 United Press correspondent Henry Gorell, somewhere on the western front, wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy new year on behalf of the soldiers of the press, the world over. This is a time of the year, even on battle fronts, when our thoughts turn momentarily to those who are far away from us. Thoughts that are prevalent especially on a battlefield, where a man gets to know the values of life. Well, as a Christmas present to you from the soldiers of the press, I'd like to tell you a story, a Christmas story, which simplifies the camaraderie of the fighting yank on the world battle fronts. We can't say it happened factually, but we can say it happened and is happening, can say it happened and is happening spiritually, most every day, this holiday season, on every battle front, where our boys are fighting. The scene opens on a dark night. Confounded, confounded infernal snow by heaven's eye. I told you, General, you shouldn't have come out here. What do you mean you shouldn't have come out here? Listen, Gorell, I'm the general of this army. Confounded, it's Christmas time. I know, sir, but the men won't like it when they see you exposing yourself like this. How are they going to know it's me? I've got an old campaign coat on, no insignia. Say, you won't give me away, will you, Gorell? At Christmas time, sir? Of course not. Tell, sir, stop saying sir. Yes, sir. I mean, yes. Well, come on, we're heading for that front-line foxhole over there. Right behind you, sir. Keep down a little closer. For the love of the great pink-toed prophet, stop saying sir. Okay, General, okay. Say, Syge, Syge, will you do me a favor? What's on your mind, Private? There's nothing on my mind, but yours is sitting on my foot. Will you please get your carcass off? Look, where's your Christmas spirit, anyway? This dank foxhole ain't big enough for too much less one. Shall we dance, then? Maybe we can make more room, huh? None of your lip, Private. None of your lip now. Merry Christmas, Syge. Okay, same to you. And if you want to enjoy it, keep your eye on that outpost up there. You know, this reminds me... Shut up. Look. Where? Over there. Something's coming our way from our own lines. Germans? I don't know, but we'll soon find out. Yeah, maybe it's two of the three wise men, huh? Maybe they got a present for us, maybe, huh? Well, how about you bein' that third wise man, huh? Cover up. Okay, Syge. Here they come. Yeah. Halt! Who goes there? Henry Correll, United Press, and a soldier. But I love a pink-to-more, guys. What is this thing? Come on in, pal. What is it? Thanks. Draw up a chair and a pallet. Chair and a pallet. Who's the boyfriend? Oh, him? Just another G.I. Here, let me give you a hand. A quick shovin', will ya? And stay down. Well, I'm sorry. Very sorry. You want to get us all killed at Christmas time, too, huh? It's all right now. You two are takin' an awful chance. What'd you come all the way out here for? Probably lookin' for rain beers. That's why. Well, I thought I'd make your rounds. See what you guys are thinkin' about at Christmas time. What am I thinkin' about? I'll give you trade guesses. Home, perhaps? No. Your best girl? No. Yourself? Wise guy, huh? Well, you're all off-basic. Well, uh, what are you thinking about? Well? Well? Santa Claus, ya drips. Noble sentiment, sergeant. Yeah, me, too. Noble sentiment. Hey! Get him! Oh, that's nothing. Just a bottle of wine. Sweet private? Sure, thanks. Hey, the general's private stuck, huh? Just a little Christmas cheer I picked up. That's enough, private. That's enough. Take it easy, sergeant. Drink pop? Yeah? Oh, yes, I will. Thanks. Uh, what are you thinkin' about, private? Oh? Hey, where, sergeant? I've been thinkin' a lot about the folks back home. But right now, you know what I'm thinkin' about? Get down! Your dog on top, and I know what you're thinkin' about. And it ain't a house because houses don't wear lipstick. Give him a chance, sergeant. Yeah, just give the boy a chance. Yeah, yeah. Well, go ahead, pretty boy. Go ahead. Well, I'm just thinkin' how little it takes to make a GI happy. Now, look at Pop here. He ain't got no business fightin'. He oughta be home. Yeah, and look at Sarge and Garell and me. What are you