morning by the strains of band music and raised up to listen as the 301st F.A. and led their outfit down to the docks to go on the transport. How strange it seemed to be there and listen to that splendid band playing. Whenever I hear that “1st Cavalry March” I’ll think of this morning as I lay there on my bunk trying to decide if I was dreaming or awake I got my Xmas box from home, handkerchiefs, Gum and candy and oh how good it seemed to get it. The candy is sure good and the gum makes Life more like home while the handkerchiefs are just what I needed. Gee I hope we get orders to move soon. Sunday Dec 29th 1918 Went on pass yesterday down to Brest together with Gray, Lonanger, Kirtley, Staugohr, Pitman and Bowersox. We had a chicken feed at a French dump then had our pictures take and took a trip thru the old castle of Brest which has quite a history having been built in the year 1500. The guide told us many stories of prisoners being put to death and kept in Solitary Confinement in the dungeon of the old place which made it a very interesting trip. We had dinner at the “Y” cafe and then had a motor truck ride down the coast to a place called Finistre I think where the “Y” people were putting on an entertainment. They had a program and dance that