Casimir's Christmas Card from Japan

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Our final saved card from the Bowmansville Binder is a Christmas card from Gene's brother Casimir, second son of John Peter Zdrojewski and Julia Mostkowska Zdrojewska.  He was in the Air Force in the early 1950s, stationed in Occupied Japan.

So here we have Joseph and Mary seeking lodging from the Innkeeper in Bethlehem:

No donkey!  Horse only.
No donkeys in Japan?
I've never wondered; have you?

Verso, we see an inscription, translated for us by Katy Ehrlich - Thanks, Katy! - as

"All happiness and good fortune for Christmas. Meaning...may you have all  happiness and good fortune at Christmas."

Katy points out that "the Japanese Christmas message is obviously rendered from English. Why so? It's not only the fact that Christmas isn't so native to Japan, but also the expression. It was a bit awkward to say "all" or "every" happiness...they wouldn't have done it quite like that..so it's not a native phrasing in Japanese."

"Sincere wishes, Gene, Clara, Juliane,& Martin,
for the happiest of Christmas
and New Year to come.
Casey."

I'd sure like to have some photos to put up of Uncle Casey during his time in the Service.  The one below will stand in; it has a lot going for it.  It's ten or a dozen years earlier: let's say about 1940.  Gene and Casey play catch for the photographer (JPZ, no doubt) in the back yard of the house.  Is it May Street?

Their winter jackets are plaid wool, the kind they call a "Mackinaw" in the Midwest.  Best of all, for me, are Casey's short pants, woollen or heavy cotton longjohns, ski socks, and galoshes with buckles.  You read about these things in books all the time.  Well, here they are in visual evidence, right in the family.

There will be a later story about Gene in galoshes like this, also.

But we are not here to talk about galoshes!  No, no, it's teacups. Teacups are the thing. Casey sent these or brought them from Japan for Gene and Clara.  They are of delicate hand-painted porcelain, and spent many years in the dining-room cabinet in the Marilla house.

And they are only an inch and a half high,
and the same across.
See my roll of stamps?

Presumeably the little banner once read,
"Souvenir of Washington, D.C."

Dragon teacup.

"Made in Occupied Japan."

I'd be grateful for information to fill out the Casimir Zdrojewski chronology.  Year of birth?  High school, and year of graduation from high school?  Dental school, and year of graduation?  Years of Air Force service, and postings?  Photos from Service years are particularly lacking.  Please send what you have that you would like put up.

Julie