Symbol of the quality gift. Give the holiday gift everybody wants— Seagram's 7 Crown. Only Seagram's 7 has the unmatched quality that makes everyone's favorite drinks taste better. No wonder it's America's most given gift. Seagrams 7 Grown Where quality drinks begin. ; THE AMERICAN DECEMBER 1977 DECEMBER 1977 Volume 103, Number 6 National Commander Robert Charles Smith LEGION CHANGE OF ADDRESS Subscribers, please notify Circulation Dept., MAGAZINE P. O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206 using Form 3578 which is available at your local post office. Attach old address label and give old and new addresses with ZIP Code Table of Contents number and current membership card num- ber. Also, notify your Post Adjutant or other COMMANDER'S MESSAGE: officer charged with such responsibilities. We Have Again Studied The Treaty; We Still Say 'No' ... 3 The American Legion Magazine Legion leader demands full treaty review in House, Senate Editorial & Production Offices 1608 "K" Street, N. W. Washington, DC 20006 OFF THE HIGHWAY: BETHLEHEM, PA 4 202-393-4811 Advertising Dept. 202-347-7647 212-586-3460 'EARLY, LATE' 24th DIVISION 7 {(New York direct line) Office of Publisher 342 Madison Ave. BICENTENNIAL OF VALLEY FORGE 8 New York, NY 10017 212-682-8982 MARTHA WASHINGTON SHARED RIGORS Advertising Sales OF WINTER OF '78 10 Bassinette/White Co. 50 E. 42nd St., New York, NY, 10017 Tel. 212-986-6210 GENERAL WASHINGTON'S PENSIONERS 11 Representing: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. THE STORY OF 'SILENT NIGHT 12 Fox Associates, Inc. 200 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL, 60611 Tel. 312-649-1650 PEARL HARBOR: WHERE TIME STILL Representing: North Dakota, South Dakota, STOOD 16 Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, . ST. AND PAUL WHERE THE FIRST SHOT ECHOES 17 N. Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missis- sippi, Alabama, Georgia, S. Carolina, Florida. Robert Redden Assoc., Inc. 'I'M ONLY BLIND, I CAN PUSH!' 20 P.O. Box 999, Teaneck, NJ, 07666 World War I ambulance driver recalls pain and glory of combat Tel. 201-837-5511 Representing: New York, New Jersey, Connect- icut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District SOVIETS WALK OLD TRAILS IN AFRICA 22 of Columbia. E. Thompson, Ine. Communists pick up abandoned plans of 19th century tsars Jules 1111 Hearst Bldg., San Francisco, CA, 94103 Tel. 415-362-8547 SHOULD CONGRESS APPROVE AMNESTY FOR Representing: Washington, Oregon, California, ALIENS?. .24 Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Col- PR£>: HERMAN BADILLO CON: JOHN M. ASHBROOK orado, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. Rep., New York U.S. Rep., Ohio British Columbia. THE STORY OF THE POINSETTIA 28 Publisher, James F. O'Ncil Editor and Associate Publisher, ' Raymond J. McHugh Production Manager, John A. Stanley Photo Credits Managing Editor, Frank Kuest Senior Editor, Grail S. Hanford The spirit of Christmas 1977 is re- Legion News Editor, Dan Keenan in flected the Pennsylvania snow Art Editor, Walter H. Boll of our cover for December, a view Advertising Coordinators perhaps shared by the men at Darlene Thomas and Joanna Adamus Valley Forge over 200 years ago. Circulation Manager and Assistant Publisher, Dean B. Nelson, Indianapolis, IN The cover photo was taken by H. Arm- strong Roberts of Philadelphia. Other The American Legion Magazine Commission: photo credits: Shirley Starbuck, De- Milford A. Forrester, Greenville, SC (Chairman); partment of Defense/U.S. Army Photo, Adolph Bremer, Winona MN (Vice Chairman) ; James The Bettmann Archive, National Park R. Kelley, Devon, PA (National Commander's Repre- Service, Charles Waterhouse, U.S. Na- sentative); Billy Anderson, Miami, FL; Norman Bie- val Academy Museum/A. B. Chesley/ bel, Belleville, IL; Andrew J. Cooper, Gulf Shores, Bernard J. Kinderman, American Field AL; John J. Dunn, Sr., Scranton, PA; Raymond Service, American Heritage, Veterans Fields, Oklahoma City, OK; Frank J. Holcshuh, Administration. Youngsown, OH; Eugene Kelley, Savannah, GA James V. Kissner, Palatine, IL; Keith A. Kreul, Fen- nimore, Wl; Russell H. Laird, Des Moines, IA; Loyd McDermott, Benton, AR; Morris Meyer, Stark- ville, MS; J. H. Morris, Baton Rouge, LA; Robert Departments A. Okeson, Diamond Bar, CA; Bruce E. Penny, Seat- tle, WA; Floyd J. Rogers, Topeka, KS ; Wayne L. Talbert, Delphi, IN; Benjamin B. Truskoski, Bristol, NOTES ON OUR DESK 2 PERSONAL 48 CT ; George J. Zanos, Wellsburg, WV ; Frank C. Love, DATELINE Syracuse, NY (Consultant). WASHINGTON 6 BOOKS THAT MATTER 49 VETERANS NEWSLETTER The American Legion Magazine is owned and published ....... 29 LIFE IN THE OUTDOORS .... 50 monthly by The American Legion. Copyright 1977 by NEWS OF AMERICAN LEGION 30 AMERICAN LEGION SHOPPER 51 The American Legion. Second class postage paid at POSTS IN ACTION Indianapolis, IN, 46204 and additional mailing offices. 