World War II troops spent Christmas in the field

By Tom Emery

The men who fought, and won, World War II are part of the Greatest Generation. But during the war, their Christmases were not so great.

Half a world away from home at holiday time, American troops were usually in the field, fighting in some of the war’s biggest battles. Though they made the best of Christmas, it was a lonely time both on the front and at home.

Christmas in 1941 came just 18 days after Pearl Harbor, so the first Yuletide during major American involvement came the next year.

American forces in the South Pacific launched an attack on a Japanese air base at Munda on C...