- Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS AND CEASE-FIRE
- Date: 25th December 1965
- Summary: CHRISTMAS TREES IN SAIGON RICKSHAWS; MAN TRIMS XMAS TREE: MAKING DECORATIONS; SOLDIER BUYS DECORATIONS ; AMMUNITION BOXES CONVERTED; TINSEL; GIFTS FROM MICHIGAN; SOLDIERS NEAR CHRISTMAS TREE; U.S. TROOPS AT MACHINE GUNE POST; SOLDIER IN TRENCH; HORSESHOE PITCHING; SOLDIERS EATING; RIFLES AT READY. Initials JM/V/AW/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th January 1966 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SOUTH VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Reuters ID: LVA3S5ZICP0S3PSIVU3NSOMU3XD0
- Story Text: NO WHITE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR FOR THOUSANDS OF UNITED STATES' SERVICEMEN IN VIETNAM. FOR THEM IT IS A CHRISTMAS IN THE DARK HEAT OF SAIGON AND THE JUNGLES OF SOUTH VIETNAM -- BUT THEY RE MAKING THE MOST OF IT. ALL THE TRAPPINGS WERE THERE: CHRISTMAS TRESS, HOLLY, DECORATIONS IN THEIR BILLETS AND MESS HALL. THEY EVEN IMPROVISED SLIGHTLY GRIM HUMOUR, SUCH AS MAKING DECORATIONS FROM MUNITION BOXES. TONS OF GIFTS POURED INTO SAIGON FROM THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOUTH VIETNAM CAPITAL WAS AGLOW WITH LIGHTS TO MAKE A FOREIGN CHRISTMAS MORE BEARABLE FOR THE AMERICANS.
THEY APPRECIATED THE 30-HOUR CHRISTMAS TRUCE THAT CAME IN AT 1800 HOURS (VIETNAM TIME) ON CHRISTMAS EVE. WHILE THERE WERE REPORTS THAT VIETCONG HAD TWICE BROKEN THE TRUCE, IT WAS GENERALLY EFFECTIVE. FRONT LINE TROOPS RELAXED, PITCHING HORSESHOES AND ENJOYING A RARE LEISURELY MEAL.
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