Postmarked December 30, 1945

Shanghai, China
Dec. 29, 1945

Dear Folks,

Got your letter of Dec. 8 and was sorry to hear about Ralph and Dotty being sick, but I'm glad they're O.K.

Christmas has come and gone and there was not lack of spirit even tho we are on the other side of the world. We had the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings as you can see by the enclosed menu. In that respect we fared better than the arny over here who had to be content with chicken.

We are now looking forward to a wild and woolly celebration on New Year's Eve, in which the liquor will flow like the proverbial water. I'm glad I don't have shore patrol that nite.

It is really bitter cold here, and coal is so scarce that none of the bars or nite-clubs have any heat. The only way to keep warm is internally.

I took some more pictures yesterday and will send you some prints as soon as they are developed. by the way, is Ralph still interested in Stamps? If so I might be able to get some Chinese issues for his collection.

I'm glad to here that everyone is getting home, and wish I say the same, but you no doubt know all about the current situation here in China and until conditions become normal wee we probably have to stand by here.

With all my love,

Paul

Postmarked December 24, 1945

Shanghai, China
Dec. 23, 1945

Dear Folks,

Got your X'mas package which you mailed in Oct. and I don't have to tell you the the delicacies will be appreciated. I also received packages from the Franks and the Smiths.

Had shore patrol again the other nite and it was plenty cold. We were assigned to a jeep and you now how little protection from the wether they give. However, we made a few stops during the night in various bars and nite clubs, and had a drink here & there and that helped fortify us.

I shot the roll of film you sent me and am enclosing a few prints. I managed to pick up a couple of rolls of Kodak film. They cost me $1.50 a roll but that is less than what some guys are paying. It's simply a case of supply & demand.

The points are coming down to 35 the 15 of Jan. and 34 the 1st of February. At that rate they should continue to come down to 33 the 15 of Feb. and 32 the 1st of March. On the latter date (Mar. 1) I will have 33 1/2 points and thus should be eligible, unless they decide I am essential, in which case I may be stuck for another 90 days. However, there is no use crossing bridges until we come to them and a lot can happen between then and now.

I haven't had any letters from you for some time but I am hoping to hear from you soon

With all my love,

Paul

Postmarked December 14, 1945

Shanghai, China,
Dec. 12, 1945

Dear Folks,

Got your letter of Nov. 30 yesterday, so I guess the mail service is speeding up. I also got your package with the camera and I lost no time in making use of it. I hope you can get some ore film, as there is very little available here and the prices are fantastic ($2.50) to $3.00 a roll.) for Kodak or Agfa film If you can get any, wrap one or two rolls and send them by air mail as they will get here much faster that way.

It's getting colder here eery day, and we may see some snow yet this X'mas. I'm still going ashore regularly. You've probably read about Shanghai liberty in the newspapers and know what a wild time the boys are having over here.

Don't worry about the stories you read about ships being fired on. There have bee a couple of incidents, but they happened further up the river where the communists are in control.

Glad to here about George getting home for X'mas. Wish I could say the same, but we'll celebrate here as best we can.

That's about all I can think of, so I close

With all my love,

Paul

Postmarked December 10, 1945

shanghai, China
Dec. 9, 1945

Dear Folks,

still here in Shanghai, and am still having myself a good time. By now I know the town pretty well, but a person could leave here all his life and still not know the half of it. There is nothing like it in the world, a combination of western industrialization and eastern backwardness. The main thorofares are modern, but on the side streets and back alleys, you see the real China. The influx of free-spending American sailors and soldiers has brought a boom to Shanghai. Nite clubs and bars have mushroomed overnite. It's like an invasion every nite when the liberty parties come ashore. It's like the old time navy when sailors came ashore to carouse and drink and raise hell in general. Fights are frequent, especially between Americans and Limeys. It's an experience I'll never forget as long as I live.

I had Shore Patrol duty the other nite in the "Metropole Ballroom," a sort bar and taxi dance hall. We broke up a couple of fights and took care of a few guys who'd had one, two, several too many, but we didn't have any serious trouble. On that kind of duty you've got to keep your eyes open and catch the trouble s soon as it starts before it gets out of control. The manager of the place fixed us up with a steak dinner and a few drinks during the evening, all on the house. They have a lot of respect for the shore patrol here, even more than they have for the local police.

As far as the ship goes, everything is pretty much the same. I got the package of super-duper science magazines the other day. They were pretty water-logged but I dried them out and now I have reading matter enough to last me some time.

All my love,

Paul