Dear Folks, It Doesn't Seem Like Christmas Time, Dec. 16, 1957, 38th Parallel South Korea, Love, Robert

Pfc. Robert C. Patton

Dear Folks,                        16 Dec 57

  I guess Earl is sweating
out being a fireman. That
will be a pretty good job if
he can get it. If I were him
I would start saving that
paycheck because it's nice to
have something to fall back
to. It doesn't seem like
Christmas time to me.
Here in Korea all days are
just about the same.
  Our basketball team has
won 10 games so far and
lost only one. I don't think
we will go to Japan over
Christmas, but I do know
I will get to go on pass.
  I got the fruit cake, haven't
ate it yet. Guess I'll
wait until I'm in
the Christmas spirit.
  I guess I will go out for
the track team when
it starts, if I made the
basketball team I should
be able to run track. I
will just about try
anything to get off of
guard duty and stay out
of the field.
                     Love, Robert

Dear Folks, Our Basketball Team Has Won Eight Games And Lost None So Far, December 8, 1957, 38th Parallel South Korea, Love, Robert

Pfc. Robert C. Patton

Dear Folks,                     8 December 1957

  I got the ear plugs
and underwear. I don't
want you to subscribe
to the papers for me. I
get them all in a bunch
and they are a lot
of trouble. If you can
I wish you could fix
it up where I can
get only the Sunday paper.
  I am glad Ala finally
woke up and got a Coach,
maybe now they will
start to win. I might
not have been home for
this Thanksgiving but I'l
sure be home for the
next. I put my money
in the soldiers deposit this
month, and I didn't know
we might go to Japan.
If we go over there during
Christmas I want to
enjoy it. Is Earl
working or what?
  That tornado must have
really been tough. I wonder
if it hit Allamels house?
When does Johnnie Frank
go to college? I am sure
he will like Alabama,
but I hope he joins
a Fraternity because it
will help him a lot.
  Our basketball team has
won eight games and lost
none so far. All I
do now is play basketball
but one day I have to
go back to guard duty
but as long as I can
think, this is one boy
who is going to try his
best not to do anything
while in the army. We
had our 2nd snow this
week. That's enough to
last me for 5 years.
It sleeted first then
snowed. There was just
a layer of ice under
the snow. Do I still
have that big new 1950
Plymouth? There is only
one boy over here from
Birmingham, he is from
Woodlawn. He played football
for them and with Florida
State. His name is Don Powell.
We both go home
the same time just as
soon as papa san starts
planting his rice. All
his rice paddies are
frozen now.
  Well I hope that I am
not as old as I feel
and that 7 1/2 more months
will go by fast.

                        Love, Robert

Note: Johnny Frank and Earl are his Cousins.
 C.P.

Every Good Gift

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."    
                                                                     James 1:17

Cream Cheese And Crackers

  This is an appetizer that can be brought out and served on any occasion. Donald Robinson Robertson, My Cousin, especially likes snacking on this when we are waiting for My Mama's famous Cornbread Dressing to be taken out of the oven at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. He always complains that I don't put enough of "the stuff" on it- but then he's always complaining about something.

Cream Cheese And Crackers

1 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened
2 T hot pepper jelly
1 stack Ritz crackers

Dear Folks, The Last Letter Might Have Seemed A Little Bad, December 1957, 38th Parallel South Korea, Love, Robert

Pfc. Robert C. Patton

                                                  December, 1957
My Dear Family,
  The last letter might
have seemed a little bad,
but after one year of being
in the army things become
a little hateful, people (sargents) telling
you what you should do.
Living with all kinds of
people like our nice
Korean friends. I will
tell you, if you are paying
high taxes, you should check
into Korea because a hell
of a lot of American money
is spent into this country for
nothing.
  Well a funny thing
happened last night. We
went to play a basketball
game, it's pretty cold now,
well the gym had no
heat. We won the game. I
played some, scored 4 points. Ha!
We came back to our
living quarters. It was
still early so a couple of
us decided to go get a beer.
As we went along I looked
up and said it was going
to snow. Sure damn enough
it snowed. The first time of
the year. It only snowed for
10 minutes, the ground was
covered. It's still on the
ground. The ear plug got
here and it's really great
have patience be home
soon in Aug.
  I think the basketball team
will go the Japan for the
Christmas holidays, so I
want you to send me
$75. I know it will make
a dent, but I will replace
it.
              Love, Robert

Send the letter to
PFC Patton
US53281197
Hq & Hq Company
1st Battle Group, 7th Cav
APO 24, S.F Calif