The White Falcon


The White Falcon - 25.12.1942, Page 6

The White Falcon - 25.12.1942, Page 6
6 THE WHITE FALCON OUR FORCES - ALWAYS ALERT Published by and for the American Forces, under the super- vision of G-2 Section. Managing Editor, T/3G. Gene Graff; Asso- ciate Editor, T/5G. Josgph T. Koren; News Editor, T/5G. George Bartholomaeus; Art Editor, T/4G. Harrison Standley; Wire Edi- tor, T/4G. Donald J. Watson; Circulation Manager, Pvt. Carl A. White. All photographs are by the U.S. Army Signal Corps un- less otherwise credited. This paper has been passed by Censor and may he mailed home for one cent. CHAPLAIN’S CHALLENGE. "All about is death and decay” — may only seem so. In every dark hour there has always come a message of joy and hope. Such was the despair of the Wise Men, whose only hope was the Star of the East, and gladly they brought gifts to the new- born King. A pall of gloom hovered over the lonely shepherds on the slopes of Bethlehem until the stunning, but welcome, angelic tidings of great joy. Having gone to see, they rejoiced, praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen. The Messiah still reigneth in the hearts of men, and the dawn of joy and hope is just breaking, which will be welcomed by the oppressed as good tidings of great joy. Christmas Soldiers celebrate their birthdays, perhaps unwisely at times, but always well. It is a significant date:— determining the time when a man can enlist, when he can marry, and when his bones begin to creak it indi- cates the allotted three score years and ten. The birth- day of the Bethlehem Babe some nineteen hundred years ago is of even greater significance because upon that date hinges the dawn of a new era, one of pro- gress and light. When Jesus was horn, Christianity started on its world- wide march. Christiandom lay in his cradle and the angels of joy now sing of his birth throughout all lands as truly as they sang to the shepherds in the Judean hills. The waves of gladness that will soon spread to the rim of the planet started from that cave in Bethle- hem. From its rocky ridge gushed the stream that is now flooding the world. Men acknowledge this every time they date a letter or check the calendar to mea- sure their length of service. Relatives and friends ac- knowledge that birth when they speculate on your pro- bable return. We acknowledge it when we pick up the morning paper or magazine and look at the date. It is a most promising hope to the world when we note that in this year of our Lord, 1942, we count time from his birth. Potentates and kings and dictators have passed into oblivion but down through the centuries the im- portance and influence of the Bethlehem Babe has grown with the years. The Nativity Event has aroused the greatest and nob- lest emotions which, in turn, seem to elevate and tran- scend all others. Artists have mixed their hearts’ blood with their colors and given (lie world such inspiration it will not soon forget. While we acknowiedge in many ways the greatest event of history, Christmas time gives occasion for a spirit of love an<J good will. It is emphasized in the singing of appropriate carols. Even the hardest heart is moved to a spirit of giving and good will when HOLY NIGHT, SILENT NIGHT reaches the ear. Other music and songs may be enjoyed on occasion, but there is no music that brings more joy and sunshine than that heard at this season of the year. Great souls of the past have transmitted to us wond- erful blessings. The Birthday of the King surpasses them all for joy and hope. The observance should be 'in keeping with the mission of the Christ Child, the spirit of giving all, that the world might have life, light and truth. Chaplain Ralph W. Rogers. Yardbird's Lament When the folks at home let their imagination run wild, Christmas presents are likely to develop into choice titbits of news, just as they did in two re- cent cases .... A Corporal receiv- ed a handsomely wrapped pack- age from a young nephew, and immediately visioned bottles of this-and-that, etc.... He was a mighty chagrined soldier when he chanced a peek at the con- tents, and found color crayons and paper cut-outs! .... The oth- er recipient of an amusing parcel, a Private, by the way, will never have to worry about his health in the. future .... That is, not unless he heeds the jibes of his buddies who can’t stop laughing. .... He was gifted wifh nothing less than a "Commando set!” .... It includes vitamin pills, a bullet- proof vest — and, of all things, a “Junior Commando Badge!” A Model-T Sergeant, one who’d rather sleep than eat, is sporting a crimson-hued face these days. .... He plunged into bed the oth- er night at an early hour and prepared for a sleeping session to beat all sleeping records.... But his buddies came home about midnight and disturbed him un- til he had to admit he was awake. .. Someone in the place boomed, “Get out for reveille.” .... The local Rip Van Winkle climbed into his clothes, laced on his leg- gings, and dashed for the door. The most forlorn doggie here finally has been found .... He “bucked” diligently all week to have his rifle spic and span for the weekly inspection .... When he finished polishing the piece, there wasn’t a chance in the world that the CO would “gig” him .... But the CO had no way of knowing the sad s^ck grabbed the wrong rifle just as the in- spection began, so he was hand- ed a week of KP for "not clean- ing his rifle.” Pfc. old covets rola 'JA& JnquihinQ. EapoJit&h. (The Inquiring Reporter join- ed the Christmas rush long en- ough to ask what Yule gifts the men liked best.) “Boy, ah don’t know why mah buddy sent me a flaming red tie, unless he was afool’n me,” drawled Pvt. Li- nuel Rusk, 22, of the Air Corps. Rusk, a native of Stanford, Tex., added, “All think ah’l save it to go with mah “zoot suit.” David .1. Mohan, 28-year- Engineer, the vict- recording his sister, a nun in Pittsburgh, and her third- grade pupils pre- pared, wishing him “A Merry Christmas.” Da- ve, whose home is in Braddock, Penn., was a structural steel worker as a civilian. of “tootsie rolls” from his best girl and a carton of cigarettes from an un- known admirer run a dead-heat in the estimation of Pvt. Harold Schmitt, 28, Headquarters’ PX custodian. “The people at home know I like cheese — so I can’t under- stand them send- ing a package of jellies, nuts and wafers,” retort- ed Pvt. James R. Riccio, 24, who hails from Jama- ica, N.Y. “But it didn’t make any difference to the fellows who ate everything,” Riccio sadly added. A bundle

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The White Falcon

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