MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM GERMANY - November 25, 1952

Dad sent this Christmas card to Mom from Germany in 1952. The envelope is postmarked November 25th, 70 years ago. Note the 6¢ AIR MAIL stamp. Those were the days.

Though Dad was in the Army during the Korean conflict, he never made it there. From what little he shared, he mostly pulled guard duty in Germany.

The inside of the card reveals that Dad served in The Big Red One - the First Infantry Division,  Wikipedia explains the Division's presence in Germany rather than Korea:

During the Korean War, the Big Red One was assigned to occupation duty in Germany, while acting as a strategic deterrent against Soviet designs on Europe. 1st Infantry Division troops secured the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials and later transported seven convicted Nazi war criminals to Spandau Prison in Berlin.

In 1955, the division colors left Germany and were relocated to Fort Riley, Kansas.

The 1980 film entitled The Big Red One was written and directed by a World War II First Infantry Division veteran, Samuel Fuller. It starred the great Lee Marvin and Mark Hamill, later of Stars Wars fame.

The back of the card indicates the artwork on the front is of The Chapel of old Bartholomä, near Berchtesgaden, the town associated with Hitler's mountain retreat, Eagle's Nest.

Dad never really talked to us about what he did in Germany, other than boring guard duty. I have no idea if he visited this historic site.

At this point in 1952, Dad was not long for Army. He would soon return to the States and be honorably discharged. Three months and a day from the postmark on the letter, he and Mom would be married (February 26th, 1953). Nine months and 20 days later, I was born (December 16th, 1953, seven days before my due date of December 23rd, by the way). To this day, I hate to be late. And the rest, as they say, is history.