Christmas in France, 1944

[ashetlandpony]

Sixty-four years ago today, from somewhere in Allied-occupied France, Mother's wartime husband, 1st Lt. Lawrence Fitzpatrick, U.S. Army, sent this hand-drawn Christmas card V-Mail home to his new wife. Soon would come Bastogne, then sudden death in Alsace, but in early December 1944, Larry Mike had not yet encountered the horrors of war. This drawing of his quarters depicts a peaceful scene not terribly unlike the Montana of his youth, which he would never see again...




click image to enlarge


I'm very glad that I got to know Larry Mike better during this past year. Now I wish it hadn't taken me so long. I would really have enjoyed meeting his surviving family. I'm afraid it's much too late for that now...