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STAFF pPublication Officer, NATOUSA Lt. Col. Egbert White hEditor Capt. Robert Neville .Business Manager Capt. Robert J. ChristensonOfficer in C'.arge Lt. William H. ListerManaging Editor Sgt. Harry WatsonSgt. Robert B. Me Jut 3 re, Sgt. Jim Harrigan, Cpl. Harry Shershow, Sgt.Ray Reynolds, rue Georges Mercie, Casablanca; Telephone; Beacon 62.Yank About TownArmy Christmas . . •Candy and toys weren't the only items distributed for Christmas.Chaplain Patrick Fay, these past few da^s was often seen carryingbags of flour on his shoulder, laboring under a heavy box of canned goods, driving about town with a jeep and trailer and loading and unloading items. He was as much a real Santa Claus as will ever bo seen in North Africa.Though food was distributed liberally, if it were not for the efforts of the soldiers, it might have been a bare Christmas. If the soldiers hadn’t dug into their pockets to giyc up part of Ptheir personal candy ration, if many of them hadn’t donated packages which they received from • home, if the soldiers hadn’t opened their big hearts, the children wouldn’t be quite as happy as they are today.Twenty-five separate organizations were visited for Christmas. The list of organizations included orohanages, hospitals, churches, dispensaries, old folks’ homes and homes for the blind. About 5,000 children were reached over the past few days and those kids were made as happy as they probably ever will be.The Patronage of St. Louis, an orphan asylum, was one of the places where children’s parties were the headline feature of the day,Festivities at this particular orphanage began with singing and prayer, the children raising their high voices in perfect unison and harmony. A group of soldiers sang ’’Silent Night” to bring the preliminaries to a close. Then, Chaplain Fay, in a solemn voice, announced that Santa Claus was due to come through a window.The children became quiet and stared wild-eyed at the wonderful window through which a miracle was supposed to come. Suddenly, hundreds of small voices shreiked in glee—coming through the window was Santa Claus in his traditional white beard, red suit and bagful of toys. Spirit ran riot for awhile at the party as the children did everything but mob poor Santa.After Santa’s arrival toys and candy were passed out and the children were so happy that if they got another shot of Christmas cheer they would have exploded.At the conclusion of the party, the Mother Superior said to Chaplain Fay, We didn’t expect Santa Claus to visit this patronage this year. But he paid us his usual visit, this time in the guise of American soldiers. The children will all pray on Christmas Day for the sale return of ail their American ’’Johnnies’, who have been so good to them.19Navy Christmas ... /Barrels had been placed at all the Navy camps and for several weeks the water-line of toys and candy rose gradually until it reached the overflowing point in time lor the parties.There were cakes, ice-cream, toys, Santa - Clauses, food, carols, stage presentations, glee clubs, choruses and Christmas trees. There was the feeling among the children that these American sailors, who were playing Santa Claus to them, were the greatest guys in the world.Impetus wjas given this big Navy project by a series of posters which were sent down from Algiers by Commander White and which were displayed at all camps and stations ’’Let’s Make This A Real Nt.vy Christmas”, said the posters—and a real Navy Christmas it was.Carrying the brunt of the Christmas projects was Lt. T. E. Kerwln, senior .Catholic chaplain for the Oran Naval Area. Ensign John L. Sullivan contributed greatly toward the success of this program in his capacity as Naval Recreation Officer. The climax of the entire Navy Christmas program is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon when over 700 children will arrive by truck, jeep and wagon to join the sailors at the gigantic party ^t Arzew.ARC ChristmasInformation received from Mr. Taylor M. Simpson, field supervisor for this part of North Africa, reveals that the ARC, too, has been busy, for Christmas.Its greatest project was the distribution of Christmas gift boxes to all the patients in the hospitals. Beyond that, the ARC went out to units, which are isolated to bring' some Christmas cheer there also. . Soldiers who, because of their distant location, would not have been able to come to town to join the many Christinasprograms and to take part in the mai also. . The boys in those Isolated unitsIn town, grand, and glorious .parties for the children have been staged at the Empire Club and at the Officers’ Club on Blvd. Clemenceau where the prize give-away items Were the many dolls which. officers, ARC workers and nurses . pitched in voluntarily to stuff,, dress and paint up. Parties have been' staged at other ARC dubs, and they have all added up to a grand time. *Otherst seems as though there wasn’t a unit in town or in the field t -didn’t contribute something towards making the children happy . While GI’s were playing Santa Claus in their camps, the WAC contingent, here was playing Mrs. Santa Claus by entertaining 85 orphans in a large party-held yesterday morning at the barracks . . . Many late contributions of candy have come in for the Christmas fund for the children . . . Christmas in thia~ area receives official participatation when Christmas-tree lights are turned on tonight atPlace Bastlle in front of Grand Hotel at 8:30. Carols will he sun a by GI’s and WAC’s.UsWell, it’s been a swell Christmas. All you soldiers, sailors,seabees, and all other American personnel should rightly feel proudfor giving the local children a Christmas which will always betreasured by them. Someday, you will be leaving these hills andwhen, you do, feel assured that you have left behind the greatestmonument to American influence—the gesture of peace, the act ofgiving, the symbol of friendship, the true spirit of ’’Peace on earth, good will towards all men.”We, the members of the staff 1olt;u the children of North Africa in thanking you for your kindness and in wishing you the greatestMerry Christmas vou’ve ever hadl And n.c a mt.io nmhor eotri
Newspaper Details
Oran Stars and Stripes
Oran, Oran, DZ
Fri, Dec 24, 1943
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Carol V.
CA, USA 14 Apr 2021
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