The December 2000 American Legion Journal continued its fiftieth anniversary tribute to those that served within the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the Korean Warfare. A two-page presentation of letters from veterans recollected vacation reminiscences from a half-century earlier.
One got here from a former prisoner of warfare who advised of unsuccessful enemy makes an attempt to interrupt the spirit of Individuals in captivity. He despatched in a card from the Chinese language that on the entrance wished Individuals “A Merry Christmas & A Peaceable New Yr” and on the again requested “Why are you … freezing and dying 5,000 miles from residence whenever you belong along with your households?”
Different letters have been submitted in gratitude for media interviews from the entrance that delighted households at residence. And one fight veteran advised how a lot an anticipated authorities examine meant to him and his spouse as they struggled to make ends meet within the winter of 1951.
Card can’t break POW’s spirit
The Korean Warfare was not solely fought with weapons – it was fought with the thoughts. A Christmas card was given to me and different U.S. POWs in 1951 throughout our captivity in a camp on the Manchurian border. I used to be within the POW camp for about six months.
The Chinese language used propaganda just like the Christmas card to attempt to break our will. Receiving that on Christmas, 5,000 miles away from residence, was robust. The Chinese language hoped it will be a morale-breaker, but it surely did not work.
Nineteen of us escaped after we have been ordered to select up new Allied prisoners. A shock artillery barrage disrupted their arrival and gave us a possibility to flee. A number of miles away, we met up with three U.S. tanks and rode out on them.
I went residence after the escape after which to Washington, D.C., the place I knowledgeable officers about POW places and circumstances.
– Calvin Williams, Houston
Thanks, Armed Forces Radio
All of us have our particular Christmas tune that we take pleasure in throughout the holidays. Mine is “I am going to Be Dwelling for Christmas.” Being away from residence at Christmas is tough for anybody, however for a service member abroad in a warfare zone, it may be traumatic.
Christmas was only some days away, and I used to be in a far-off, hostile land known as Korea. I used to be chilly, frightened and lonely. I longed to be residence with my loving household to share the heat and safety of their love.
Whereas shivering in my foxhole, I dreamt of being at midnight Mass and opening the presents underneath the tree with my household. I may style the scrumptious turkey dinner with all of the trimmings that my expensive mom cooked for me. Whereas standing underneath the mistletoe, singing carols with household and buddies and consuming scorching chocolate, I may really feel the tender kiss of my sweetheart on my cheek and the loving embrace of my child brother.
All was fantastic when all of a sudden I used to be shocked again to actuality.
“Hey, soldier, we’re from Armed Forces Radio. Would you prefer to ship a message residence?” One man shoved a microphone in my face whereas the opposite operated the recorder. “Say something you want,” he mentioned. With a cracking voice and tears in my eyes, I spoke to my mom and household.
AFR notified my household that I might be speaking to them on the radio on Christmas. All my household, buddies and neighbors crowded across the radio to take heed to me. It was one of the best current that they had that Christmas. By the way in which, the final verse “I am going to Be Dwelling for Christmas” is “If solely in my desires.” And it was. Thanks, Armed Forces Radio.
– Martin Francis Farricker Sr., Woodbridge, N.J.
As seen on TV
On Christmas 1951, I used to be serving with the seventh Division, thirty first Infantry Regiment, Fox Firm. My buddies and I went to Christmas Mass and have been thrilled to seek out it being served by Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York. He was an exquisite priest. He took time to shake fingers with as many people as attainable.
A number of days later, on New Yr’s Eve, my mom was watching tv and all of a sudden realized she was seeing me and the cardinal. Screaming, she yelled to my father so he may see this excellent present. Seeing her son so many miles away when she was lacking him a lot was one of the best Christmas current my mom may get – or I may ever give.
– Philip Kinsella Jr., Barnegat, N.J.
Shock within the mail
In December 1952, the vacation season forward seemed bleak.
Dot and I had married the earlier January, not lengthy after I returned from Korea, and I used to be now a freshman on the College of Maine. We have been each working to maintain our heads above water – she within the daytime and me within the evenings – to complement the GI Invoice stipend, which nearly lined out-of-state tuition, books and provides.
After reviewing our funds, even counting deposits on the soda bottles we had prepared to show in, we did not have sufficient left over to purchase presents for our households. We could not even afford the postage to ship the presents.
Then sooner or later I obtained an official authorities envelope.
Did the Marine Corps need me again? In any case, the Korean Warfare was nonetheless occurring.
Think about our delight after we opened the envelope to discover a examine for $495. For what, we puzzled? It was fight pay on the price of $45 a month from September 1950 via July 1951. These 11 months tracked me from Inchon to Seoul, to Wonsan and the Chosin Reservoir, and again south to battle the Chinese language within the spring and summer time of 1951.
We purchased some presents and mailed them residence first-class. Dot purchased a maternity costume, and we went for Christmas dinner on the fanciest restaurant on the town. The primary was a necessity, however the final was pure extravagance.
– Norman J. Van Valkenburg, Saugerties, N.Y.
