In early December, staff at Cambridge American Cemetery received an unexpected holiday card. “Imagine our surprise, when we opened it to find a beautiful reproduction of a wartime Christmas Card,” said Suzie Harrison, interpretive guide at Cambridge American Cemetery. “We were really moved when we discovered the story behind the card.”

Soon after Americans first started arriving in Britain in 1942, TSgt. Charles James Meriwether, Jr., found himself posted overseas.  Assigned to the 367^th Bomber Squadron, 306^th Bomber Group, which flew B-17 Flying Fortress’ out of RAF Thurleigh, Meriwether served as an engineer and top turret gunner. The crew flew in a B-17 (42-24486), nicknamed “Man o’ War”, named after a famous racehorse of the time.

On November 9, 1942 the aircrew was sent on an experimental, low-altitude mission to Saint-Nazaire, France, located on the northwestern Atlantic seaboard. The Germans had built a heavily fortified U-boat submarine base there, and the area also served as a major harbor—two elements which made it a rich target for Allied operations. The thick concrete ceiling of the submarine pens could withstand significant bombing, causing the Allies to direct many missions there in the hope of crippling the packs of U-boats  attacking Allied shipping convoys.

Heavily defended, any mission to Saint-Nazaire at the time proved to be very dangerous.  While few details exist about the specific mission of “Man o’ War” that day, the bombers flew unescorted by fighters. The well-defended port was typically supported by heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire. “Man o’ War” went down in the Atlantic 10 miles off the coast of Saint-Nazaire, taking Meriwether and the rest of the crew with it. Their remains were never recovered and all of the men are commemorated on the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery.
 

When Meriwether’s personal effects were sent back to his family, they included a set of Christmas cards. More than 75 years after his death, his great nephew Richard Weaver wanted to honor his family member who gave his life during World War II. “My mother recently gave me a stack of old Christmas cards printed in England,” said Weaver. “My grandfather’s brother, Charles James Meriwether, Jr., had signed one of the cards, but the others were blank. I have recreated this card, the only one he signed, so that his message could reach new generations all over the world.”