Thanksgiving 2024
A time to reflect and give thanks, not just watch football
This image would have been made in 1944, when the 103rd Infantry Division, of which they are part, was working its way through France. It’s much more typical of the way GIs get Thanksgiving dinner in the field, when they were lucky enough to get anything more than more C-rations.
I did this at least twice.
Having to commemorate Thanksgiving this way makes you appreciate the other ways that much more, and I have to admit I do, indeed.
Here’s three Marines in Korea, probably about 1951, chowing down on turkey legs, which we never saw in the field. When we got hot A’s for Thanksgiving, it was a processed roll.
There was also, often, a scene like this: young families celebrating at home. Most military families have young kids at home. I stood a shift for a guy once so he could be home with his kids on Christmas. I think that’s what Thanksgiving’s all about.
I was going to say I'm a day late, but it's never too late to say Thank You.