Although the conflicts and their locations are different today, many of our soldiers, sailors and airmen will not be home for Christmas. Please pray for them as they serve their country, that they will one day be united with their loving families.
Home for Christmas
Late Summer 1944, while flying missions in Europe during World War II, Raymond’s wife and his family began to inquire about where to send his Christmas presents. He wrote a letter instructing them, … put my presents under the tree. I’ll definitely be home for Christmas. He looked forward to being reunited with his beloved wife Helen and seeing his daughter Ann Marie for the first time. Alas, it was not to be.
Ray, your story reminded me of several high school friends who never made it back.
They were in the ASTP army program in college. They were transferred from their schools, and sent to fight in the “Battle of the Bulge” with only several weeks of training. They died fighting there. It was recognized by college recruiters as a terrible loss of the brightest students from the 1943-44 high school classes who had qualified.
I was in the US Navy and missed Christmas a few times!