[New] An extra measure of good cheer

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

Have you ever had those conversations with someone you haven’t seen in a long time and, inevitably, a phrase along the lines of “we need to do that one day” comes up?

That is what it has been like for the past several years every time I would see local resident Steve Harris. I am pretty sure from the first time we met at an event, he mentioned a “Christmas story” he thought I would find interesting from his time in the U.S. Navy. Steve served four years in active service and 20 years in the Navy Reserves.

Each time, we would promise to follow up, but we never did –until this year. Steve sent me a handwritten letter and a copy of a 58-year-old message that still has a warm place in his heart.

As we are a few days from Christmas, around the time this story took place in 1964, I thought I would share with our readers Steve’s story.

In December 1964, Steve, then a 25-year-old ensign in the navy, was stationed at a base on an island in The Bahamas called Eleuthera with about 100 other men as part of ASWFORLANT (Antisubmarine Warfare Forces, Atlantic). At the time, Steve was single and he was informed he would not be granted Christmas leave due to his junior status and married officers being given priority. He was disappointed but it was a reality of serving in the military.

At the start of his watch on Dec. 19, 1964, Steve saw an unclassified message that came in on the teletype and was posted on the command message board. He was so moved by the message that he asked the radioman for a copy that he still holds today.

The message from Vice Admiral C.E. Weakley read: “For all of us Christmas has some special meaning. For all of us there is some little thing that triggers memories of past holiday seasons — a midnight church service, a carol sung with friends, a hot toddy. Whatever this recollection, it belongs to each of us personally.

But, if we stop and think, we realize that the combination of these thoughts is the essence of the wonderful way of life we enjoy as Americans— as free men in a free society. And, we know that what we are doing as Navymen and as members of the ASW team is a vital factor in insuring that next Christmas will be a happy one in the United States and that our children will live and grow up as free Americans to have warm thoughts of the Yuletide season as we have. With the real meaning of Christmas in mind, this is perhaps the greatest gift we can give to our loved ones.

To all in ASWFORLANT and to your families, my very best wishes for a happy holiday season. To those of you who by necessity must be on station, an extra measure of good cheer — and thanks.”

Several days later, Steve was overjoyed when he was informed that he would be given two weeks of Christmas leave after all. It took a space available Military Air Transport Service (MATS) flight from Eleuthera to Patrick Air Force Base; a limousine from the base to Orlando; and another space available flight from Orlando to where his parents lived in Atlanta (he is still tickled as he says he got first class on that flight because he was in his uniform). But when it was all said and done, “he arrived at home in Atlanta, Georgia, where his mother cried and his dog bit him.”

Steve praised the generosity of several HAM radio operators who got a message from The Bahamas to his dad to let him know he was coming home since there were no cell phones and he couldn’t afford the landline calls.

“I didn’t know exactly when, but I would be there,” he said. “When you fly space available like that, you are flying by the seat of your pants.”

I asked Steve why he still cherishes this message so dearly, and he said because it still rings true today.

“I loved the navy, I really did.