- Historical Date: December 27, 1940
- Location:Camp Beauregard, Louisiana
Photo: Company G Street, Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, Dec. 1940
Stay Behinds at Camp Have Yule Observance Too
Gather Mistletoe and Trees; Big Dinner, Programs, Sports Trips Planned
Camp Beauregard La., Dec. 27 –With two-thirds to three-quarters of the troops of the 126th Infantry home for the Christmas holiday, it just doesn’t seem the same here at Camp Beauregard. Only 28 men are left in “G” company’s street, and about one-third of them are on detail each day. On Monday some of the fellows searched for Christmas trees and mistletoe for decorations for the mess hall. Mistletoe is plentiful here in Louisiana. It can be found in the tops of oak trees sometimes very difficult to reach. Good Christmas trees are rarities around Beauregard. The only ones available are the pine trees with the long needles. The best trees have to be shipped in from the north.
Lt. Fazakerley, Lt. Broner and some of the non-commissioned officers of Company “G” tried to make it a happy Christmas for those unable to go home. This is a time when friendship is very dear. They know how difficult and lonely it is for everyone. Each is in a tent by himself, no one to talk to, just thinking how nice it would be to be back in Muskegon.
On Christmas day we had a special Christmas dinner and a party combined, all the men bringing their wives and girl friends to the dinner. We drank a toast to the boys that went home for the holidays.
Goes to Hospital
Pvt. Harvey Alexander had a run of hard luck. Two days before he was supposed to start for Muskegon he became sick. He refused to report for sick call for fear that he would not be allowed to go home. As a result, Pvt. Alexander awakened Dec. 20 with a temperature of 103 degrees and was immediately rushed to the hospital in the ambulance. He hopes to be released in a few days and continue to Muskegon.
Pvt. Fredrick Schmid who is also in the hospital with a broken jaw, expected to have dinner with Company “G.” the medical officer planned to release the brace holding his jaws together, long enough for him to eat.
The men of “G” company left behind, were sorely distressed on learning that the Christmas vacation was only for the men who went home on passes. When the K.P.’s, and the regimental detail was taken out of the company, there were exactly two men available in the company street.
William S. Hart, acting first sergeant in the absence of 1st Sgt. John M. Groulx, received a package from an admirer in Muskegon. Including several gifts, Sgt. Hart received a little green Christmas tree about five inches tall.
Men remaining here are suffering no hardships from the cold at night. One can borrow a half dozen blankets from the rest of the bunks in the tent and be as snug as a bug in rug.1
The Army tried to make Christmas as enjoyable as possible for those who didn’t get to go home to Muskegon. Undoubtedly those who stayed behind were dejected at having to spend Christmas so far from home. Of course the didn’t know that it would be the last Christmas before Pearl Harbor changed everything for them.
Also worth noting in this article is the reference to the solider with the fever who had to go the hospital in an ambulance. Medicine was not as advanced as today, and fevers could be dangerous. There was also mention of how no one is cold because they can use the spare blankets of the men who are gone. Remember that they are sleeping in tents. At least it was in Louisiana and not Michigan!
- Unknown newspaper, probably Muskegon Chronicle
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