Wallace Air Station - Dec 25, 1968

Photos and story contributed by Harvey Swatsworth

"Hey Joe, how bout you take me to base?" A little crippled filipino lads made his pathetic plea to a couple Wallace NCO's, TSGT Ben E. Butler and SGT Stehen W. Tenpenny. The more I thought about the more I knew the men at Wallace would love to share their christmas with this little guy and all of his friends too. An awful lot of us have kids back home and it would make it easier if we were making some kids happy over here, is the way Butler put it.

With Those words he and Tenpenny spread the word like wildfire. Lt. Col. Russel R. Kalessa, Wallace Commander, gave his whole hearted support. A commitee composed of 1st. Lt. Freeman Gault, NCO's John Richardson, Harvey Swatsworth, Phillip Marino, Joseph Jones, Ben Butler, Harcey Swatsworth and civilians Mike Gibson and William Thompson was formed to organize and direct a mammoth christmas party.

Salesmanship, generosity, co-operation and contributions, some from local businesses all combined to raise $800.00 for the kiddies christmas party. From the looks of the picture it looks like all the kids in Poropoint came out to the party.

A line of kids 300 yards long came to the christmas party provided by Wallace G.I.s with BIG hearts.