Evolution of a tradition

 

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

 

As every American schoolboy and schoolgirl knows, “Thanksgiving” has been recognized in America since the colonial era – pilgrims breaking bread with Indians – with the first Thanksgiving said to be a three-day harvest-celebration in 1621. But Thanksgiving was and is in many ways an American military tradition; with the first official day of “Thanksgiving” having been held during the American Revolution when Gen. George Washington proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to coincide with a victory celebration after the British defeat at Saratoga in 1777.

But it wasn’t until Pres. Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation in 1863 — during the American Civil War — that Thanksgiving Day became an annual federal holiday. In his official proclamation, Lincoln called on all Americans “to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next [later changed to the fourth Thursday in November], as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

The following year, a few U.S. military units celebrated with prayers to God, toasts to the nation and to their families, and a special dinner; but the U.S. Commissary was stretched far too thin to provide a special meal for the entire wartime army.

The Union League Club of New York City did, however, launch a campaign aimed at providing special Thanksgiving Day meals for all Union soldiers, sailors, and Marines in 1864. But it would be another 50-plus years, during America’s 1917-1918 involvement in World War I, that Thanksgiving became a special day for the military celebrated with a traditional dinner, and a reflection upon — according to President Woodrow Wilson — “the great blessings God has bestowed upon us.”

During the period between the world wars, Thanksgiving dinners in the military became increasingly special. The military services being smaller in those peacetime years were more conducive to closer bonding. Officers’ families were very involved. Food preparation and presentation became more elaborate, and dinners included printed menus with holiday artwork featuring harvest scenes with turkeys and pumpkins combined with eagles, banners, and military crests.

During World War II (1941-1945), near Herculean efforts were made to transport hot Thanksgiving dinners to troops on the frontlines or in the most remote areas. Meal convoys were often under fire as they made their way toward even the most heavily engaged troops on the most dangerous roads and in the worst weather conditions. Those soldiers who could be rotated off the frontlines were ordered to the rear for Thanksgiving dinner and much needed rest.

On Thanksgiving Day in Korea, 1950, U.S. troops (just days before being attacked en masse along the bitter-cold Chosin Reservoir) remember cooks driving out to the forward-most positions. There they opened up huge insulated containers and served up turkey with all the trimmings on tin trays. “You had to eat fast because everything was turning cold,” said William Davis, a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman with the 1st Marine Division. “The gravy and then the mashed potatoes froze first. The inside of the turkey was still warm. Boy, you ate fast. And all the time the snipers were shooting at us.”

In 1967-68, during the height of the Vietnam War, the Armed Forces Recipe Service was established which standardized recipes and helped coordinate food planning and prep between all services. Consequently, though the menus may vary today between services and theaters of operation, the recipes used to prepare most of the Thanksgiving Day dishes in the military are the same. And with the exception of more choices, the menus have changed little since World War I. Turkey has always been served; as has dressing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pies — with pumpkin pie being the most prevalent.

Gone are the days when many soldiers and sailors complained about “Army food” and “Navy chow.” No one today is griping about the military’s special Thanksgiving Day fare. And on most bases – from large domestic posts to remote outposts throughout the world – officers and senior NCOs will be in the serving lines (as they have for years now) serving Thanksgiving dinner to their fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.

Hope this helps to explain the tradition as it has evolved within the American military. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and may God continue to bless America.

 

 

 

– W. Thomas Smith Jr. – a former U.S. Marine rifleman – is a military analyst and partner with NATIONAL DEFENSE CONSULTANTS, LLC. Visit him at http://uswriter.com.

 

 

 

 

 

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