UNUSUAL HAPPENINGS WILL MARK NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1990

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Future historians will record the months of November and December 1990 as having had events of unusual importance.

American military forces prepared for conflict in the Persian Gulf, where President George Bush and his wife Barbara went to have Thanksgiving with some of the 230,000 Americans in and near the Saudi Arabian desert. Through the miracle of television, Americans at home were able to see the president moving among the troops, shaking hands with as many as he could.

Just before Thanksgiving Day an election was held in Britain between the Conservative and Labor parties to decide who would become the next prime minister. Margaret Thatcher fell short of the support she needed to continue as leader of the Conservative Party and as prime minister after serving both her party and the government for a total of 15 years. She decided to resign rather than continue additional balloting. As prime minister of Great Britain she served longer than any other prime minister in Europe.

Here in Southeast Missouri people had been preparing for what was forecast to be a major earthquake along the New Madrid Fault 48 hours either side of Dec. 3. Iben Browning, who projected the quake, sent many people into a state of unrest. Some were packing their treasures to avoid having them broken; others were side-stepping the issue.

Having troops overseas at Christmas time is nothing new for this country. Since World War I and World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, plus several disturbances that could have triggered a war, military forces have been called for overseas service. In all of the wars the men were never forgotten at Christmas. Families, friends, a loved one, organizations and war department have provided presents and celebrations. Entertainers such as Bob Hope have gone overseas to deliver cheer to and provoke laughter among the men and women serving their country so they would be happy, not sad, at Christmas.

Members of the military also planned Christmas events for themselves.

One such observance took place in southern Italy when the big invasion began during World War II that soon brought to an end the battles with Hitler's German Army and that of his ally, Italy.

This Christmas observance was hurriedly put together by some of the nurses and doctors in a medical unit not far from the front lines. A small evergreen was found and trimmed with tissue and a few candles.

It was "lights out" for safety behind the lines. The group sat around the tree singing carols, while overhead the blue-black night sky was peppered with silver stars. There were no gifts or Christmas fixings at the front; only a bottle of wine. They prayed for peace and raised their glasses to wish the Baby Jesus a happy birthday. It was simple but so meaningful that the participants would always remember that Christmas in Italy.

Another overseas Christmas was recalled by the late Rev. Joseph H. Wagner, who, as a boy, lived in Jackson where his grandfather and father operated Wagner Bakery on South High Street. After World War II began he was shipped by the Navy to Okinawa as a chaplain. Four of his Jackson friends were also shipped to Okinawa: "Grub" Short and Bernard Schaper with the Navy, and Roy Savers and Shelby Brown with the Army.

Wagner remembered traveling in his Jeep around Okinawa with a small Celeste organ in the back of his car, accompanied by Tamio, a 16-year-old native boy who loaded and unloaded the Celeste and carried the hymnals into the services. Tamio, with his bright smile and happy disposition, dressed in patched, blue trousers and a faded, brown jacket that made him appear more interesting than had his clothes been less shabby. He wondered what became of Tamio when the war ended and where was he now.

The war brought many changes to the island.

He recalled the delicious food the Navy bakery made. The men called it the "Waldorf of Okinawa." The cakes, pies, and other goodies made him remember the family bakery in Jackson and the tempting things his mother made for the family to eat.

When his four Jackson friends got tired of their war rations, and could get passes, they came to see him and fill up on "Waldorf Okinawa" food.

Service was held outdoors under the stars on Christmas Eve. Although the war had ended and he was serving as minister of the Sikeston Methodist Church, he would still hear the voice of the Christmas congregation in Okinawa singing, especially one special carol:

"The wind in the olive trees softly did blow

On little Bethlehem long, long

ago.

The stars in the heavens shown

down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep

on the hay."

There are no evergreens growing in the Saudi desert. But through another 20th century miracle, airplanes will bring evergreens from the States to the military forces far from home because Christmas trees are an American tradition that puts a seal on a perfect holiday celebration.