Fifty Years Ago Today, December 26, 1965

Viet Cong

Smash Truce

The Viet Cong carried out "several low level actions" against U.S. and Vietnamese forces before the end of a 30-hour Christmas cease-fire period, a U.S. military spokesman said Sunday.

Christmas Blaze

Fire at noon Saturday swept away the happy Christmas celebration of a First Cavalry soldier's wife and three small children, destroying their home and all their possessions. Clad only in pajamas, Mrs. Thomas A. Ballard, wife of a sergeant now serving in Viet Nam, grabbed up her young daughter and two small sons and fled outside where they tearfully watched their trailer home burn to the ground.

Debutante Ball

Seventeen debutantes will be presented Tuesday night at the Cotillion Club's gala annual Christmas Ball, which will begin at 9 o'clock at the Columbus Country Club.

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Fifty Years Ago Today, December 26, 1965 ."