Bio: Knight, Gordon - Holiday Recollections (1981)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson
Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Knight

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (21 December 1981)

To spend one Christmas thousands of miles from home was depressing, but another holiday season in Korea was more that I thought I should be subjected to. Hadn't I already spent two Thanksgivings and a birthday in this land so far from home? Another Christmas and birthday were almost here. Why me?

The "war" had been over for about six months now, but it was an uneasy peace in this season of peace on earth, goodwill to men. Where was the peace? Was there any goodwill left in this war-torn country?

After the armistice, the restrictions on travel were lifted somewhat. I spent a good deal of my free time walking thru the countryside, taking pictures, and talking to the Korean people. I picked up some of the language, and learned something of the customs of the people on this side of the world. A friend and I even helped one family with the harvesting. I guess we looked out of place and certainly out of character. threshing soybeans with a flail. This sure wasn't the way we did it back on the farm in Wisconsin. Two old Korean men were watching us. and I heard one say that all G.I.s must be just a little crazy.

This particular family had been decimated by the war, or police action as it was called. The husband had been taken prisoner by the "helping" Chinese army some 10 months ago. The eldest son, 16, had been killed north of Inchon the day before the peace talks had come to a somewhat agreeable conclusion. This fragmented family consisted of a 35-year-old mother, and two children, a boy, 11, and a girl, 8.

A few days before Christmas, mail call changed my mood considerably. There were packages from home, a very large one from my mother, and smaller ones from friends and relatives. I didn't even have to open the one from my mother to know what was inside. There would be fruitcakes, homemade candy, popcorn balls and frosted animal cookies. Maybe Christmas in Korea wouldn't be too bad after all.

I don't remember when or why, I decided to share my "loot" with the family in the nearby village. I suppose I had stopped feeling for myself and the real meaning of Christmas had started to surface. I was sure that to share my good fortune would indeed make me feel better.

Christmas 1953 was very cold in Korea. I put on my heavy parka and carefully made my way along the narrow pathway on the dike across the rice paddy. Wow! This was going to be just great. I was going to play Santa Claus for two Korean kids. The flickering oil lamp did little to light up the one room, mud hut they called home. After a few moments, my eyes became adjusted to the dimness. At last my big moment was here.

I made a big production of laying out the candy of different kinds and colors, fruitcake and animal cookies, popcorn balls and candy canes. Those two little kids wouldn't know what to grab first, Right? -- Wrong! They refused even after their mother said it was okay. I had to eat some of each to show them it was safe and good to eat. It had to be good, my mother had made it and didn't my mother make the best Christmas goodies in the whole world? As they tried the candy and cookies, smiles began to replace the looks of distrust and suspicion. I had been a "friend." but I was still a G.I. and this candy stuff was new and strange.

They did eat my gifts of candy and cookies, and their faces began to glow with that happy Christmas look all children get, regardless of what corner of the world they live in, or happen to be in, at this time of year. Those happy faces will be with me for the rest of my life.

I hope none of us ever have to look a gift with suspicion or mistrust as many did that first Christmas when our greatest gift, Christ, was given.

Gordon A. Knight of Colby is a special education teacher and girls' track coach in the Colby Public Schools. He and his wife, Sandra, have two children, Cindy, 24, and John, 15. His mother was Anna Knight. He enjoys fishing and hunting.