Gobble gobble. 'Tis the season.
Here are a few blog posts and a diary entry from past Thanksgivings. The diary entry is actually my father-in-law's from his book And There Shall Be Wars. These notes were from a week in Italy, 1944.
Much to Be Grateful For (Thanksgiving 2007)
Mumbai Heartbreak Hotel (Thanksgiving 2008)
Turkeys Gobble (2010)
Journal notes from my father-in-law's diary during World War II
Woke up early with a little headache. Layed in bed and recalled how I spent other Thanksgivings. Probably the happiest, and one that will live long in my memory was at Payne in 1940 when the folks, Pa and Ma, Rod, Arlene, and Dick came up there with a dinner Mother had cooked. Took Mom and the kids out to the car when they left, with Bird pulling the sleigh.
Cleaned up this room, carried in water like I do nearly every morning. Shells came in last night, but not in our area.
Got 2 letters, from Mom and Ruth Eliason, and Time magazine.
We had our dinner at 2:00, which consisted of turkey, potatoes, dressing, and cherry pie. Good, but not exceptionally so, though I am thankful to have had that much. The fellows put up a hospital tent with tables where we ate. Some fellows gave a little entertainment after dinner. A few acts, songs and music.
Didn't go to the battalion. Cloudy and dreary all day, a big contrast from a year ago.
The present offensive in France looks encouraging; French troops have crossed the Rhine and captured Mulhouse.
November 24th to December 2, 1944
Spent the time at the rest center in Montocatini. Very boring, and I didn't even have a note-book with me for notes. It was in between Florence and Pisa.
Sunday, December 3, 1944
Had to make 2 trips last night. Back about 11:00. Had a package, a letter from Ray, and 2 from Mom. Up at 7:00 this morning. Tried to clean up my peep. It rained while I was gone, and everything is mud again.
Cleaned up and shaved. The old nervous tension grips a fellow as he hits the line again. Quite a few shells coming in while I was at the battery. To the battalion tonight, or late this p.m. actually. Another package from Aunt Myrtle.
* * * *
A strange Thanksgiving in a strange year.
I just read that the governor of Connecticut is fining families $10,000 if they socially gather for Thanksgiving this year. Maybe it only applied to small businesses, since I am not finding the original article. A 10K fine for failing to enforce protocols there, and no fines at all for vandals who destroy businesses in Portland. Very strange disparities. Either way businesses lose.
The Apple store there (in Portland) was gutted earlier this year and hasn't re-opened. A restaurant owner was on the news saying how it was a shame his neighboring businesses were vandalized. They burned his restaurant to the ground the next night.
Yes we have much to be grateful for. But I'm sad for the destruction that is taking place in many of our cities. Let's pray that 2021 will give us a turn for the better. This is a year man will hope they can soon forget.
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