Through An ‘Old Timer’s’ Eyes
By Howard ‘Mac’ McDonald

Christmas brings out the best in most folks and the spirit of the season can be seen and felt just about everywhere.

During the Muslim holidays we refrain from interrupting their worship, but the same respect will not be shown to our troops. Our military will have to be on guard.

My family and I have lived in four different countries and we have some fond memories of holiday times far from our families. The year 1951 was my first Christmas in the Air Force and I was going to school at Boston University. With money sent from my folks, I was able to fly home. It was a great happening for me, as my first son was born just seven days prior. That is one Christmas gift that we still have today.

Christmas 1952 was spent in a one- room cabin in Mountain View, Alaska. It was crowed, as ten of my friends showed up for dinner. Every one of them had a toy for my son. The next year, we moved to a brand new lowrent government apartment. The same ten guys came again bearing gifts and we had a real celebration.

In April 1954, son number two was born. Because of the death of my father, I got stationed at Pittsburgh Airport. With the loss of Pap, it was not a very happy Christmas, but the rest of the family was there.

By 1956, I was assigned to France and permitted to take my family with me. My family arrived at the train station on Dec. 23. After 21 days bobbing around on the Atlantic Ocean and two days on a train, my punch-drunk wife and two very tired little boys and I were together again.

Our furniture would not catch up with us until two months later. I got two G. I. cots, and enough bedding to keep us warm. We got some toys for the boys and they had a great time racing their toys in that empty house. After all, Christmas is about being together and we survived.

In 1957, several of the guys from my flight came for Christmas dinner. The kids made out like bandits, as they all came bearing gifts. The boys loaned some of their cowboy things to the French kids. Galloping around the yard, I can still hear the French kids saying, “Vouz kaput,” meaning “I got you.”

In 1959, we moved to Hahn A.B. in West Germany. A new base, new friends and here came Christmas in Germany. The traditional German tree ornaments were fancy and beautiful. We had three boys now and they fared pretty well in the gift department.

By 1960, we found ourselves at Knobnoster, Missouri. One of the guys in my flight had a friend who had this beautiful Dalmation and he was shipping out. My buddy talked us into taking the dog, “Lady.”

We had our one-of-a-kind German ornaments stored in a box in the basement, where Lady decided to dine on them. She ate them, glass, wife hangers and all. This was her demise.

In 1964 we went to Taiwan. Our landlords were well-to-do Christians. This was the first time in my Air Force career that we were subjected to maintaining a social position. Christmas there was a whole new ballgame.

Later, we always took leave during the holidays and went to my sister’s. In 1970, my oldest boy joined the Air Force and in June 1971 I retired from the Air Force and came to Emporium. Our middle son graduated from CCHS in June 1972. He turned down the prep school at the Air Force Academy and enlisted.

Our first Christmas in Emporium was a good one. We had this silver artificial tree, decorated with blue bulbs.

Sonny Abriatis gave my son a Dachshund puppy named Maxwell P. Smart. Maxwell didn’t think much of the tree. When we got up Christmas morning, he had undecorated it. I still have the before and after pictures.

Christmas is a special time of the year and the memories that it produces sometimes bring a tear to my eye. I hope that the new year brings an end to the war and that everyone in this universe has a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with blessings.