Christmas For the Boys At War-- Part 3: "Adopt a Yank In Sick Bay"

The Tribune didn't repeat the "Adopt a Yank for Christmas" program in 1942, noting that, "For security reasons, the war and navy departments have forbidden the release of names of men in the armed forces."

But in 1943, the Tribune launched a new campaign, the "Adopt a Yank in Sick Bay" at the end of November.  Gifts and  letters would be directed to service members receiving care in hospitals in the Chicago area.

The total  number of Yanks in Chicago area hospitals was secret, but the Tribune learned there were a lot of them.  The response, however, was tremendous and by Christmas the Tribune reported, "More than 30,000 hospitalized soldiers, sailors, marines of this war and veterans of World War I will receive gifts."

--GreGen