gettin' at, private? What are you gettin' at? Look at me, for instance. This lousy hole in the ground ain't fit for most pigs. But I'm sure glad to be in it. Out of the way of those German 88s. Say, you got somethin' there, private? Indeed he has. Say, Pop, you ain't been sayin' much. What's on your mind? Well, for one thing, we could all be deader than hell, but we're still alive, and that's Christmas presentin' enough for me. Santa Claus don't like you, Pop. Perhaps you're right. Yeah, and how come you're in this army at your age? You oughta be a general, Pop. Me? Well, I was bathed early. That's right, boys. Pop just looks old. But he gets around. You're all right, Pop. But I still say you look like a general. Sure, sure, he's all right. Come on, everybody. It's Christmas. Let's kick around Jingle Bells, huh? Okay, boys, that's a good idea. Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride a one-horse open sleigh. Say, Pop, we better get going. Going? Oh, yes. Oh, stick around. We'll be relieved any minute now. Yeah, I sure would like to get back in one of them shacks. Maybe I got some Christmas presents. Well, why don't you stop off with us? We're here. We've got a little wine, we've got turkey, cigarettes. Cigarettes? Rather, it's a pleasure. A pleasure. Fine, fine. Okay, boys. Wait a minute. I just remembered something. Yeah, me too. The old man. The old man? The general. He'd probably skin us alive if he knew about this. What are you talking about? General's a good egg. You get to know him, especially around Christmas time. So is a tiger. I believe your relief's coming, boys. Oh, pig-o-puss. Well, anyway, here's to him. A merry Christmas. And a happy new year. All jangle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Boy, was that close. One day next Christmas, I'm gonna finish that song. Well, boys, here we are. What do you mean, here we are? G.I.s don't bunk in swell places like this. See, it's not exactly swell. A bunch of us correspondents stay here. Well, it looks like a brass hat's joint to me. We're used to houses. What are you talking about? Pop comes in with me all the time. Don't you, Pop? Well, what do you say? This is Christmas time, you know. Sure. Come on in, boys. Well, if Pop goes, I'll take a chance. Me too. Fine. Well, welcome, gentlemen. How about you, newspaper man? After you, Pop. How about you, Sergeant? Don't you know any good ones? Sure he does. Tell him the one about the horse. Yeah, let's hear it, Sergeant. Okay. Well, back in our farm at Josie, my father was driving home when his buggy went Christmas Eve. When the horse suddenly stopped, he turned his head and said, Mr. Haynes, he said, Mr. Haynes, I've worked for you a long time. And I just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Well, sir, well, my pop and his dog jumped down off that buggy and ran all the way up to the top of the mountain. And when they sat down to rest, Pop said to himself, well, what do you know about that? The horse talked. And the dog turned to Pop and said, Amazing! Ain't it? Gentlemen, I give you a toast. A toast. To the folks back home. To the folks back home. Back home. Yeah. Yeah, they're, they're worth fighting for. Well, I got two Christmas presents. A lucky boy, Sergeant. Yeah, three if you count the GI pack of cigarettes. What were the first two, Sergeant? Well, I got a box of candy and some stationery. How are you going to write me, buddy? You're too busy ducking bullets. Yeah, yeah, maybe someday though. You know, Christmas means a lot to us on the fighting fronts. It's home and the folks. Yeah, home and the folks. Well, gentlemen, let's wish them all a merry Christmas and a happy new year. A merry Christmas and a happy new year. Like Henry Corral on the western front, United Press correspondents the world over are covering the battle fronts, giving you an intimate humanized picture of the men in uniform. Daily the UP reporters record exciting stories of bravery and daring. We will bring you another thrilling story of these soldiers of the press soon. Be sure to listen. Listen to United Press news and the air. Look for United Press dispatches in your favorite newspaper. They are your guarantee of the world's best coverage of the world's biggest news.