Charlie's Christmas Story

        Charlie’s Christmas Story
    War raged in the Pacific during December 1943 and things looked grim for the Allied cause. Few Allied soldiers got any rest, but a few hundred mountain soldiers found themselves on board an Irish steamer, Sephalou.
    Many soldiers slept on the deck that night and woke up on Christmas Eve morning. When they got awake good, one of them sang "White Christmas." As he sang, thoughts of the battle-hardened veterans drifted loved ones at home and activities there. Images of little white churches in the Carolinas, Spanish missions in the Southwest, and great cathedrals in the Northeast filled their minds.
    One soldier suddenly pointed toward a funnel shaped cloud on the ship’s starboard side. As all eyes watched the mass of swirling clouds, it dipped and darted. It looked as if it would suck up the entire sea. It then sped away.
    As it raced away, the Sephalou’s chaplain stepped to the center of the deck. He then read the "Nativity Story" from the Bible. The beautiful old story seemed new again in that place, where life was so cheap.
    After he finished reading, the ship’s passengers gathered and sang some hymns. "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Hark the Herald Angels," "Joy to the World," "All Ye Merry Gentleman," and "Silent Night" rang out across the open sea.
    Everybody’s attention then returned to the Sephalou’s chaplain. He bowed his head and echoed the words in everyone’s heart. "Oh God, please help me!"