LEGIOI^THE AMERICAN 15^ DECEMBER 19 60 MAGAZINE IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF SANTAS TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS SEE PAGE 12 WILLIAM R. BURKE NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION SEE PAGE 1A mm of the NATIONAL CONVENTION SEAGRAM-DISTILURS COMPANY, NEW YORK CITY, BLENOtO WHISKEY, 86 PROOF, 65'"c GRAIN NEUTRAL SPIRITS. -ma A holiday gift tradition... incomparable Seagram^s 7 Crown A decanter of classic beauty, a whiskey of incomparable taste, a handsomely packaged expression of your warmest holiday thoughts, Seagram's 7 Crown. Q.-j^yg Scagram's and bc SurC . items froo, E-'O SPENCER BUnmNG. ATLANTIC CTY, N. J. For American Legion readers .. .the ne,cest moil order SPENCER GIFTS, PERSONALIZED MAGIC FOOT WARMER . Even in sub- SHORTS PERSONALIZED GOLF BALLS ... im- FLORENTINE CHESS SET, $1! . solid PERSONAL BELL RINGING zero weather this comfortable cushion full name-so molded figures each minutely engraved . Santa, In all his glory, printed In bold black with . with his name! keeps your feet the finest detail and similar to the WARM! Just scissor graces one side of these Christmas they're hard to "borrow" permanently- to 11th 12th dotted pattern to fit foot; insert in shoe. hand easier to keep. Tough, long-wearing h;gh first sets Introduced into and shorts. Any name you like will be Gives glowing warmth on body contact. even compression with durable vulcanized century Europe. Look almost like hand- embroidered on the other! Santa Amazing action never wears out! Proven drives. Made carved ivory "collector's items". Stand has a tinkling bell on his cap. White cover. Extra lively for long plastic. performance by the military. Regular waist- to withstand all kinds of use and abuse. IVs" tall. Of break-resistant sanforized cotton with elastlclzed (fits size 7-13) Great Extraordinary value! Complete with 8" $1.25 band. Washable. Specify name and any Specify name (up to 18 letters). square board and instruction book Junior (size 10-6) size $2.00 value! Set of 12 $8.97 $i ,00 $1.00 ONLY $1.00 KEEP CAR WINDOWS CLEAR GVERNIGHT-IN FREEZING WEATHER! PERFORM CARD MYSTERIES with Won- POCKET-SIZE CALCULATOR ... Handy it pocket-size calculating machine does Cover up with Car Cap-find windshield windows. Fastens to fender; is held der Deck! This dubious 52 makes You, and your figuring for you! Adds, subtracts, and windows clear in the morning de- firmly in place by 4 elastic shock cords simple. Each card is MARKED. each one from multiplies and divides to 99,999,999 spite snow, sleet, freezing rain, frost! with attached rubberized hooks. Installs only you, can easily read lightning fast! Never Perfect protection! Insures good visi- In seconds-removes In a flash for driv- the back. Markings are undetectable to makes a mistake. size, quality Helps you keep check book, bal- bility in sub-zero cold. Eliminates one of ing. No more sweeping or scraping! Folds the uninstructed. Bridge bank expense account, the big nuisances of winter driving. for easy storage. Also use as utility cover. linen finish, with instructions for thrill- ance, etc., shipshape. to operate. Noiseless. Heavy polyethylene plastic. Won't freeze Passenger Car Cap or Station Wagon ing tricks -for magical purposes and Easy Light weight, only, of steel constiuction in winter's worst. Covers top and all Cap (specify choice) Each $5.98 entertainment course $1.49 $1.00 DE-ICER ... Removes . WINDSHIELD GIANT DESK . MAGNETIZED DRIVING GLOVES ... For KEEPS FOG & MIST AWAY Avoid CALENDAR . Keeps the ice, sleet in safer driving in cold weather. Leather accidents due to poor windshield vision! every trace of frost and 60 whole month's appointments, memos palms grip wheel-can't slip! Helanca New chemically treated No-Fog Safety seconds! Just spray-and your windshield always in full view! At a glance, know s-t-r-e-t-c-h nylon fits any hand perfectly. Mitt works with just one application. and window problems go away! No scrap- your schedule for 30 days. Eliminates Hidden magnet in cuff clips gloves to Windows can't fog or mist for weeks. ing-no frozen fingers! Provides clear embarrassing mistakes and forgetful- dash when not in use. His— tan, grey. Leaves steamed bathroom mirrors spar- windows for safe driving. It prevents re- ness. 12 calendars handsomely bound Hers-black, white, beige-personalized kling clear! Added feature: Glow-in-the- icing-airlines use it! Windshields sprayed in gold-stamped personalized plastic with golden-tone initial. State color. For dark binding. Slip it on bumper for emer- before a freeze are protected up to 3 leather case. IIV4" x 9". Black or Old women, also state Initial Pr. $2.98 gency roadside stops $1.00 days. 9 oz. spray can 93^ Ivory. State name, color $1.00 LIGHT THATIf LASTS FOREVER OUT! AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC PENCIL RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT ... No NO-SPRAY BEER CAN OPENER! . FLOAT MUSIC INDOORS & SHARPENER... favorite Insert any standard more expensive, annoying battery re- Here's to no more beer in your eye! . Float the strains of your size placement! This battery lasts forever. New "spray protected" opener has its Christmas carols thru the neighborhood pencil at top, get a perfect point in 5 Just recharge by plugging in home elec- own small umbrella to guard you against with Portable Extension Speaker! Trans- seconds! Easy 1 hand operation! No cords, tric socket ... as often as necessary. sudden updrafts! Keeps you and the ceil- mits sound from any hi-fi, TV, home or car no switches, no handles to turn! Port- The magic is in a non-corrosive cadmium ing from getting squirted. Golden-toned radio—anywhere! Indoors, in bedroom, able. Sits anywhere on desk. Needs no cell. 3V2" plastic case in bright assorted metal, regular size, with matching um- playroom, den. Outdoors, on patio, boat. fastening down. Uses 3 reg. "C" batteries colors. Compact enough for pocket or brella. Fun, decorative, useful in the Black enameled metal, brass legs. With (not incl.) which last to 1 yr. without re- purse. Never buy another battery $2.95 home bar ^1 qq 20 ft. wire, installation clips $6.98 placement. Easy to empty 93 Mail to Today 1 I SPENCER GIFTS SPENCER GIFTS, E-lOSpenter BIdg., Allanlic City, N. J. Satisfaction I My Name ls_ Guoranteed or I PLEASE PftINT Money Refunded Address. Except I Personaliied Items City _State_ I. HOW MANY NAME OF ITEM PRICE I I SLOWLY A PALE HAND EMERGES! POCKET RUBBER STAMP . Ruts your I Sinister little black box sits quietly, name and address on stationery, books, waiting for some one to throw on the packages, checks, other personal belong- switch. Then suddenly it comes to life! ings. Large type provides a clear, easy- Whirs, twitches, jumps as if a mad to-read impression— like expensive print- SORRY, NO C.O.D.'s Add lOc per item for postage, genie were locked in! Slowly, lid rises. ing. Small, compact-weighs less than handling and insurance. Clutching hand emerges, pushes switch an ounce. Handy case contains continu- (Enclose a check or money to "off", disappears in box. Again all ous self-inking device. Specify name, I order with your order) is quiet-except your friends! ^4 95 address, city, state ggf ^ THE AMERICAN the first LEGION MAGAZINE Cover by thing Benn Mitchell-Shook to save Contents for December 1960 for your 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement C. Moore 11 THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF A BELOVED POEM. old age THE NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION by Robert B. Pitkin 12 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WILLIAM R. BURKE. THE HIGH COST OF RUSSIAN CULTURE by Esther Julia Pels 14 THE BENEFITS, FOR THE MOST PART, GO TO THE RUSSIANS. THE SAGA OF DOG COMPANY, 5TH MARINES by James C. Jones. 16 THE CASUALTIES IN FIVE MONTHS WERE 400 PERCENT. GIFTS THAT COME IN SMALL PACKAGES 18 SCIENCE HELPS SANTA BY MAKING THINGS SMALLER AND BETTER. THE REBIRTH OF A RIVER by Jack Denton Scott 20 THEY KILLED THE FISH TO MAKE FISHING BETTER. DOES YOUR Gl WILL STILL FIT YOU? by Allan J. Parker 22 THE CHANCES ARE IT IS TIME YOU DISCARDED IT. THE NATIONAL CONVENTION 24-44 Features SOUND OFF 4 ROD AND GUN CLUB PRO & CON 10 EDITOR'S CORNER . 6 AMERICAN LEGION ABOUT BOOKS 47 PERSONAL AFFAIRS 8 SHOPPER PARTING SHOTS ...64 POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to P. O. Box 10S5, Indianapolis 6. Ind. The American Legion Mogozlne is published monthly ol 1100 West Broadway, Louisville, Ky., by The American Legion. Copyright 1960 by The Americon Legion. Second-class postage paid at Louisville, Ky. Price; single copy, 15 cents; yearly subscription, $1.50. Nonmember subscriptions should be sent to the Circulation Department of The Americon Legion Mogozine, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis 6, Ind. IS YOU! CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Notify Circulation Dept., P. O. Box 10S5, Indianapolis 6, Ind., using Post Offic* Form 3578. Attach old address label and give old and new addresses and current membership card number. Also be sure to notify your Post Adjutant. And since doctors estimate that one in four of us will develop can- The American Legion The American legion Magaxine Midwestern Executive and Editorial & Advertising Offices Advertising Soles Offic* at time in lives, cer some our what Administrative Offices 720 Fifth Avenue 35 Eost Waclter Drive Chicogo Illinois better investment than to learn Indianapolis 6, Indiana New Yorli 19, New York 1, how to guard yourself against it? William R. Burke, Notional Commander, The American Legion, Indianapolis 6, Ind. The American Legion Publications Commission: More than a million Americans are Donald R. Wilson, Clarksburg, W. Va. (Chairman); Fleischer, St. Louis, Mo.; Herschiel L.