[Decorative letterhead showing USS Prairie ship with cartoon sailors, one saying "Hey! Yenne's Got a Package!" Another labeled "ADMIRAL"]
U.S.S. PRAIRIE
14 DECEMBER 1944
DEAREST MARY,
I'LL SEND THIS LETTER HOME, CAUSE I FIGURE THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL BE BY THE TIME THIS REACHES THE STATES.
TODAY THE FINEST GIFT THAT SANTA COULD GIVE TO A SAILOR ARRIVED. IN FACT, NOT ONLY DID IT BOOST MY MORALE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT IT SEEMS THAT ALL THE OTHER MEN SEEMED TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT. THE BASEBALL WASN'T IN MY HANDS FOR THREE SECONDS UNTIL SOME BALL-CRAZY ENTHUSIAST GREEDILY SWOOPED UPON IT AND WAS TOSSING IT AMONG THE SIGNALMEN ON THE BRIDGE. THEN THE HUNGRY SAILORS BEGAN TO MINGLE AROUND-THAT GENERALLY ACCOUNTS FOR A LOT AFTER APPEASING THEM THE COOKS WORKS HAD THEIR TURN AND TWO OF THE MORE CONCIENTOUS ONES STARTED IN ON A GAME OF CHESS. IN DESPERATION I WENT AROUND TO MY VARIOUS SHIPMATES AND MADE A COLLECTION OF MY PRESENTS. FINALLY EVERYTHING GOT BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE AND NOW OF THE YOUR SWELL GIFTS ARE RESTING COMFORTABLY ON ONE OF THE RECEIVERS WITH A TRIPLE GUARD WITH FIXED BAYONETS. I WISH I COULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL CHRISTMAS TO OPEN THAT BOX, BUT THERE IS NO PLACE TO KEEP BOXES SINCE SPACE IS SO CAREFULLY RATIONED AMONG THE CREW. ANY WAY CHRISTMAS IS NOT JUST THE RECEIVING OR GIVING OF GIFTS- THERE IS A LITTLE MORE TO IT, IN FINDING, AND THE REAL TEST COMES ON OCCASIONS LIKE THESE. THIS IS THE SECOND TEST I'LL BE MAKING SINCE ENTERING THE NAVY.
INCEDENTALLY, I READ 'THE FEATHER MERCHANTS' THIS AFTERNOON. IT WAS A SCREAM. SO ON I'LL BEGIN ON WILLY SHAKESPEARE. HE'LL REQUIRE STUDY.
'NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART' WAS THE MOVIE ABOARD LAST NIGHT. SCREWIEST THING I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME. IT TOOK PLENTY OF THOUGHT TO FIGURE IT OUT- ESPECIALLY WHEN I NOT HAVING TO THINK MUCH OUT IN THE PAST MONTHS. TONIGHT I SAW 'IN THE MEANTIME, DARLING' - PRETTY GIRL BUT THE STORY -WELL.......
THIS LETTER REALLY INTENDED TO THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS PACKAGE, MARY. BELIEVE ME, IT DOES ONE A WORLD OF GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS SOME WHO WILL GO OUT OF THE WAY TO MAKE IT MORE PLEASANT OR BEARABLE FOR ANOTHER. AS ONE OF THE FELLOWS SAID "YOU'VE GOT A SWELL SISTER YENNE" I AGREED WITH ALL MY HEART AND WITH A GOOD DEAL MORE.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU, AND EVERYBODY AT HOME HAVE A SUPER SWELL CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY SEASON. I KNOW I WILL, AND SO MAKE IT BIG.
LOTS OF LOVE,
Bud
[Notation on envelope area:]
150-POW
5-M
Can't Wk