Mehlem, Germany,
December 25th, 1918

Dear Home Folks:

Christmas night and I want to write a line home just to tell you how we spent our Christmas. We woke to find old Mother Earth clothed in a fresh pure coat of snow, the first of the season. Shaved and cleaned up and had breakfast and 8:30. At 9:30 we had a church service followed by the Sacrament and after the service Tait and I walked up to Rolandseck an old ruined castle about a mile from here up river. From the high ground here one can get a splendid view of the Rhine valley which was indescribably beautiful this morning with the snow everywhere and the low, drifting clouds resting on the higher peaks of the Seven Mountains. Got back about noon and had some music until three o'clock which was the hour for our Christmas dinner which was a splendid success. We hired a big hotel dining room and the whole battery sat down at once to a splendid meal. Will send you a menu card later. There is also a very good souvenir that contains a list of all our positions and I'll send that later, too.

Now we're sitting in Mrs. Kassner's living room and having a very enjoyable evening. Now I must say goodnight as everyone is talking. Will write again in a day or two. Love to all and I hope that you may have had a happy Christmas and wish you all a bright new year, the larger part of which I hope to spend with you.

Your loving soldier son, Harold