Sgt Roman F. Klick 36620923
HS 1393 Engr APO 709
c/o PM SF Cal
15 December 1944

Dear Aunty Clara,

Friday



I've got an idea that I'll go see the show "Summer Storm" this evening and in order to put that idea into action I'm typing up this first letter between four and five o'clock in the afternoon. Why I should want to go to see this particular show I do not know and I may even change my mind before the time comes.

Today was a good day for the V-mails. Your letters of the 6th, 7th and the 8th arrived in the morning mail. I will proceed to answer them here and now. Isn't that the way it goes? This one lady starts the surprise party business by throwing one for Mrs Reed and then, even if you want to quit going to those affairs, you feel there is somewhat of an obligation to attend the party of the person who originated them in the first place. That is the exact comment which almost everyone here is making lately, and that is that the Xmas cards this year are not nearly as nice as the ones we used to get. Could it be that the war is even affecting the Christmas card industry? So the Klick's sent out a package too, eh? Well, to be perfectly frank with you, I wouldn't care so much if it was lost just as I didn't worry too much about the package from Aunty Stella that never did arrive. However, the main package which means the most is the one from both you and Aunty Florence. More so this year than before because it also contains those so-hard-to-get overseas bars. That Polish girl with the Brooklyn accent must be rather amusing to listen to because either one alone is bad enough. There should be some sort of law against immigrants being allowed to settle in Brooklyn until they know English. Of course that is only kidding just like anything else that is said about Brooklyn. Did I tell you about the time Moreno got his citizenship papers? He and we said he was now a citizen of Brooklyn. He says the rest of the US is merely the suburbs. But (about being able to correspond as frequently as we do) I guess we are very fortunate. About the only people who get letters faster from overseas are the ones who have soldiers in England. That girl can't have very much hope for her family after all Poland has been through since 1939, can she? The picture "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" will have Joan Blondell as Aunt Gladys and the child Francie will be played by the same little girl who played "Jane Eyre." To me, Margaret O'Brien hasn't enough of the Rommely women to fill the bill although she is probably a better little actress than "Jane Eyre." This war has caused a lot of seeming waste in trying to save and that laundry situation is ample evidence of that.

Well, here I am, back at the letter writing after a five hour intermission which was not according to plan. The time now is shortly after ten bells and I hope to be in bed by eleven. For one thing, I had to go to chow before finishing this page. Then, after chow we had a great big company police call in which everyone had to go down into the "holler" and pick up all bottles and other trash which had been thrown down there by the boys up on the hill. The guys that throw those bottles down there are probably just the ones that don't do the policing up.

Grauel wanted to go down to the basketball court just to play a bit before the show time and I agreed being sociable like. It ended up that he merely put the idea into my head for I beat him down there and was playing away until I was joined by Lewis. By that time a bunch of fellows from B Company started a game going and I was included in on it --- a fellow who had never played a game of basketball in his life before. I do not think I did myself much good by such strenuous physical exercise but I did enjoy myself. There is something fascinating about the game. Bill Grauel finally came down and we traded off taking turns in the game so that neither of us played straight thru like most of the fellows did.

It was time for a quick shower and almost time for the moving picture to go on. I did not stop at the office to finish writing but went right down to the show. The "Summer Storm" was a typical Russian story and, as such, was rather strange as all Russian stories are. In that book I have at home, "Teller of Tales" which is an anthology by Somerset Maugham, he includes many tales by Russian writers and they all have that touch of exotic and forbidden adventure rewarded by a justice both ironic and inevitable. Yet, all Russian stories have the tendency to leave one hanging in air and this one did just that. It is the best picture I have seen Linda Darnell play in to date. Anna Lee has a small part, George Sanders has the main role and is good as usual. But the most unusual part was played by Everett Edward Horton or vice-versus on those first two names. He had his part and played it for all it was worth. A straight part somewhat on the style of his usual stuff but toned down considerably. I was glad I went and now will not go for another two weeks or so or until I feel that I want to go see a show again.

The working day went by passably well with not very much to do which is an experience that has been rather rare during the last several months and I took full advantage of it.

The PX will not get anymore Toddy in until next month but when they do, I sure hope to stock up on it. They did get the Rum Frappe candy bars in again and Bill and I --- the two Rum Frappe eaters of the office --- immediately put in a stock of them only mine are gone already.

It seems that the rotation is really working and the time required is coming closer and closer to the two year mark. The one thing which makes rotation take a bit more than furlough is that a replacement has to come into the battalion before you can be released for you are never coming back. However, when a fellow requests a furlough, no replacement is needed and that it why those fellows leave sooner. Don't you think the furlough is still the best plan? No matter which anyone chooses this coming year, I believe the war will last long enough for them to return back again to an overseas theater and I'd much rather be in the old outfit than to shift around. And, after all, thirty full days at home --- one whole month with four Sundays, Saturdays, etcetera, while they may pass swiftly are still something to look forward to and backward at. By the way, once again a very merry Christmas is my wish for you.

So-long,   /s/ Roman   Roman