Subject: FDR Christmas Message 1944-- Tell Obama we were a
Christian Nation
Subject: President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Christmas Message - Christmas Eve
1944
(Delivered by a Democratic President)
I receive this news
letter each month about a B-17 Bomb Group that flew out of Moleswoth, England.
It is always interesting, sometimes heart breaking. I’m sending this along
mainly because President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Christmas Message to the American People -
Christmas Eve 1944 leaves no doubt we were and always have been a
Christian Nation. Lp
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Submissions of 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) related stories and articles are most
welcome.
December 23, 2012
Volume IV, Issue 12
www.303rdBG.com
HAPPY CHRISTMAS !
Christmas 1944 at Molesworth
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Christmas
Message
to the American People - Christmas Eve 1944
It is not easy to say
"Merry Christmas" to you, my fellow Americans, in this time of
destructive war. Nor can I say "Merry Christmas" lightly tonight to
our armed forces at their battle stations all over the world- or to our allies
who fight by their side.
Here, at home, we will celebrate this Christmas
Day in our traditional American way- because of its deep spiritual meaning to
us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because
we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this
tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace and Good
Will.
But, in perhaps every home in the United States,
sad and anxious thoughts will be continually with the millions of our loved
ones who are suffering hardships and misery, and who are risking their very
lives to preserve for us and for all mankind the fruits of His teachings and
the foundations of civilization itself.
The Christmas spirit lives tonight in the bitter
cold of the front lines in Europe and in the heat of the jungles and swamps of
Burma and the Pacific islands.
Even the roar of our bombers and fighters in the
air and the guns of our ships at sea will not drown out the messages of
Christmas which come to the hearts of our fighting men.
The thoughts of these men tonight will turn to
us here at home around our Christmas trees, surrounded by our children and
grandchildren and their Christmas stockings and gifts-just as our own thoughts
go out to them, tonight and every night, in their distant places.
We all know how anxious they are to be home with
us, and they know how anxious we are to have them- and how determined every one
of us is to make their day of home-coming as early as possible. And – above all
– they know the determination of all right-thinking people and Nations, that
Christmases such as those that we have known in these years of world tragedy
shall not come again to beset the souls of the children of God.
This generation has passed through many recent
years of deep darkness, watching the spread of the poison of Hitlerism and
Fascism in Europe-the growth of imperialism and militarism in Japan- and the
final clash of war all over the world.
Then came the dark days of the fall of France,
and the ruthless bombing of England, and the desperate battle of the Atlantic,
and of Pearl Harbor and Corregidor and Singapore.
Since then the prayers of good men and women and
children the world over have been answered. The tide of battle has turned,
slowly but inexorably, against those who sought to destroy civilization.
On this Christmas day, we cannot yet say when
our victory will come. Our enemies still fight fanatically. They still have
reserves of men and military power. But, they themselves know that they and
their evil works are doomed. We may hasten the day of their doom if we here at
home continue to do our full share. And we pray that that day may come soon.
We pray that until then, God will protect our
gallant men and women in the uniforms of the United Nations- that He will
receive into His infinite grace those who make their supreme sacrifice in the
cause of righteousness, in the cause of love of Him and His teachings.
We pray that with victory will come a new day of
peace on earth in which all the Nations of the earth will join together for all
time. That is the spirit of Christmas, the holy day. May that spirit live and
grow throughout the world in all the years to come.
Lieutenant Colonel Donald R. Smith
Meade County, SD Veteran of the Month
May 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Donald R. Smith (retired) served from 1944-1947 in the U.S. Army Air Corps and again 1951
to 1974 in the U.S. Air Force.
He flew 34 missions over Germany as a copilot in a B-17 bomber as a member of
the 303rd Bombardment Group / 427th Bombardment Squadron out of Molesworth,
England; to include infamous raids over the heavily defended cities of
Merseburg and Ludwigshafen, Germany.
After returning to the states, he was assigned as a Maintenance Officer on
numerous aircraft types and also flew with the Hurricane Hunters out of
Keesler, Mississippi. He currently resides in Blackhawk, SD.
303rd BG Veteran Marv Edwards
Grand Marshal of the Branson, MO Christmas Parade
Marv
writes: Christmas 2012 brings joy as I think of each of you and what a great
life this is! I miss Lou but she will always be with me and our memories are
comforting.
I
was a celebrated veteran this year! Jane arranged for me to be taken up in a
B17; Complete with TV and newspaper interviews. The flight was something else!!
The
local bank honored me with veteran of the quarter and I was Grand Marshal of
the Branson Christmas parade. It was a treat to ride in a car after marching
and carrying the flag for many years.
MOST UNIQUELY POSED CREW PHOTO
submitted by Valerie
Garneau, grand-niece of Charles Garneau
FINIS A. BRUMBELOE CREW - 360th BS
(crew assigned 360BS: 27
Oct 1943 - photo: Rapid City, SD 19 Aug 1943)
(Back L-R) 2Lt Finis A.
Brumbeloe (P)(WIA/POW), 2Lt Donnell H. Marsh (CP)(POW),
2Lt James R. Groves (N)(WIA/POW), 2Lt Charles D. Garneau (B)(KIA), S/Sgt Peter
J. Kiebish (E)(POW)
(Front L-R) Sgt Howard
S. Payton (RWG)(KIA), Sgt William C. Steele (BTG)(KIA),
S/Sgt Harry V. Hosso (LWG)(POW), Sgt William R. Perryman (TG)(POW)
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