Lost to History: Remembering the 1943 Macy’s Christmas on U.S.S. North Carolina

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – Wednesday marks 82 years since World War II sailors on the U.S.S. North Carolina received an unexpected gift from Macy’s Department Store and their families thousands of miles away.

It was Christmas Eve in 1943 and the U.S.S. North Carolina had been out at sea in the pacific with around 2,000 sailors for 30 days, with no end in sight of WWII.

“Christmas on the battleships were usually marked by say it be a festive meal, so they could have turkey and ham and all the trimmings there would be music pipped through the ship,” said Mary Ames Booker, curator at Battleship North Carolina. “And they could get mail.”

Booker said the summer before the holiday, the battleship’s chaplain, Everett Wuebbens had already been planning for the ship’s Christmas party.

“He came up with this idea and he sent a letter to Macy’s department store in New York City,” Booker said.

Wuebbens had collected $5 from more than 700 sailors and that money would go toward their children’s gifts back in New York City.

A part of the letter read:
“Enclosed is a government check for $2,400 we ask you to do the following, select a Christmas gift or gifts at approximately $3 for each of the 729 children…we are so far removed from home in both time and distance that we have little idea of what kind of gifts may be available this year, we shall therefore not limit you in choice.”

Though, Macy’s took it one step further, the department store hosted a Christmas party for the children in the fall and got out a film camera at the party.

“They gave the kids the toys and everything and recorded these children going ‘Merry Christmas dad,’” Booker said.

That film was sent overseas as a Christmas surprise for these sailors, just in time for Christmas Eve.

“The chaplain puts together a festive event and it happens to be on Christmas Eve because the next day they went back to war,” Booker said.

The sailors were given a night of entertainment from a burlesque show to dances, comedy and some sailors even dressed in drag.

“But that wasn’t all there was to it,” Booker said.

Wuebbens gets up and gives them a gift these sailors will never forget.

“And they showed the film,” Booker said.

The sailors, who Booker said hadn’t seen their family for possibly months, got to see and hear their loved ones.

“It showed all of the kids getting their toys and the loved ones and their sweet heart,” Booker said.

Crews said there wasn’t a dry eye as many of these young sailors had  been out at sea for months. Though, the fun didn’t last long.

“Then the next day, it was war again and they are back to sea,” Booker said.

Now this special Christmas gift, remains just a memory.

“They loved every Christmas, but this one has really lived down in history,” Booker said.

The Battleship North Carolina is still searching for the original film; Booker said it’s been lost to history.