36 PARTING SHOTS 5? Price: single copy, 30 cents; yearly subscription, S3. 00. Direct inquiries regarding circulation to: Circulation Department. P. O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Monuscripts, artwork, Send editorial and advertising material to: The Ameri- cartoons submitted for consideration will not bo roturnod unless a self-ad- can Legion Magazine, 1608 "K" Street, N. W., Wash- dressed, stamped envelope is included. This magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. ington, DC 20006. Microfilm copies of current and back issues of The American Legion Magazine are NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS available through: University Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. Send name and address, including ZIP number, with $3.00 cheek or money order to Circulation Dept., P.O. Box undeliverable, K please send Form 3579 toe 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. POSTMASTF.R'i \j& m.uu*.oxejS\. p, 0> Box 1954) Indiaini, po , iSf Ind> 46206 . THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1977 1 J NOTES ON Dunphy's Irish. The luck of OUR DESK the Americans. Letters to the Editor Sir: Loss of the Panama Canal would contribute to the encirclement of the Sir: The September articles by Don- United States by hostile naval forces ald Kendall and Richard Lesher ad- and would threaten our ability to vocating trade and detente with Rus- survive. Ben L. Graves sia remind me of the arguments in Hemet, CA 1933 urging U.S. recognition of Bol- shevik Russia. Then the USSR was Sir: If the Pentagon supports the near collapse. Today it holds sway Panama Canal Treaty, I vote for ap- over half of Europe and other parts proval. Do you want to own the canal of the world, even in the Western or use it? Richard P. Wilson Hemisphere. L. F. Meyer Hauula, HA Fort Wayne, IN Sir: It has come to our attention Sir: I agree with the Legion stand through our advertisements in The on unionism in the military and its American Legion Magazine that opposition to blanket upgrading of there exists some confusion among discharges, but I also agree with many Legionnaires regarding the President Carter that we should for- various Legion-sponsored life insur- give draft evaders who fled the coun- ance plans. try during the Vietnam war. The primary distinction between Virgil Robertson the fine plans offered through two or Green Brier, TN three of the state Departments and the official American Legion Life In- Sir: Regarding a pension for WWI surance Plan is in sponsorship. The vets: Buddy, at our age, don't hold American Legion Life Insurance your breath. Joe Dunn Plan offers its coverage to eligible N. Little Rook, AR Legionnaires in all 50 states and was Sir: I'm getting hot under the collar created by the Legion's National Ex- about the media's constant references ecutive Committee. The Plans avail- to "Legionnaires' Disease." Some able through the individual state would depict us as carriers. It is to- Departments are available only to tally unfair. Marie K. Raymond eligible members in those Depart- Deep River, CT ments. We sincerely regret the inconve- Sir: Foreign national health sys- niences caused by the confusion of tems have led to bankruptcy. We our national plan with those of the should not follow. But we do need individual state Departments. What luck! Irish whiskey protection against catastrophic ill- Administrator ness. R. L. O'Brien specially blended for the American Legion Life Insurance Plan Columbus, NE (Continued on page 45 American palate. The first Irish with a new, soft taste. Sir: The Legion's energy program So smooth and mellow. should include a demand that we The Letter immediately begin a massive conver- Here are two refreshing ways sion to coal and tell the oil barons To the Editor to enjoy Dunphy's: and the sheiks that we don't need My prose is not immortal Red-Haired Mary their oil. Hubbard S. Edwards Cut it where you may IV2 oz. Dunphy's Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ If you don't think it deathless 4 oz. chilled tomato juice Edit it away. Sir: Legion has great oppor- Lemon wedge The a lead in demanding Transpose, delete and change AdashofTobasco tunity to take the enforcement of the 55 m.p.h. highway the tense Salt to taste speed limit. Too many people are Change "therefore" and "thus" Cucumber spear optional. choosing which laws to obey and To "Hence." Irish Sunset which to ignore. J. E. Ray Your notes of "trite" and V-Aoz. Dunphy's Whitesboro, NY "ugh" and "bad" won't V/2 oz. orange juice make me start, won't Sir: All foreign-made articles im- K20Z. lime juice make me sad. should bear a 4 dashes Grenadine ported into the U.S. pica-size label showing the country I'll smile and nod at Shake with ice and pour of origin and the name of the im- Notes you jot, ingredients and ice into tall glass.