Christmas For the Boys At War-- Part 1: The Tribune Does Its Part

From the December 24, 2017, Chicago Tribune by Lara Weber.

"As long as wars have been fought, troops have sent letters home from the battlefield -- homesick missives and pleas for loved ones to remember them.

"By the time the United States entered World War II, though, air travel and modern communications made it much easier for Americans to send gifts and letters to their family, friends and neighbors serving in the armed forces -- and the Chicago Tribune stepped up to make it easier yet.

"Three days after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor drew the U.S. into the war, the Tribune announced a plan for readers to 'Adopt a Yank for Christmas' and send holiday gifts to the troops."

"'Let him know that he wasn't forgotten,' the Tribune said, 'when he gave up his job, put on his country's khaki, and went away where there are only strangers and other lonely men -- where there is no familiar west side, or north side, or south side.'"

--GreGen