The American St. Nick
Peter Lion
(Reviewer - Rebecca Brown)
2003 Windriver Publishing
ISBN: 1886249083

The 28th Infantry Division Signal Corps brings a Christmas gift to the town of Wiltz in Luxembourg during WWII.

The American St. Nick is based on the true story of American soldiers who donated their gifts from home, military cooks who baked sweets, & Corporal Richard Brookins, who borrowed clothes from the local priest & then rode through town as St. Nicolas to the delight of children & parents alike.

Thus begins a unique story of compassion soon clouded by the trials of war & the distance of time -- clouded, but not forgotten. For that joyful day touched the hearts of generations who reached out across an ocean to the surprise of those living with us today, & honoring the memory of those who stayed behind.

The American St. Nick starts in November of 1977 with Frank McClelland retracing his war memories across Europe. He stops for the night at a little country town in Luxembourg, on his way into Germany where he was captured & spent the rest of the war as a POW, missing the Battle of the Bulge.

While eating dinner at the Hotel Bellevue, which had been an American HQ for a while, before the Germans retook the area, the owner introduces two men who invite him to visit the town's war museum, up on the hill in Wiltz Castle. One display catches Frank's eye: faded black & white photos of a man & two young girls in festive costumes, sitting in a Jeep, surrounded by children.

As one of Frank's guides, Karl Mueller, explains in halting, heavily accented English, this was the American Saint Nicolas who brought so much joy after four years of German occupation & intimidation, when every male was conscripted or sent to slave camps, every effort of the towns people to thwart the Germans was met with executions, & every simple joy forbidden.

In this quiet castle, in this idyllic town that momentous day of liberation has never been forgotten. Now, after 30 years of rebuilding what the war had destroyed, Karl Mueller wants to invite the original American Saint Nicolas to their annual celebration. He was in the 28th Division. Would Frank find him for them?

Frank is stunned: there were thousands of soldiers in the 28th Division. How on earth can he locate one man after all this time? Karl is sure he will find this American GI. Here is his name -- Richard Brookins. Of the 28th Division. Karl is confident, Frank is not.

Back at home, Frank thinks of the one friend from the war he still connects with. John Vrabel works for the telephone company, & within the time it takes Frank to set a load of laundry going, John has located Richard Brookins in Rochester. Frank calls Karl Mueller with the news.

In 1944, the 28th Infantry Division of the 112th Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard, known as the “Keystone Division”, had been fighting its way through the French countryside ever since D-Day. Around Thanksgiving they were cycled out from their rotation in the Huertgen Forest, & billeted for some R&R in a picture-book town in the Ardennes.

There, Corporal Richard Brookins, a lanky, dark-haired 22 year-old cryptographer, in charge of showing reel-to-reel movies to boost morale, is chowing down in the mess hall when Corporal Harry Stutz joins him. As Richard eats, Harry talks, & what he has to say, intrigues his friend. It seems there is a custom here that on December 5, Saint Nicolas comes to town to bring Christmas. For four drab & frightening years, the children of Wiltz have not seen Saint Nicolas. Wouldn't it be a kick if they changed that? Oh, & by the way, General Cota thinks it's a grand idea.

& before he knows it Richard is drafted into the Christmas Party to beat all parties. & Harry knows exactly where he can get a costume. From the local padre, Father Wolffe.

The American St. Nick is a fine recollection of one shining moment in a horrendous conflict when the soul of the American soldier came out from behind his Warrior face. Just as it often does in Iraq & Afghanistan today. It is a tale simply told of bringing joy to some needy children & their community. It is also the story of how one town never forgot the GIs who gave of their bounty, such as it was, & by doing so resurrected the Spirit of Christmas for a devastated people.

In this time, when our Veterans from World War II are realizing how much we all need to hear their stories, The American St. Nick is a heart-warming one grandfathers can share with their grandchildren, helping them to see that behind the face of the Warrior beats a father's heart.

Highly recommended!
(11/21/04)

Rebecca