• Sunday-What'sUP December 24 - 04:55 am

Anyone seen a carrier pigeon around this morning? ;>
Charlie & Edie, hope your anniversary was a day to remember! I remember all 56 of ours.

THE FOLLOWING LINES ARE FROM CHARLIE, UNABLE TO POST DIRECTLY THIS MORNING:

Please copy the entire content of this email now and paste it into the comment field on today's Cam Notes, where I can see you already have posted. Just submit it like you usually do, because I am unable to.

As you can see, we were able to upload the pictures, over a slow satellite at the Bed and Breakfast where we are staying. But a strange anomaly of this connection is it's inability to allow interaction, so I could not post this note, from Tim Collins, which tells about the picture:

Taken 70 years ago this Christmas in Paupa New Guinea by my father. Dad (Harry M Collins). He was born and raised in Hurontown and entered the Army in the Spring prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor that December. He eventually ended up in New Guinea where he took this picture of a Christmas candle light service in the jungles there - 70 years ago in just a couple of days. Notice the "comfortable" church pews - I should never complain about a hard pew again! Has there ever been a Christmas without servicemen and women serving their country in far away places? Silent night. . .

Tim Collins

There is a rule, don't look up at a flock of pigeon's flying over your head. "HAPPY SUNDAY".

Glad I could help, Charlie, even in a round about way. :-)

How great that Charlie was able to do that through you, Shirley.

My heart is with all of the men and women who are serving our country during this season, and every season. But it's especially hard to be away from loved ones during the Christmas season. I pray for your loved ones here at home, who are missing you all terribly.

Good story and a good job to all involved! Now let me add a question:
What does the T on his uniform stand for?

Alex
That is a WWII US Army rank of Technician Grade 5. He would have been addressed as corporal.

In the Vietnam era to present, he would have been a Spec. 4. Corporals in the modern era were rare and usually limited to the Artillery. The Tech and specialist ranks are a means to gain rank without actually entering the command structure via the "hard" ranks of the sergeants.
During Christmas 1944, my Uncle flew out of the Dole-Tavaux field in France. His squadron did decorate the mess hall with a Christmas tree potted in a discarded French toilet. Humor in Uniform?
While they were south of the Bulge, they did fly many sorties on that Christmas day when the weather broke. The Germans were demonstrating in force throughout the Alsace-Lorraine in order to hold the US 7th Army in place. Clear skies on Christmas was a welcome gift to the Infantry.
We can't imagine what the folks on all fronts went through then or are going through now.

Thanks for the info, guys. I knew that someone here would know.
And to all the vets and those currently serving...Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Just shows you that Christmas can be celebrated
wherever you are! Thanks for this great story and
pictures.

My dad,Martin Wenberg, was taken prisoner on Christmas eve.Dec. 24 1944. Battle of the Bulge. He was released when WWII ended in 1945.
I have all the telegrams & letters that were sent to my mom by the Dept of US Army in the weeks following weeks.

Great picture of my uncle Harry who was married to my dad's sister! Thanks for sharing Tim!