THE NAVYATOR WO» Il, IN@ 3S U.S. Navy Pre-FLicHt ScHooL, DEL MonreE, CaLir. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1943 The Christmas Message By CHaAPLaIN Warren L. Wor When Christ was born history turned the corner. Time was mere speculation Before Christ. Now men had an objective to attain and time was measured in terms of After Christ. Thus, Christmas Day more than twenty centuries ago became the pivotal point for man’s relationship between him- self and time. So, Christmas held once the destiny and destination of man. But Christmas in 1943 is so dif- ferent: Life is so very different. We do not know our destiny nor destination. We know .that we fight for the freedom of the world. We know that we will win the war. But in between, that which we know will be and the now, there is so much that is unknown. Therefore, one of the thoughts that we must have today is a thought from the yesteryears of man. It was on the first Christmas that certain men said “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.” That pilgrimage of those men quelled the questionings in their hearts. Just so, if we would find per- sonal peace in the midst of turmoil, let us make a mental journey to that humble manger which gave confidence and direction to those men in olden time. When they saw that which “God had made known unto men,” they found the answer to their helplessness and they also saw their hope. So in the Christ child at Christ- man we very easily find our way. We see that Christmas is a fact and a faith. Perhaps, iti s only in the sim- plicity of that.scene; that we find our answer to the questions of our time. For the fact is told simply “Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” So in that Christmas story our fight against tryanny and our per- sonal feelings can be embossed on hearts that will some day realize the truth of “Peace on earth, among men good will.” We will see it is not a myth, it is not a mockery. It is something that can and will be. We will see our destiny and destination. We will fill the world with men of good will—men who know that man was made for love, because A Merry Christmas A MESSAGE FROM THE CAPTAIN “Greetings to all hands and best wishes for a Merry Christmas. “To the Eighteenth, ‘good luck and happy landings.’ I expect to be on deck for the graduation of the Nineteenth.” G. W. STEELE Ten Officers Get Transfer Orders Only ten officers received orders this week but business on the half- deck is expected to increase to the rush stage during the next three God is love, and that the love and joy at the Birth of Christ will be the anSwer that we seek to “Peace on earth, good will towards men.” This is the message that Christ- mas will bring one day. This is your hope if you have lost your way. weeks since all except approxi- mately 40 officers aboard have been “alerted” (as they say in the Army) and will be shoving off for new stations when orders arrive. Those who got orders and their destinations: Lieut. Storrs, Bun- ker Hill, Ind.; Lieut. Nicholson, Georgia Pre-Flight; Lieut. Patrick, Olathe, Kas.; Lieut. Strang, Ot- tumwa, Ia.; Lieut. (jg) Diggs, Natcheloches, La.; Ens. Coupe, San Francisco; Lieut. (jg) Salog- ga, Hutchinson, Kas.; Lieut. (jg) Callagan, San Diego; Lieut. (jg) Murphy, San Diego; Lieut. Pendle- bury, San Francisco. School Observes Christmas With Special Service Christmas, 1943, finds the per- sonnel of this school with mingled feelings concerning the future but to all the immediate past has been a huge success. s For the Eigh- 8 9 teenth Battalion py yesterday was a meal ieee chxy highlighted by its graduation to Naval Air Sta- tions for primary flight training. Ensicn Brown Fs Officers, €M- His Christmas Party listed men and a success. their families and friends, last night joined with the cadets in a highly successful Christmas party in the Bali room,arranged through the efforts of Ens. Brown, the Wel- fare and Recreation officer, and Chaplain Wolf. Before the party all hands partook of the special Christmas dinner and cadets had their dates for the dance as their dinner guests in the mess hall. Officers brought .their families and friends aboard for the dinner and a majority stayed for the party. A party for children was held yesterday afternoon in the Recreation Room. Late yesterday the cadet choir sang Christmas carols at the home of Captain and Mrs. Steele and at Sick Bay. Today at 0900 Chaplain Wolf will conduct the Christmas service in the chapel. Preceding the serv- ice will be a 30-minute program of Christmas music by Craig Nelson, Sp(W)lc, organist, that will be given over the public address sys- tem. Special musical selections dur- ing the service will be the Christ- mas Hymn by Michael Praetorius and the Navy Hymn “Eternal Father Strong to Save,” sung by the cadet choir. Cadets of the Catholic faith will attend a Christmas service at 0900 at the Royal Presidio Chapel, Mon- terey. For those cadets who are so in- clined, there’ll be dancing tomor- row at the Mission Ranch, Car- mel, from 1400 until 1700.