“Operation Santa Claus” from the September 1, 1953 Door County Advocate
OPERATION SANTA CLAUS
This letter is to request your cooperation, and the cooperation of the readers of the Door County Advocate in launching “Operation Santa Claus.”
First I would like to explain what is meant by “Operation Santa Claus.” The members of this Army Unit would like to do some act of Charity during the Christmas Season. We have decided to try to help some of the thousands of hungry, ragged war-waifs, orphans of broken homes. I wish I could describe how these pathetically unclothed, dirty homeless youngsters, need our help.
True, the shooting battles of Korea were not fought in Pusan. However, the results of the shooting war up North can probably be realized in this city more than any place in Korea, because many of the women and children from all over Korea, (including North Korea) have left the battle zones, and taken refuge in this southern city. The population of Pusan in June 1950 was approximately 500,000. The estimated population of Pusan at present is 1,500,000. These figures tell us that there are about one million refugees in this Southern Port of Pusan. This is only an estimate.
It is impossible to take an accurate count of these refugees. They have no homes, they sleep in streets, on the dirty ground, just anywhere they are located when night falls. Among the million refugees there are probably 5 to 7 hundred thousand children. Even more depressing than these children not having a home, is the fact that many of them don’t have parents, and most of them don’t have any clothes to wear. The orphanages have accepted more of these children than their facilities permit.
“Operation Santa Claus” is attempting to help alleviate this situation. But the members of the Pusan Replacement Depot need your assistance. We are asking you to send us used clothing. We would prefer children’s clothing, but used adult’s clothing will be accepted. We arc not asking for money, only the used clothing that you may have discarded. If you wish to send hard candy or cookies, fine, but clothing is what the orphans really need.
There are less than 130 days until Christmas. Stop a moment and consider the significance of Christmas — the deep and abiding love of the Christ-child — the time of the year when we think of our loved ones. Christmas is not only the time for thinking of our loved ones, but also the time we should think of those who are less fortunate. Here is our chance to prove that we Americans do have a heart, and this is a wonderful opportunity to spread cheer that will do so much good with so little cost to all of us who can help.
Mail it early to assure timely arrival, as it takes about six weeks for regular mail from the States. Your local Post Office will give you information pertaining to overseas mailing limitations. Packages should be addressed as follows: Operation Santa Claus, Pusan Replacement Depot, 8069th AU, APO 973. c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.
Operation Santa Claus will distribute the clothing to the qualified orphanages in Pusan. All will share alike. None will be overlooked. The operation is truly American — being non-sectarian.
Our thanks will be the satisfaction of a job well done and the message of appreciation in their eyes when they receive your gifts. The gladness of a good-deed will be shared mutually in our hearts that we cooperated in bringing happiness and good-will across the miles to the unfortunate and blameless children of war.
Please pass the word and help us bring the spirit of Christmas and Brotherhood to these helpless children. We say, “Don’t throw it way — mail it away.” Your thanks can not be measured.
LT. JOHN J. WEIDNER
Pusan, Korea
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
[A short description of Operation Santa Claus is found in To Save the Children of Korea: The Cold War Origins of International Adoption: https://www.google.com/books/edition/To_Save_the_Children_of_Korea/0Hz8CAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%E2%80%9COperation+Santa+Claus%E2%80%9D&pg=PA26 ]
Christmas-related articles
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/christmas