How was Thanksgiving Through The Years And Wars celebrated?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 08:43:50 -0500

http://taskandpurpose.com/thanksgiving-through-the-years-and-wars/

I hope everyone's Thanskgiving was a pleasant one and I wanted to share this old post about how

Thanksgiving Through The Years And Wars was celebrated?

Let's not forget those men and women that were deployed this Thanksgiving and celebrated it away from home in serivce of our nation.

Great piece on the Thanksgiving Holiday and how veterans of the past celebrated this holiday! Check out the pictures and video.

RP Members do you have any stories to share?

I can remember when deployed serving the troops on Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Through The Years And Wars

See how American service members have celebrated Thanksgiving at war going back decades.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Nov 25 at 2015 8:52 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 08:52:03 -0500

Seeing this picture, my daughter would ask, "did they even wash their hands?"

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2015 9:28 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 09:28:43 -0500

Sir, you should be an Official Historian for the US Military.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Nov 25 at 2015 10:14 AM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 10:14:28 -0500

Well, at least some were able to celebrate...unfortunate for those who did not.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Nov 25 at 2015 10:53 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 10:53:20 -0500

I think my most memorable was when deployed in the Med, and the Navy League did a T-day dinner for us at a club in Minorca...

I never saw combat, so I can't share those memories...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 25 at 2015 12:43 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 12:43:24 -0500

Thanks for sharing this Thanksgiving history COL Mikel J. Burroughs. I certainly had a few interesting Thanksgivings while I was in uniform. :-)

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 25 at 2015 8:26 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 20:26:34 -0500

I remember two Thanksgivings in a row I was inside a Scott Tent with the Preway heater going and cans of C-Rats on the the top to heat. I remember thinking about who the Dumb A was that scheduled the traverse to resupply a science group at Marble Point or wherever. When we showed up, they talked about the turkey etc. they ate that was delivered by the Huey. Those were the days the military was considered a necessary evil to run a bunch of the Antarctic operations. Only the science gods were allowed to wear the red USARP jackets.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 26 at 2015 12:55 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 00:55:30 -0500

I spent many a Thanksgiving deployed on a ship eating cold half-cooked turkey!

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Nov 25 at 2016 9:08 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 21:08:48 -0500

I sure remember the great Thanksgiving dinner at Da Nang, Viet Nam in 1968 even stateside the Airman Dining Halls serve a great Thanksgiving dinner. While stationed in Hawaii a friend of mine who was a Major in the USMC had me and another friend of mine for two years in a row spend time with His family for Thanksgiving dinner. That was so great ! Another Base an Aunt and Uncle that lived near the base had Me over for Thanksgiving dinner. I enjoyed each and every one of those meals !

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 25 at 2016 11:52 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 23:52:45 -0500

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Nov 26 at 2016 12:10 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 12:10:53 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Nov 26 at 2016 9:54 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 21:54:49 -0500

Great share COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Response by SPC Miguel Rosario Cruz made Nov 27 at 2016 12:38 AM

SPC Miguel Rosario Cruz — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:38:05 -0500

I love it happy thanksgiving to you

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Nov 27 at 2016 2:09 AM

TSgt Joe C. — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 02:09:52 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I've always been with family and friends back home. This holiday season, I am away from them all but I take comfort being on this remote tour with some of the best Airmen in the world!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2016 7:49 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 07:49:42 -0500

Man I have had some good ones! From hitting every MKT In the dust bowel at NTC, to candle lit MRE's with my hubby. To turkey loaf in the Stan with my awesome ops crew, to having junior Soldiers over for dinner this Thanksgiving! Thanks for bringing back all those memories!

Response by MAJ Alan Reiter M.A. made Nov 27 at 2016 9:05 AM

MAJ Alan Reiter M.A. — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 09:05:52 -0500

Thank you Colonel Burroughs for the above post. My family enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving together. Having spent many Thanksgiving's away from home working or on military duty, I always think of those first responders who are not home for the holidays. I also have fond memories of my assignment during three years in the 1970's as the Battalion Support Platoon Leader / Dining Facility Officer decorating the Dining Facility, drawing the holiday class A ration, preparing it and serving it in the Mess Hall. The reaction of the troops was always worth the effort.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2016 4:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 16:04:53 -0500

Thank you for the share Sir.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2016 8:56 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 20:56:21 -0500

Great story COL!!! Thanks Giving was always a great time. Not always easy but when you're in line at chow is when I looked over at what the cook had to go through. Yup it was always a great meal.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Nov 27 at 2016 11:02 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 23:02:41 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs it is probably time to put that photo into circulation again.

Response by PFC James Craft made Nov 27 at 2016 11:54 PM

PFC James Craft — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 23:54:01 -0500

First Thanksgiving in the Corps I was on Mess Duty turkey and dressing and eggnog in a vat at the end of the line. After we closed for the day everyone gathered around the eggnog and someone pulled out a big bottle of Wild Turkey so we had extra Turkey for the holiday.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2016 10:40 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 10:40:22 -0500

these older photos really make me feel thankful for the times we live in

Response by PV2 Anthony Bembenek made Dec 3 at 2016 10:36 PM

PV2 Anthony Bembenek — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 22:36:51 -0500

Only Thanksgiving I had in service was at boot. Being NG and never being activated for deployment never had drill on many holiday weekends, but as a Navy brat had many without my father about. My hats off to you and utmost respect for all who have had to go through any holiday away from home, especially if you were in some hell hole under the worst conditions.

Response by LCpl Jaime N. made Dec 5 at 2016 11:01 AM

LCpl Jaime N. — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:01:19 -0500

My first Thanksgiving in the Marines, I spent on barracks restriction in Millington, TN and my 3rd Thanksgiving was in Iwakuni Japan and that whole 6 month deployment is either a black out or a blur. I'm sure I went to the chow hall at least once when i was there, but for the life of me, I can't remember it.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Dec 5 at 2016 2:53 PM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 14:53:16 -0500

They are eating off trays from a military field kitchen. Times were tough, but the Marines tried to keep the troops fed and fed well.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Jan 18 at 2018 9:53 PM

CH (LTC) Robert Leroe — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 21:53:56 -0500

My childhood memories of Thanksgiving as an Army Brat were about going to the mess hall with my folks. Far from relatives, but with our extended, military family, and an awesome meal, more food than anyone could fix at home. At my first active duty assignment, my parents visited me and I took them to the mess hall where my Bn Commander went out of his way to welcome them. It was a special moment I'll never forget.