Men in Uniform

[imalegionnaire]

“GI’s do justice to their Thanksgiving dinner, the first meal served in the newly-opened mess hall at Poltava Airbase, a shuttle mission base in Russia. November 1944.”

[imalegionnaire]

“On 25 November 1943, a long line of men formed outside the mess hall on Alexai Point Airbase, each waiting for his turn to be served the traditional Thanksgiving dinner–the first Thanksgiving celebrated by military personnel on former American territory recaptured from the Japanese. The men are members of the 28th Bomb Group and the 54th Fighter Group, stationed on Attu, Aleutian Islands.”

[imalegionnaire]

“Mess hall personnel ready to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the men of the 13th Air Force who have formed a long chow line outside. Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 25 November 1943.”

[imalegionnaire]

“This sketch, by American illustrator Alfred Waud, depicts a Thanksgiving celebration at a Union camp in 1861.”

[imalegionnaire]

Servicemen Around the World Have Thanksgiving Turkey, November 25, 1969

Creator: Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer. (09/18/1947 - 02/28/1964) (Most Recent) Record Group 111: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1860 - 1985 “Hundreds of thousands of U.S. military men and women around the world will receive their Thanksgiving turkey, even men in remote posts in Vietnam. With the official menu announced by Department of Defense including the traditional bird and all the fixings, only those personnel assigned overseas and on board ships will enjoy shrimp cocktail due to the devastation of most of the U. S. gulf coast shrimp during Hurricane Camille last August. These men, stationed at Little Creek, Virginia board LCU (Utility Landing Craft) 1625, partake of just a portion of the holiday foods which will be served to the American fighting men and women around the world. A total of approximately 2,800,000 pounds of turkey, 192,000 pounds of shrimp, 787,500 pounds of potatoes, 383,933 pounds of cranberry sauce and 350,000 pounds of fruitcake await the U.S. military personnel on this American holiday. According to the Department of Defense, the same basic menu will be served on Christmas Day.“

[imalegionnaire]

“Admiral William Halsey having Thanksgiving dinner with the crew of battleship USS New Jersey, his flagship, 30 Nov 1944″

[imalegionnaire]

“Front cover of Thanksgiving menu, Pusan, Korea, 1954. Eban Fisher Collection (AFC2001/001/43215), Veterans History Project.”

[imalegionnaire]

“23 November 1944, GIs enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner somewhere in a barn, a requisitioned, or an abandoned building. It was always a treat to obtain some real hot chow with all the trimmings, and many a soldier ate until he got sick … unfortunately many others had to do with cold food outside …”

[imalegionnaire]

“L-R: PFC Victor R. Sheets; SP4 Jim L. Barstad; and SP4 Clint R. Bath of D Co., 12th Inf Regt., 3rd Bde, 4th Inf Div, enjoy their Thanksgiving Day dinner at LZ St. George. 27 November 69.”

[imalegionnaire]

“At Alexai Point, Attu, Aleutian Islands, Officers Of The 77Th Bomb Group And The 54Th Fighter Group Do Justice To The Tradition Thanksgiving Dinner – The First One Celebrated By Military Personnel On Former American Territory Recaptured From The Japanese. 25 November 1943.”

[imalegionnaire]

“SP4 Robert Brodersen, Hq Co, 12th Inf Regt, 3rd Bde, 4th Inf Div, loads the Thanksgiving Day meal on a UH1D helicopter that will take it to LZ St. George. 27 Nov 69.”

[imalegionnaire]

“Camp Lejeune marines take a training break to enjoy their Thanksgiving meal.”

[imalegionnaire]

“SP5 John L. Cooper of Hqs Co., 12th Inf Regt., 3rd Bde, 4th Inf Div., loads marmite cans filled with the Thanksgiving Day meal for D Co., located at Landing Zone St. George. 27 Nov 69.”

[imalegionnaire]

“Members of Co D, 116th Engr Bn (Cbt), are served Thanksgiving dinner at the base camp. 27–28 November 1968.”

[imalegionnaire]

“WWII: Air Force During the Air War in Italy (1944)

The Italian Campaign of WWII pitted the Allied forces against the Germans and Fascist Italians. Thanksgiving fell right around  the middle of this campaign. While British forces were living off of dehydrated meat, potatoes, carrots, and expired biscuits, Americans ate roast turkey, fresh vegetables, and fresh white bread, unlike any meal the soldiers had since the war begun”.

[imalegionnaire]

“Members of Co D, 116th Engr Bn (Cbt), are served Thanksgiving dinner at the base camp. 27–28 November 1968.”

[imalegionnaire]

“First Army Maneuvers in the Carolinas. These [Black] children are eating Thanksgiving dinner with VI Army Corps in the field. November 23, 1941.”