Christmas celebration with returning World War II Veterans, Williston, N.D.

It was on the Christmas-New Year's week, 56 years ago, when 3,200 World War II soldiers, sailors, Marines, and Airman (plus a few WACS [The Women's Army Corps.] and SPARS [United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve]), on their war's-end journey, were entertained in one day during quick visits to the Williston Servicemen's Canteen at the Great Northern Depot. Legion hostesses in the photo were Mrs. Wesley Smith, Sylvia Penman and Shirley Wilder. Unfortunately, no one thought to recored the names of the soldiers. ; Photographic prints; 8 x 10 in. ; "Most enjoyable event Dec. 31, 2001 Best Little Stories Shemorry Disregard writing on back of photo"--Handwritten on paper taped to back of photograph "#1 Servicemen's Canteen Christmas Day 1945 Photos from Bill Shemorry files"--Handwritten on back of print ; Title created by staff. ; William E. "Bill" Shemorry was a native of Williston, N.D. who began work in the newspaper industry as a newsboy selling the Williston Herald and the Williams County Farmers Press. In 1953, he started to publish the Williston Plains Reporter, which he operated for 25 years before selling to the Williston Herald. Shemorry then began to concentrate on his own writing and photography. In addition to writing many books on the history of Williams County, he also collected photographs of early North Dakota photographers. Shemorry was an active member of the Williston Fire Department, was Civil Defense Chief of Williams County for three years in the 1950's, and was a combat photographer in World War II. Shemorry's photograph of the discovery of oil in North Dakota on April 4, 1951 at the Clarence Iverson No. 1 is one of the most famous oil photographs ever taken, and was published in many national publications. ; The quoted description is from Shemorry's caption that was published with the photograph in "Some Called it 'the Most Enjoyable Event in the History of Williston'" in the Williston Daily Herald, 2001-12-31, p. 1A. This photograph appeared in a series entitled "The Best Little Stories of ...