Dad has been gone since 1997. I have a box of stuff that he gave me from the war (WWII) Pictures, pay book, dog tags, DD214, Yank chewing gum wrapper, ect. But one of the most valuable things to me is a Christmas card. My Dad was in the Pacific during the war, the card was sent from the Murphy Bros in Spalding, Ne. They owned a package store there. I believe they sent cards every year to GI's from the area. It is post marked Dec 8 1944. It has a 3 cent Victory stamp. The front of the card says Christmas Greetings. On the inside of the card there is a photo of the Murphy Bros and several women from Spalding. They had been out pheasant hunting and the women are all holding pheasants and shotguns.
The card reads in print "Well we didn't get the wish we made last year...That you would all be home this Christmas. But we hope that it will come true in 1945." In very nice hand writing it says " Hi Thomas! Here's wishing you the best of the season's greetings!" Signed by the Murphy Bros.
I have read this card a hundred times if I have read it once. My Dad had not been home since March of 1942 and had been overseas since June of 1942. I have often wondered how alone he must have felt this time of year. I have read this card to my kids every year. They are 5 & 7 it is some thing they look forward to. My son ask a lot of questions about Grandpa and when he was in the Army. I hope my kids value this card as much as I do.
Here's wishing that all those serving now will be home safe for Christmas in 2006.