T2020.102.466

UNITED STATES ARMY SCHOOL OF MILITARY AERONAUTICS AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, N.Y.

Ithaca, New York December 6th, 1918

My Dear Alice:

So I missed all the excitement of the big blow!

I wish I had been there, for I always did like excitement, and we have not had any here at all. There have been a couple of fires, but it is too far down the hill and they all come in the night and we have to get passes to go down and we don't give a hang for Ithaca anyway.

Probably the snow, which has been falling all day, would give you girls greater pleasure and more excitement than all the big wind.

What do I want for Christmas?

Reall,y I don't know that there is any thing except to be remembered and I know you will to, [do], that. Just to know that someone in the world cares enough to think of me and wish that I have a happy Christmas.

I wish I knew where I am to spend that Christmas. We men here all hope to be out of the Army by then, but we are sure of nothing.

Since the Armistice was signed, the soldier mail has fallen off a great deal. I think everybody expects the soldiers to be home right away, but you can write to me here just the same for the letter will follow me up wherever I am.

Our teacher of French left today so we will have no more trouble twisting our tongues about hard words. We are glad of it.

I'm glad that the "flu" is far enough over to let you go to school again. I did get along without a trace of it, though I was exposed to it many times. I guess that you will take it if you are subject to it and can't take it if you are not and I first was not one of the people Mr. Flu was looking for.

I am glad to hear that your mama is able to ride in the "Cadillac Eight." It has been a long siege, hasn't it?

Yes, we had turkey for Thanksgiving, and that was not all, either. They tell us that our dinner cost over $5.00 a plate. I know that we all filled up for once.

With lots of love for pretty brown eyes, I am Uncle Fred.