Dutchie Darling . . . Love, Bob
	A Love Story © 2021 Patricia Jean Patten Evans All rights reserved

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By early fall 1945, the war is over in both Europe and the Pacific. Bob knows that it is only a matter of days or weeks, until he will be sent home. He explains in several letters the point system that the Army used to triage soldiers home. There were points for each battle, months abroad, rank, and marital status. He sends her the articles from Stars and Stripes that outline the formula. Although he wants to get home as soon as possible, he is trying to be a realist. He prepares to be gone for one more Christmas. He shops and plans for gifts for everyone in the family and has them shipped home in early September. He writes about how he is going to decorate his room and even plans for a tree. Christmas was always important to Bob. He loved the decorations, the presents, everything. He always did his own Christmas shopping and his own wrapping. Last summer, when my sister and I went to Sweden to visit our Aunt and cousin ( Willard's widow and daughter), my cousin, Kissy, remarked on her memories of Christmas with Uncle Bob and his gifts to her as a little girl.

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