Pvt. W.D. Johnson 34945847
Detachment of Patients
4314 U.S. Army Hospital Plant
APO 887 c/o Postmaster
New York N.Y.
Paris France
Dec 27, 1944
Dearest Mother & Dad:
I’ve just finished writing Louise to let her know that I had received minor wounds and was convalescent at a hospital here in Paris. I was not hit too badly and will be back in action in a short time. My eye was my worst injury and the doctor has pronounced it ok with no impairment of vision. Today is my first day without a patch over it & I can’t see too well on a/c of the effect of atropine drops which haven’t worn off. So I won’t try to write you all quite as much in detail as I did to Louise today but will try to get another letter off to you soon however I did want to get some kind of a note off today so you’d hear from me direct.
I’ll get a purple heart which will be worth 5 points on the mustering-out plan when the war is over. But I don’t specially want to pick up any more mustering out points in this manner!
I’m revelling[sic] in the good bed, good chow, and good treatment I’m getting. I used to think I fixed my foxholes up quiet homey, but they will seem mean & niggardly when I get back to them after all this luxury! Faith, an tis enuf to ruin a good soldier! Mom, I know you all sent me a box but there’s no telling when it’ll catch me. Anyhow, I appreciate your thinking about me. And I hope you all had a nice Christmas and I hope Macey hasn’t been sent off yet. I’m going to try to write Rip, but I’m still not sure how to write Macey so you tell him I’m thinking of him & tell him not to think hard of me for not writing. And tell him – I repeat – if he can make himself usefull in a job to keep him in the States, so much the better.
Dad I hope all goes well with you & you & Mom hold everything and don’t worry. Remember me to Dixie & Grandma and before we know it the war will be over.
I’ll write you an address as soon as I land somewhere again but in the meantime you might write a letter or two to this address & it might get to me.
Take care of yourselves and remember I’m thinking of you always.
Love always
Dutiful & Obedient
Artful & Expedient Son!
David Jr.