January 12

The place was Korea, the hour midnight. It was bitter cold, the temperature below zero. A big battle was building for the morning. A burly U.S. marine was leaning against a tank eating cold beans out of a can with a penknife. A newspaper correspondent watching him was moved to propound a philosophical question: “Look,” he said, “if I were God and could give you what you wanted most, what would you ask for?” The marine dug out another penknife of beans, thought reflectively, then said, “I would ask for tomorrow.” Perhaps so would we all – a great tomorrow.