Christmas Greetings From Gen. Stilwell Christmas greetings to all the officers and men of the Command. Most of us will have large holes in the toes of our Christmas stockings this year, but judging from your work over the past 10 months, I know you can take it. That and a lot more. You have set up a fine record of conduct and performance and your folks back home may well be proud of you. We haven't a lot to work with as yet, but we'll get it ultimately, and meanwhile we have the backing of the best people on earth. That ought to make us feel good even when things are going all wrong. They count on us to make the Japs hard to catch, and personally I think we have just the gang to make that possible. Next year I trust you will all be back where Christmas can really be merry. - Joseph W. Stilwell Xmas Cheer From General Wheeler At this significant Yuletide Season I desire to express to all officers, enlisted men and civilians of this command my sincere greetings and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The combat units of the field forces are looking for the Service of Supply for vital materials, services and all necessary items of equipment for both combat and individual efficiency and comfort. It is my firm belief that their past confidence in our ability to deliver the goods in the correct quantities and on time may be continued. - R. A. Wheeler Merry Christmas From Gen. Bissell This Christmas for many of us will be the first one spent outside of the United States and away from our loved ones. The hope and desire of each of us soon again to observe the holidays on American soil have been brought closer to realization by the wholehearted participation of every member of this Air Force in the task at hand. In extending to all of you my best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I couple with them my sincere appreciation for your efforts and loyal support. I also take this opportunity to send the season's greetings to the American personnel of the other components in this theater. - Clayton Bissell TO A BOY IN THE SERVICE Christmas packages are coming in by the carload. It is only natural that generals should get their share. Eyebrows were lifted at Rear Echelon Headquarters however, when one came in addressed to Brig. Gen. B. G. Ferris and clearly marked in large red letters: "TO A BOY IN THE SERVICE." IMPORT DUTY REQUIREMENTS When you mail your packages home now under the new "duty free to $50" setup you must enclose in each package the following certificate signed by the sender: "I certify that the enclosed articles are bona fide gifts from a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on duty outside the continental limits of the United States and are entitled under public law 790 to free entry." Don't send a package a day, Chums! |
The chief wanted an assurance in writing that ultimately the American would leave so Meyer wrote: "Roses are red, violets are blue, when the war ends we'll skidoo." Although he didn't understand a word of it, the chief took the scrap of paper and beamed complete satisfaction. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And a gripe you have to convey Just stop, and think just a little, Of what others are doing today. Of the boys who are waiting in Ireland, To make history, be modern Crusaders; To fight their battle and win, or die, To clear out the Nazi invaders. Of the fliers out in China Who've been fighting for over a year, Out away from these comfortable stations, Why, they'd even like to be here Of our Regulars there in China too, Don't you reckon they'd give their pants To be able to go to a picture show, Or attend a Friday night dance? While we're on the subject, just think of the boys Who fell at Pearl Harbor and Wake, Of the brave men of Guam, and Solomon Isles, Do you think they bellyached? I know you will say, "The guys in the States ----- ," Well I happen to have this down "pat," They are all in Louisiana or Georgia, Now what could be worse than that? No I don't love this place either, But it could be worse you know. So until our future looks darker, Let's "thumbs up," and say, "Good Show!!!" Let's leave the griping for others, The :Brighter Side's" what we'll discuss, We'll do our part smiling and cheerful, Back our combat troops fighting for us. Boy, I've got a wife praying, and hoping. And a baby too, waiting for me. Don't you know that I'm lonesome and blue, guy, For that twosome across the sea? Then I think of the sweethearts and mothers, The wives and children, their faces, Who are safe from bombings and strafings, Because we are here in these places. So I'm thankful that they have their safety, Even tho I don't have it so hot, Buy a guy that does have so much, and still gripes, Should be taken out and shot. We've got a lot to be thankful for, That we haven't got everything's true, But the best that we have to be fighting for Is that glorious "RED, WHITE, AND BLUE!!" "We live in the presence of history" And our winning, or losing climaxes The very hope of a brand new life For the peoples oppressed by the Axis, We'll win, for we're in the right, and I know That the most of us will be returning To our loved ones at home, and the many things, For which we are all now yearning. So let's "get