I have had many wonderful Christmases since that Christmas Eve in 1944. I was able to marry and spend 56 years with my lovely wife and help to raise our three children.

Each consecutive Christmas has been surrounded by grandchildren and now, great-grandchildren. None of these memories would have ever been possible if it wasn't for that fortuitous night when the "enemy" gave a ship full of men the gift of peace and one of their best Christmas memories possible.

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About today's author

Lee Wayne Maloy, South Jordan, was born and reared in California. He served in the Merchant Marine until after he was married. He has three children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. After leaving the Merchant Marine, he returned to California and was a factory worker. He later started his own swimming pool business and had many celebrity clients, including Rosaline Russell and Pat O'Brien. He was a pallbearer at Russell's funeral. After retiring at age 68, he, along with his wife, Grace, moved to Utah to be near their children and grandchildren. His wife of 56 years recently passed away.