for either, and even he has been propositioned. No longer in envelope: Paris Amusement Announcement from a British paper. Also clippings and a comic strip "Tomorrow the World." 201. 1/9/45 - France. Had ice cream tonight that was made in Luxemburg. Had a snowball "fight" with Peggy and her friends. 202. 1/13/45-France. Tooth still infected. 203. 1/14/45-France. Tooth still infected. Peggy hit him with a snowball while he was in bed. 204. 1/15/45-France. Saw a USO show "5 Pips & A Jerk." No longer in envelope: cartoons and a joke. 205. 1/16/45-France. No longer in envelope: clipping on mail situation and some cartoons, one about a chart room. Will be sending home a package with a German helmet, a "Jerry" bayonet, some professional photos of Verdun, Laval and Cherbourg. And he's sending her his fountain pen for repair. The Battery has 3 battle stars: Normandy Invasion, trip through northern France and the Battle of the German border. 206. 1//19/45-France. Had the flu. Peggy wrote a letter to Natalie, but she put her address on the letter so it couldn't be sent. 207. 1/20/45-France. Interesting story about one of the French family's older daughter's imprisonment at a labor camp in Germany. Dad was promoted to 1st Lt. Colonel requested and orders came from Patton. No silver bars there so he is going to see if solder will stick to brass. Asked her to send him 6 pairs of silver bars. He's hoping not to be sent to the Infantry now that he's a 1st Lt. No longer in envelope: article from Stars and Stripes on that topic. 208. 1/21/45-France. Dentist put mercury on his gold bars to make them look silver. Not a permanent solution, but at least something. 209. 1/22/45-France. Comment on how Germans treat our servicemen who are prisoners compared to how well the US treats the German prisoners. French family had a little party to celebrate his promotion. 210. 1/23/45-France. Red Cross Clubmobile was there with coffee and donuts. 211. 1/25/45-France. Lots of inspections. 212. 1/27/45-France. Problems with mail deliveries. Misses her. 213. 1/28/45-France. Surrounded by battle noises and flashes, but they aren't active unless a plane flies overhead. Enclosed in envelope: Cartoon. 214. 1/29/45-France. Got some silver bars. No longer in envelope: French newspaper. 215. 1/30/45-France. Snowing. No longer in envelope: photos of "D-day from Dover". "In the horizon you can see the boats coming from Scotland and you can also see the smoke screen set down to screen the activity from the French coast." Also a photo of a German cemetery in France. One photo is of a group of men in front of a building-he is in the back of the group. It was taken at the American Cemetery in front of the Visitors Building. Also pictures of American Cemetery at Thiancourt, France. 216. 1/31/45-France. Going to see Metz tomorrow.