Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Images of the Post-Armistice Thanksgiving: 28 November 1918









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Here's an additional menu from the first year of the war for the AEF from reader Dan Anthony:

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4 comments:

  1. How can I post images? I have scan of an invitation pamphlet for Thanksgiving of 2017 at Ft. MacArthur, Waco TX (training camp) for USA 32nd Div., 125th reg., and Co K listing menu, including listing of all men of the company, (including my grandfather), a menu, and IMO a somewhat silly poem. Many of the men listed there would not survive to see Thanksgiving in 1918.... Perhaps representative of the rest of the USA at the time.

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    1. Thanks Mike. This invitation image listing the entire Co.K complement was actually valuable in the reconstruction of my Grandfather's war history. Pvt. Alva Cook was a "runner" for Co. K and severely wounded and disabled at Juvigny, France. He later applied for and received the Purple Heart medal, plus the Silver Star for rendering aid to a dying officer (2nd Lt. Wm. Rust also died at Juvigny the same time as his wounding). Even small stuff like this turned out to be significant.

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  2. My grandfather, Chester A. Bower of Philadelphia, served in the 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, and this unit celebrated Thanksgiving in Damvillers. They put on a satirical parade before settling in to eat, and were addressed by Major General Joseph A. Kuhn and other high ranking officials. I have two NARA photo records of this address, thanks to Randy Gaulke, who found them for my trip to the Meuse-Argonne with him in 2017. Would be happy to upload them if I knew how! Thanks for this posting - Valerie J. Young

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