The National Infantry Museum: ‘A Hero’s Holiday — Christmas Downrange’

The holidays can be a time for gathering, peace, joy, family, and even reflection — but for heroes, the season often looks a little different. Maybe they are away from their loved ones for the first time or perhaps the season passes by without the opportunity for celebration at all. Remember our deployed Heroes during the holiday season and that it may not be the same festive season for all.

During World War I the Red Cross had many posters calling for action to support the war effort. “Answer the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call” was very successful in garnering support for the nation’s Heroes. This campaign was specifically illustrated to make citizens aware that, while they were enjoying Christmas in the comforts of their homes, young American Soldiers were freezing on the frontlines in World War I. Campaigns like this were imperative to support our nation’s Heroes.

WATCH: Christmas Downrange

For Soldiers stationed at US Army installations across the country and overseas, the dining facilities have participated in the tradition of serving holiday meals complete with printed menu details and special treats. This tradition provides a modicum of normalcy for those far way from loved ones and fosters camaraderie within the unit. Without time or availability to shop, unit specific gifts and greeting cards are often made available to send home or to loved ones for those wishing to participate.

Some deployed Soldiers would have access to dining facilities with special holiday meals available, but for many Heroes fighting downrange supplies were scare. The Korean War was no exception to these realities but the holiday spirit shone through as seen in this Soldier art. Artist unknown but drawn in 1955, it depicts Soldiers sharing a coveted can of sardines and makeshift decorations amid the harsh winter weather of the Korean Peninsula.

And even in the most miserable conditions imaginable our Heroes were able to gift small moments of levity with one another by sharing handmade Christmas cards from POW COL Ray O’Day. These tokens show the incredible resilience by our Infantrymen to find encouragement in the face of unthinkable adversity.

So many moments of the human experience and connections are found within the Collections at the National Infantry Museum. Our Heroes past-present-future have and will continue to foster esprit de corps during the hardest of conditions. With your contribution we can continue to safeguard these treasures to educate and inspire generations of Heroes to come.

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