Thanksgiving menu Archives

6 December 1943

Dear Folks:

I want to see ‘Yank at Eton’ at the show but first better answer yours and Nancy’s letters. I know from the tone of your letter that you are becoming very concerned, especially about Dick but I believe that if you could see him now as I have, you would feel that he would take good care of himself. I can understand your references to Dick’s pictures. They do work hard and undergo strenuous training but it’s all for their own good. I know that the Army is broadening him and making him aware of things he didn’t realize before. Next Sunday I hope to fly over and spend five days with him. This time we will get the pictures you wanted last time. Guess, I didn’t mention Thanksgiving in my letters. We had everything and plenty to eat. After dinner most of us took it pretty easy and don’t think I didn’t spend minutes thinking about home. I don’t think I thanked you enough for the box you sent. The chain was the perfect thing—as a matter of fact I had lost my GI one a few days before so yours came at the right time. When the rush is over I will send you some things. Tomorrow my pictures will be done and will send them right away. I think they are pretty good too. The pictures of Dan and Carol are extremely good and I couldn’t help but think how fast and how much they have grown. Yesterday, Sunday, spent a full day and saw a good show. Went to the local football game that compares to the game on Thanksgiving at home. Before the regular game, was a duel between two barefooted teams, and then a kicking exhibition barefooted. They can kick a ball sixty to seventy-five yards. Dan should see them. Then a small airplane landed on the football field and presented the captains of the teams with the ball for the game. Anyway, I had a good time and lots of fun looking at the people and watching the cheering sections. Haven’t written to B. Emick yet but guess I ought to. Well, believe this is about enough for this time. Had my eyes examined today for a new pair of glasses—reading so much evenings puts a strain on them but they are not bad at all. Plan to have a bridge put in for the tooth I lost and the dentist, a civilian, says it will be about $30.00 so might have to ask for some more money. Well let’s make this goodnight and don’t you worry.

Love,

27 November 1942

Dear Folks:

I’ve neglected you for the past three days but a combination of circumstances were responsible, not altogether my own laxity. Anyway to recover a lost round here goes. I can easily imagine what is uppermost in your mind. Bet everybody was having a swell time all day for the home circle with the wedding and the following fiesta. Well that’s for you to give me the lowdown on—so I’ll give you the dope as it happened on my holiday. The day coincided with my pass day so I slept in until nine o’clock, then loafed around until noon. We were all epicurean artists. They had everything from legendary soup to nuts—with about two pounds of turkey per head. We even inveigled a quart of wine to use in the sauce. When I got up I felt like Harry Johnson looks and had both belt ends flapping away from a tortured stomach. I could only look sadly at the coconut frosted cake and pass it by. In the afternoon I went into town, had a few beers and returned to camp. The liquor situation is pretty acute and places open only as shipments permit. Yesterday being a holiday, a few places were open and everyone was filled.

I sent Katie a message but afraid it didn’t reach her in time—anyway you can forward it to them. Now I’ll chew my nails until the pictures get here and your letters giving me the scoop. From the time I got up yesterday I imagined everything that was going on at the minute—but with my limited familiarity with nuptial rites I’m afraid my imagination went awry. Dick as an usher forced quite an imagination.

Yes, Captain Olson is still my CO.

I think this (is) all I can compose this time. I write about the battery once a week in the paper—perhaps I should send you the clippings as memoirs.

It’s another Thanksgiving gone into history and let’s hope that on the next one we’ll be thankful the war is over.

Buenos Noches tonight.

Love,

23 November 1941

Dear Folks:

I’ve been a little slow in writing this time—last week seemed a very fast one. Thanksgiving Day was the hi-spot of the last fast week. Everything was in traditional Turkey Day setting and food was more than plentiful. To give the layout of menu we had of course all the most delicious turkey we could push down, potatoes, candied sweet potatoes with marshmallows, celery, ham, corn, beans, two kinds of pie, two kinds of cake, nuts, cranberry sauce, ice cream, dressing and probably other things I’ve forgotten about. It was all beautifully laid out cooked just right. Unfortunately I was on KP duty all day so had to work the holiday. I ate, as we all did, leftovers and I was almost waddling instead of walking.

Probably the thing that added most to the hurried flight of the week was that our radio training began in earnest on Monday. The first thing of course is to master the international Morse code. We sit at long tables opposite each other and listened by the hour to the code as it comes from the tape. Almost all of the fellows, after the first horn, feel they can’t tell a dot from a dash and will never learn the d— stuff. It does become depressing to hear the constant taboo of the sounds. Also we have classes in map reading, organization and duties of message center personnel, and the different kinds of code used by radio operators. We have three textbooks and a notebook. It’s all very interesting.

But of course what was most looked forward to and what made you all seem closer was the overflowing box. I certainly have a grandiose array of supplies and eats. It was so much appreciated especially when the work and care and money that you put into it was considered. It was a real delight to open it and wonder what each grab would produce. To get such a show of love from home, makes me recall times when my own conduct was anything but appreciation and gratitude in return for the deprivation and care that goes into the building of twenty years in a boy’s life. Anything I could write would be inadequate. But the candy and cookies were really swell and the rest of the items are all necessities that almost certainly are needed.

I guess this covers my past week’s activities, so so long for a while. And I still think I should say thanks again for the box. Mrs. Carroll sent a box of candy so I had 3 in all.

All my love,