RIPPLE SALVO… #657… Cease fire and keep your guard-up… while the Pope and the President meet in Rome to wring their hands in frustration …
Good Morning: Day SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN of a recall of the world we lived and fought in fifty years ago and remembering the countrymen we left behind in Rolling Thunder… and the guys that came home, too…
24 DECEMBER 1967… HEAD LINES from the New York Times on a cold and windy Sunday Christmas Eve in New York…
Page 1: “JOHNSON CONFERS WITH POPE ON VIETNAM WAR…Discussion Lasts Seventy-five Minutes–Suggestions For Peace are Offered By Pontiff–Prisoner Issue Is Raised–President Cites ‘Plight of Those Held in The North–Backs Honorable Accord”… “President Johnson told Pope Paul VI that the United States was ready to stop bombing North Vietnam if the Vietcong and North Vietnam would ‘offer some guarantee’ some movement to peace talks. In an hour-and-a-quarter meeting with the Pope at the Vatican, the climax of a hectic round-the-world journey, the President brought to the Pope’s attention ‘the plight of American prisoners being held by the North Vietnamese and being denied the rights required by international standards.’ It was reported that he had proposed that the Vatican seek direct information on the condition of prisoners in both North Vietnam and South Vietnam. On leaving the Vatican at about 10 P.M. (4 P.M. New York time), the President said in a statement, ‘we are ready at any moment to substitute the word and the vote for the knife and the grenade in bringing an honorable peace in Vietnam.’
“The Vatican said in a communique that the Pope had made certain suggestions for advancing the cause of peace. Before the meeting , a highly placed Vatican source expressed the view that the Pope would suggest to the President suspension of air bombardments from Christmas until Tet, the lunar New Year holiday, from January 27 to February 2. There was no indication tonight whether this had actually been proposed and, if so, what the President’s reaction had been.”
“In the President’s statement at the Vatican he said: ‘I have come across the world to call on His Holiness Pope Paul in the spirit of his offer of ‘unarmed cooperation towards the re-establishment of true peace’… No man can avoid being heeded to try harder for peace at Christmas times. We discussed possible paths to peace and the efforts that have been made in recent years, so far without success. We agree with His Holiness that an honorable settlement of the painful and threatening dispute is still possible. I received his judgement to this end and I deeply appreciate the full and free manner in which it was given. His Holiness has suggested a principle of mutual restraining. If this principle is accepted by both sides there would be rapid and solid progress toward peace. We would be willing to stop the bombing and proceed promptly to serious and productive discussions. A total end of the violence would be our urgent objective. We support informal talks with the South. We are ready for formal talks with the North. We will agree to any proposal that would substitute the word and the vote for the knife and the grenade in bringing honorable peace to Vietnam. We shall keep closely in touch with His Holiness in the days ahead as we shall with others who are seeking to lift the scourge of war from Vietnam and Southeast Asia.’ “
Page 1: “Pope Emphasizes Peace Of Heart–Christmas Message Terms It Essential For Peace”… “Pope Paul VI made his third peace appeal in a week…a pastoral call for inner peace in his annual Christmas message broadcast to the world tonight… Page 1: “Truce Begins In Vietnam; Week Long Lull Expected”… expires at 1 A.M. Wednesday, 27 December.”… Page 5: “3 Sailors Killed In Fire On USS Kearsarge“… “…in port Sasebo, Japan.”…. Page 4: R.W. Apple article: “Johnson Backs Military Leader More Firmly Than Ever in Vietnam Visit”… Page 6: “Harris Poll finds War is Supported By Public in Poll–Heavier Military Pressure is Favored”… Page 37: “U.S. Told To Heed New Negro Voice–Boston Urban League Sends Open Letter to Robert L. Weaver, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development”... “…served notice that public officials should be prepared to listen to often disruptive and grating communications from Negro communities that demand a voice in social program.”… Sports: College Football…Southern Cal (O.J. Simpson) over UCLA, 21-20 for National Championship and Rose Bowl…Pros: Johnny Unitas Pro Player of Year; Packers beat Rams, 28-7 for NFL title and Houston beats Miami for AFL title…Packers and Houston to meet in Superbowl I…
24 DECEMBER 1967…OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…New York Times: no coverage of air operations in the North…”Vietnam: Air Losses (Hobson)… There were no fixed wing aircraft losses in Southeast Asia on 24 December 1967… Flight operations limited to air reconnaissance, BARCAP and alert status…
RIPPLE SALVO… #657… CHRISTMAS EVE 1967… 24 Dec 67, NYT, Section 4, Page 4E… “The Celebration”…
“No matter where you are today, you are surrounded by a sense of wonder and the excitement of celebration. There isn’t a town or a village in America without the gaiety of lights and tinsel, gifts and carols, not one. wherever you look there is a lighted tree twinkling in a window. And tonight will occur the mythical visit of the most generous folk hero of all time. Tomorrow will bring the solemnity and the celebration of the festivities.
“The wonder is there, and the miraculous, in the Biblical story of the Nativity. The Christ child was born in a stable in Bethlehem. but almost equally miraculous is this holiday itself, for it is both a very holy day and a unique secular celebration. It is not only a festival of faith, but one of generosity and goodwill.
“There is no other occasion quite like this, no other holiday, no other holy day, that unites so many of us in a common spirit. It is the solemn festival of the Nativity, of the birth of Jesus: it is also Christmas, not a mass or a sermon, but a secular festival to the innocence of children and the goodness of mankind.”
RTR Quote for Christmas Eve: CHARLES WESLEY, Christmas Hymn: “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”…
Lest we forget… Bear