our nose to the grindstone," Let us do our "bit" as we should, 'Cause, buddy, if you'll just stop and think, "You ain't never had it so good." Then when the battle is over, And the victory we have won, We can look back, and see, in that huge war machine, What our little "bits" have done. - Sgt. Aubrey D. Dickey. And sailed away to a distant land To fight for what's right with all my might For it is with Liberty we stand. I heeded not your trembling smile Your sorrowful look or tear filled eye But looked beyond in hope and faith That the Lord would spare me by his grace. And take me back to that sacred land Where men are free and in demand To build our nation strong and true For while Old Glory waves Red, White and Blue. Be strong in prayer, in hope, and faith For there is a battle we have to face And we shall fight to that bitter end, That many men be free again. - Pfc. Edward H. Getz. |
From New Delhi to old Kunming What's the ballad we're all humming? Is it a war chant, some battle tune, Or is it a love song, with moon and June? It's none of these, you will agree Once you hear our mournful plea. (Chorus) "What, you're just a Pfc.? Tell me, what can the matter be?" "Come my friend, you surely know Our greatest trouble - No T/O." "What, you're still a plain T/4? By now I thought you'd have still more." "It's still the same ole tale of woe, Same old trouble - No T/O." What made Bonaparte lose his health? What made Hitler sneak in stealth? What was the trouble at Valley Forge? Don't take my word - just ask George. From the office to the mess hall, "No more stripes? Get on the ball." But you'll hear, where'er you go, That plaintive cry - "No T/O." - Pfc. Joseph A. Nigro. Colonel, I had the news last night - my squadron ordered home. By Transport plane to the U.S.A. no more will I get to roam. The squadron is assembled, the news they all now know. But let another take my place. Command me not to go! I've served in China 'near a year, from Burma to the wall. I have none other job than this, nor any life at all. Last night I did not understand, but now the hour draws near. That calls me to my native land I feel that land is here. Here where men say my name was made, here where my work was done. Here where my dearest friends are laid - my buddies more than one. Here where time, custom, grief and toll, age, memory, service, love Has rooted me in China's soil, And how can I remove. You take the hard-paved streets that wind thru dull New York. There, in old Times Square, you'll eat with knife and fork. You go where battle ribbons are worn, but will you ere forget. The scent of coolies in the sun, or rice fields in the wet? Let me work here for China's sake - at any task you will. A plane to crew, mechanics train, or even troops to drill. Just any 'drome (I know them all From Tibet to the Coast). Encompassed in by paddies . . . Let that be my post. Colonel, I come to you in tears, my squadron ordered home. I've served in China 'near a year, What should I do at Home? I've given China all I had - my health, my soul, my mind. I cannot leave it all behind. The Hell I can't. When do we leave? - Lieut. M. A. Fontanella. |
Till one October afternoon But there wasn't any lull The day Japs tried to spread ruin. The call at two that day "Twenty-seven bombers headed this way." So run for your posts, and get ready to scrap! Here, at last, has come the Jap. Here they come, high in the sky In perfect formation, to do or die. Their planes were shiny Their drone was great They began to lay Their eggs of hate. The bombs shone too And whistled shrilly When the first one hit It scared us silly. There booms another Closer still If the next one don't get us They never will. Crump - that shook us badly But it missed! We all thought gladly We should have been a little calmer But hell, you can't fight a high bomber. But now's your chance to be a hero "Get on your feet, here comes a Zero." Unhook your trigger and fire that gun And try to sink that Rising Sun. If you miss him the first crack Get him when he's coming back Pour that lead into his side And try to end his little ride. As one by one your buddies fired You knew that they had not retired So fire at will, Let 'em rip One of us is bound to stop that Nip. Two or three had come to strafe But they didn't stay. It wasn't safe And they never got back, we found out later Japan is just a second-rater. We swatted them like a mosquito They gave their all for Hiro-hito. Fires raged, and harm was done For which we blame the Rising Sun. Some ships; Transports were bombed And huts were razed And Natives killed And men were dazed. But all of this was for the best Men on duty had stood the test And tho' the bombing brought no joys It separated men from boys And those who had a streak of yellow Could no longer fool a fellow. We all were scared, we will admit But a miserable few were ready to quit And those who should have been our match Played hide-and-seek in some tea patch. But stay in the tea, for all we care Stay in the tea and out of our hair And when there is another raid We'll fight on without your aid. And when there's victory to arrive at Buck Sergeant, Corporal and Private Will not have a soul to thank Who happens to hold a higher rank. - Pvt. Mike Schneider. |
|