Posted by Francis Kent on December 25, 2013, 3:36 pm
It is, appropriately, a glorious day here in Southern California -- clear skies with the thermometer nudging 80 degrees. With the Christmases of long ago in mind, I extend the warmest of holiday greetings to all you old sailors who survived the war and the slings and arrows of life in the hectic 20th century. Be well, and be happy. -- Fran
Re: Christmas
Posted by Gerald Burr on December 27, 2013, 4:29 pm, in reply to "Christmas"
I was in Murmansk Russia on Christmas day of 1945. We had strict orders not to give any food even garbage to the Civilian women who were running the town because all the men were fighting in Stalingrad. I and a friend of mine were walking through the town and met a woman with 2 little children. My friend had a fresh apple with him and I had an orange. We gave these to that woman for the children. She started to cry and gave us each a hug. They hadn't seen fruit in years, and only got one meal a day at a soup kitchen. How thankful I was that night thinking of the gift that made this ladies day. Gerry Burr
Re: Christmas
Posted by Gerald Burr on December 27, 2013, 5:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Christmas"
Ignore this message, I had the wrong year
Re: Christmas
Posted by Gerald Burr on December 27, 2013, 4:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Christmas"
I was in Murmansk, Russia on Christmas day of 1944, we were not allowed to have any personal contact with the women in this city, they were running the town as all the men were at Stalingrad fighting the war. On Christmas day and friend and me were walking though Town and met a young women with two little children, my friend had a fresh apple and I had an orange. We we were not allowed to give the women any food, not even garbage. Well we gave the apple and orange to this women and she began to cry and gave us a hug. We both had tears and it was the best gift we had ever given. These 70 years later the memory is still as strong as ever.