Rec'd on 25 (1) one
letter dated 21 & 22

  C  H  R  I  S  T  M  A  S    D A Y

Dear Aunty Clara:

You should be ashamed of yourself for trying something like that? O, I ought to tell you what I tried first. Well, here I am this Christmas Day with 13 letters to write excluding any letters to you. So what happens? I get 6 items in the mail: 1 postcard from a girl I never heard of (more about that later), 1 postcard from Uncle Jack, 1 postcard from Frank Drews, a postcard from George Hutchison, l letter with clippings from Uncle Joe and 1 letter from you. That is where the catch comes. That letter from you needs prompt and immediate answering and I must let my other 13 correspondents wait while I straighten you out on several points.

First point: I did not say $5.00 nor was it a typographical error. I specifically said you should take $25.00 (twenty-five dollars) from my personal fund and buy yourself a Christmas present with it. It is now positively and absolutely clear, am I right?

Second point: Have you taken out the money for my films? And how much have I left in it if anything? Take a chance and send three rolls of film out at once. It was told to us by one of the lieutenants that beginning Monday December 28, 1942 we would be restricted for the next ten days against making any telephone calls, sending any letters, or communicating in any way or fashion with anyone outside of camp. If this proves true, we haven't many days left at Camp White. It is further rumored that we will move by battalions and by companies. That means the first battalion composed of Companies A, B, and C will move off first and each company will compose a separate troop train.

Third point: I will send you a revised affidavit completely filled out and you will then see what you can do about it. The application has received official approval and has been passed on to Washington Finance for payment to commence as soon as the affidavits are received and I begin deducting it from my pay which, incidentally I didn't do on the last payroll.

Fourth point: Your letter, as I mentioned, came on Christmas Day and was a Merry Christmas instead of a Happy New Year.

Fifth point: I beg your pardon, I was going to bawl you out for still thinking that the telephone call was collect but you probably have received my other letters which explain that it is already paid for (all eleven minutes at a bargain rate).

Sixth point: What kind of Spaniard are you anyway: It is Senor with a whomajigalet over the n and not Senior. And after all these years and especially after those Spanish classes between the Winter and Spring terms of 1941 when I tried to learn Spanish and teach it to you in one week. Have you actually forgotten the language already? I am amazed.

Seventh point: I do not know whether or not I told you but I sent mirrors to (1) Renee, (2) Aunt-Aunt, (3) Mrs. Boyer and (4) Rosana. I guess we will continue to ask questions and get answer the same day or the following day until the end of our letter writing days.

Eighth point: Since this letter is a "personal note" I will write more later on (after I answer my 13 correspondents) and this one (the one later on) will be able to be left on the table for general reading (I hope).

So long,
/s/ Roman
Roman F. Klick Pvt., C. E.

Post Script: In order to keep track of all our letters more efficiently I think we should number them in consecutive order. The numbers of the ordinary letters will be found on the top page and on the reverse side of the envelope in arabic numbers i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. The numbers on the letters I receive from other people and return with my answer will be numbered with Roman numbers i.e. I, II, III, IV etc. That way in case anyone gets suspicious of the numbers there won't be big gaps account of the returned letters which you naturally don't let anyone know about.