Photo: Richard Brookins as St Nick in a parade in Wiltz during WWII
Below is the heartwarming story by William Haupt III about Richard Brookins, the soldier who became Saint Nicholas and brought joy to the hearts of children in the small war-torn town of Wiltz, Luxenbourgh during World War II, a demonstration of the true nature of the American GI.
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The day an American GI became Saint Nicholas
Little Mountain 5 | Wikimedia via Creative
Commons
“Sometimes celebrating a special day together
can bring peace to a world at war.”
– Harry Stutz
It was the night before Christmas in the small Luxembourg
town of Wiltz, as World War II paused one day. Throughout the town, not a
creature was stirring, not even a mouse. But no stockings were hung by the
chimney with care. Because of the war, the children had no hopes St. Nicholas
would be there that Christmas.
As the children lay restlessly huddled in their beds,
there were no sugarplum fairies dancing in their heads. The only thing within
their heads was the continual sounds of the non-stop Nazi war machine instead.
As they drifted off to sleep, they prayed for one gift on the next morrow’s
Christmas Day: That Saint Nicholas would deliver peace and make all wars –
forever go – far away.
Millions of battlefront children were victimized during
World War II. They endured starvation, rationing, gas mask shortages, abuse and
molestation while living with strangers and enemies they did not trust.
Children accounted for 10 percent of the deaths during
WWII. The physical and emotional impact on battlefield children robbed them of
their childhood. They only remember huddling in safe places to escape the
bombing, the stench of the dead in the streets and the fear of being left all
alone as they ran from one shelter to another. They never knew if they’d have
food the next day, and who in their family would be the next to die. Each day
was a living hell and they wondered why:
“Men who have no personal quarrel should be
trained to murder one another in cold blood.”
– Aldous Huxley
The small town of Wiltz, Luxembourg, had been occupied by
Germans for four years and was the object of brutal reprisals. Resisters were
executed or sent to concentration camps. This hell on earth took a sabbatical
in September 1944 before the town's liberation. The impoverished people had
nothing to celebrate during the German occupation, especially Christmas.
But for a short while, that would change when the 112th
Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard was sent there to heal their
battle-ridden bodies and bury their dead. They welcomed this opportunity after
suffering heavy casualties during the battle of Huertgen Forest in Germany.
“None of us ever thought we’d ever like being
stuck in pitch tents in the middle of Luxembourg in December.”
– Richard Brookins
For GIs stationed at Wiltz, the interim peace offered
them a time to reflect on the yuletide holidays without the lethal sounds of
war bereaving the serenity of Christmas. As Corporal Richard Brookins peered
into the dim lights of the village, he saw dead plants on balconies in the
ruins of demolished homes. There were remnants of store signs and street
markers dotted with temporary food carts in the town square. But there was nary
a sign of Christmas anywhere. Yet this town had celebrated every year with a
St. Nicholas Day parade. Corporal Harry Stutz, a friend of Brookins’, turned to
him and remarked: "Hey Dick! I think we should give this town a Christmas
party, on St. Nicholas Day.”
Brookins agreed. “Yes, let’s make it happen. The children
look so sad and it's Christmas time!”
For centuries, they celebrated on Dec. 5 on the eve of
St. Nicholas Day, when a man dressed as St. Nick pranced through town giving
the children treats. But they had not done this for five years and many kids
had never seen St. Nick. With a little divine intervention, they persuaded
Father Wolffe to lend them his cassock, cape, and miter hat. They fashioned a
beard out of rope. Soldiers donated candy and the cooks baked cakes. But they
had a big problem? Who was tall enough to wear the cassock? By default,
Corporal Richard Brookins got the honor.
Photo: Corporal Richard Brookins
“I had never played Santa and didn’t want to
wear those fancy robes and hat. But nobody else was the right size."
