411. 12/2/45-France. Camp Baltimore. He came by truck and "was in charge of the second serial of the convoy." After leaving Munich, they traveled to Kaiserslautern for the first day and stayed overnight. They were to have a winterized camp when they arrived, but instead it was a large building with no heat, no lights, no cots, and few whole windows. Women were wandering around and Moroccan soldiers were stealing everything. Clothes were stolen and several duffel bags in the jeeps were slit open and all the clothes taken. Everyone is eating K-Rations but he's eating "ritzy"-items that Natalie had sent him. Then they traveled to Metz and the set up was "swell"-buildings, cots, heat and hot meals. Also Red Cross clubs, shower rooms, ping pong rooms and a theater. 412. 12/3/45-France. They drove into the camp to the strains of "White Christmas" being played over the camp loud speakers. The camp is a huge tent city. More details on the process needed to get ready to leave for home. 413. 12/4/45-France. More about getting ready to leave and the currency exchanges. 414. 12/5/45-France. Men are getting checked for VD. 415. 12/6/45-France. They are supposed to leave on Dec. 11th for Marseilles. They will be in 40x8 cars on the train. No longer in envelope: photos, but he didn't say of what. 416. 12/8/45-France. As Battery commander, he's in charge of the "pistol box" which contains any foreign weapons the men have collected. He has around 140 foreign pistols in one large box that takes four men to carry. "This box must be in my room on the boat and travel with me as the government will not accept the responsibility for them. Then when we arrive in the States, I have to give them out to the men who turned them in." Different ships at the Port to return them home: Liberty ships which are just large enough to handle one Battalion of about 570 men, where as the Victory ships can accommodate about three Battalions. His separation center will be Camp McArthur in Los Angeles. Not numbered: Christmas card to Natalie. 417. 12/11/45-France. Camp Baltimore. Date delayed to the 13th to put coal stoves in all 40x8's and coaches. They are scheduled to ride in coaches, which sounds good, but they usually don't have any windows in them. They should arrive at the Port Staging area on the 15th and board the ship about the 17th. The ground is frozen in the Camp and there is a shortage of coal and wood for the fires. Not numbered: 12/12//45-France. No longer in envelope: some postcards showing the interiors of some of the houses in Germany. Not numbered: 12/17/45-Marseilles, France. Spent three days on the train, which was an old German 3rd class one and "all beat up." Should board the boat tomorrow morning at 11:00 am. The boat trip should take about 14 days, then 5 days by train and a few days for processing. He will be on a Liberty ship named "James Hoban."