Ebook: Christmas 1945: the Story of the Greatest Celebration in American History

The American spirit and the role of Christmas is examined when President Truman delcares a four day Christmas weekend for federal employees, a hiatus unique to American culture. The U.S. Military launches Operation Magic Carpet to get tens of thousands of GI's in Europe and Asia home for Christmas, and at home, the U.S. Army and Navy launches Operation Santa Claus to process those thousands of GI's for discharge in time for Christmas. With happy spirits, the veterans set out for home, clogging rail depots, bus stations and airports creating, at that time, the greatest traffic jam in the nation.