– Richard Brookins
Knowing the parade must be over by the time Sunday Mass
started so Father Wolffe could retrieve his vestments, they arrived at Wiltz
convent school in midmorning. The nuns helped Brookins dress in Father Wolffe's
vestments. They made a train from an old cape that trailed behind him. Two
girls dressed as angels were St. Nick’s helpers. This special holy trinity
climbed into an army jeep ready to depart for the town square for the
celebration. As Corporal Stutz put the jeep into gear, Father Wolffe blessed them.
"May God and the spirit of Saint Nicolas
be with you always."
– Father Wolffe
Women and children along with men from the 28th Division
lined the streets. One played songs on a guitar as children sang and danced. As
the jeep arrived, the children’s faces glowed as bright as the star of
Bethlehem! The American St. Nicholas greeted each child in broken German and
dished out the tasty rations the soldiers provided. This newly ordained St.
Nick made the sign of the cross and blessed each child as they told him what
they wished St. Nick would bring them. After an hour, the trinity climbed back
into the jeep and scurried back to the convent.
“When they said, Dick, you gotta do it for
the kids, I didn’t know how much it would mean to all of us also.”
– Richard Brookins
When they returned to the convent, Mother Superior
thanked Saint Nicholas: "The children are very happy. They will remember
this as long as we all shall live." Saint Nicholas blessed his angles and
Father Wolffe retrieved his robes in time for evening Mass. Brookins, remaining
in character, turned to the church and made the sign of the cross. He climbed
in the jeep and waved as it left for camp. For most of these children, this was
the first and last time they’d see St. Nick in their shortened, war-filled
lives. Two weeks later, Wiltz was decimated. Over half of its inhabitants were
killed. Wiltz was in the center of the Battle of the Bulge that totally
annihilated almost every town within its warpath.
Everyone in Luxembourg celebrates St. Nicholas Day, but
Wiltz’s St. Nicolas is an American. Each year, someone is chosen to be
“American Saint Nicholas.” And he goes through the town greeting children and
giving treats. The celebration ends before mass at the convent. Brookins
returned in 1977 and 2009 to be their GI St. Nick again.
At 92 in 2014, he was
St. Nick on the 70th anniversary of the GIs sharing their love with the
terror-stricken, war-torn children of Wiltz. As an ailing Richard Brookins left
the convent for the last time, he turned back to face the tearing crowd. Sill
in character, the forever loved American St. Nick raised his hand toward
heaven. While making the sign of the cross he said,
“God Bless you on St. Nicholas Day from every
GI in America.”
– Richard Brookins
It was more than a party for the children in 1944. It was
an act of love and kindness to help temper the pains of occupation and the
brutality of the executions deeply ingrained in the people of Wiltz. Seven
decades later, the impression it made on Wiltz is forever lasting. It was a
benevolent act at a time most needed. It was a bestowal of brotherly love from
American GIs, who had ventured so far from the security of their country to
dethrone an atrocious, heinous dictator and deliver freedom to the doorsteps of
Wiltz. These GIs gave them a gift that keeps on giving: America sharing its
liberty with the world.
“There's something about an American soldier
you can't explain.”
– Marlene Dietrich
Saint Pope John Paul told the world one Christmas: “War
is a terrible thing and the children suffer most.” These GIs felt the pain of
the battle-worn children of Wiltz and brought love and joy into their
war-shortened lives. They gave them the best Christmas they ever had. These
altruistic GIs proved “it is not difficult to bring people together on one
special day a year.”
Brookins died Oct. 11, 2018, at the age of 96.
To this day, the people of Wiltz place flowers on the
graves of the GIs who gave their lives during the Battle of the Bulge. A Merry
Christmas to every GI who has gifted the world with liberty from every free
world country! And on this special day let us all remember:
“Above all, the soldier prays for peace.”
– General Douglas MacArthur
William
Haupt III - Contributing Columnist William Haupt III is a retired
professional journalist, author, and citizen legislator in California for over
40 years. He got his start working to approve California Proposition 13.
