During the previous six months, the division's soldiers, including my father Frank Sempa, had fought their way from Omaha Beach through the hedgerows of Normandy to the French port of Brest and pierced the Siegfried Line.
Throughout December, the 29th Division's front was "Quiet," meaning that there were no large-scale combat operations in their sector, but artillery was fired back and forth across the Roer, and German warplanes occasionally bombed the 29th's sector.
The War Department's official history of the 29th Division in World War II noted that for the division's soldiers "It wasn't a bad Christmas" in 1944.
In my father's second letter on Christmas Eve, he told his parents that "Things so far are quiet on X-Mas Eve. Just finished decorating a X-Mas tree and it sure does look good. Of course surroundings aren't the best here in war torn Germany but we are making the best of it. Before the night is over the guys intend to sing a few X-Mas carols. Tomorrow is just another day in this war but that certain something will be there in everyone's heart." He concluded this letter with a Christmas wish: "Hope today and tomorrow are happy days in your lives. Rejoice in that we are all enjoying good health though circumstances do not permit a reunion."
On Christmas Day, the soldiers of the 29th Division were treated to a turkey dinner, which my father noted included gravy, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and coffee.
The 29th Division responded to those appeals with what the division's official history called "An effective serenade by artillery."
The brief Christmas interlude for the 29th Division did not last long.
Merry Christmas!
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