Thanksgiving 1944: Gratitude and Grit during World War II

Eighty years ago, Thanksgiving arrived amid a world at war, providing a day gratitude that was fully intertwined with the stark realities of a deadly global conflagration.

On the home front, Americans adapted to a holiday marked by rationing and the absence of loved ones. Families gathered around tables with modified feasts, setting empty places to honor those serving overseas. When they happened to arrive in mailboxes, letters exchanged between the front lines and home provided comfort and a poignant reminder of shared sacrifices.

"Celebrating" Thanksgiving wouldn't have been the right description for those at home because so many of their young men were in danger--and yet people were still thankful for what they had. The observance of Thanksgiving had changed since the war had begun for Americans in 1941. College football games had been canceled because there were so few eligible men to play. The Macy's Day Parade had been suspended because the rubber traditionally used in the balloons was needed for the war effort.

Meanwhile, on the front lines, soldiers shared modest Thanksgiving meals in foxholes, finding solace in camaraderie amidst all the chaos of war.

At Home

On Thursday, November 23, 1944, World War II raged on. Thanksgiving in the United States was characterized by wartime austerity; yet, the day remained a profound observance of gratitude, hope and unity. Families contended with rationing of essential items like sugar, butter, and meat, adapting their holiday meals to fit the constraints imposed by the war effort. Despite these challenges, the spirit of Thanksgiving endured, emphasizing family unity and national solidarity.

The importance of faith was especially present during this time, with special church services held not only in local communities but also in makeshift chapels on the battlefield, providing soldiers a moment of solace and connection to home. These gatherings, both at home and abroad, were poignant expressions of hope and reflection during a period marked by widespread conflict and sacrifice.

The united effort at home to uphold Thanksgiving traditions during the war demonstrated a national solidarity, uplifting everyone involved—both those at home and for those serving overseas. It was a shared effort that strengthened their commitment to both country and one another.

Abroad: During Thanksgiving in 1944, American troops stationed overseas faced a bittersweet celebration amidst the turmoil of World War II. Despite the harsh conditions of war, military chefs did their best to replicate the traditional Thanksgiving meal, providing a semblance of normalcy to boost morale. In liberated parts of France and remote Pacific islands, troops were treated to turkey or chicken, accompanied by improvised versions of stuffing and cranberry sauce, offering a taste of home away from home.

The significance of the holiday was recognized by military commanders, some of whom orchestrated brief pauses in the fighting to allow soldiers to celebrate. Letters from loved ones back home, filled with words of encouragement and holiday cheer, were especially welcomed, serving as a crucial emotional link between soldiers and their families.

In a letter dated November 23, 1944, Captain Durwood J. Smith, a medical doctor on the Western Front during World War II, described a memorable Thanksgiving celebration at a Dutch monastery. He wrote to his wife, Sue, about the monks' hospitality: "Sue, be happy that these beloved 'Men of God' out of the greatness of their hearts could give us a memory to carry with us always." He recounted how the monks prepared and served a meal in their library, a "big, beautiful room" adorned with flags and drawings. The event included a choir performance and piano music, providing the soldiers with a temporary respite from the hardships of war.

Throughout both the European and Pacific theaters, efforts were made to ensure that wherever possible, soldiers could enjoy a taste of Thanksgiving with turkey and the traditional fixings, sometimes sourced from tinned or rationed supplies. These meals were often shared in foxholes or on the decks of ships, reinforcing camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose among the troops.

The USO played a critical role in these celebrations by organizing special Thanksgiving shows featuring celebrities like Bob Hope, who traveled to war zones to perform. These performances were certainly entertainment, but they were als a vital morale booster, offering laughter and a reminder of the world beyond the battlefield.

Amidst the chaos and turbulence of a global war, Thanksgiving 1944 provided a poignant moment of unity and reflection for Americans deployed abroad, and through that lens, we’re able, 80 years later to get a glimpse of extraordinary human spirit in the face of extreme adversity.

In Europe

In late 1944, American forces engaged in significant battles across Europe, with the war's outcome hanging in the balance. General Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered that every soldier in the European theater be provided a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving.

From September 1944 to February 1945, American troops fought the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, one of their longest battles on German soil. The winter was harsh, the terrain unforgiving, and the enemy well-prepared, resulting in heavy casualties.

Lieutenant Paul Boesch's unit received orders to deliver a hot turkey dinner to soldiers entrenched on a perilous hill. Despite the risks, the meal, complete with cranberry sauce and cigars, was transported to the front. However, a sudden German artillery barrage struck, resulting in numerous casualties. The intended celebration turned somber, as the soldiers faced the harsh realities of war even during a time meant for gratitude.

Lieutenant Charles Scheffel from the 26th Infantry Regiment, part of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, recorded his Thanksgiving experience during this battle in his memoirs. He described a surreal moment of calm on Thanksgiving Day when the troops were served turkey, a brief pause in the relentless chaos. "The artillery was still going," he wrote, "but for a few minutes, we could almost pretend we were home."

Approximately 200 miles south in France, the U.S. Seventh Army, under Lieutenant General Alexander Patch, began the liberation of Strasbourg. Major Jack Rogers of the 463rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion recorded:

"Thanksgiving Day, 23 November, 1944 found the 314th underway to an assembly area at the eastern end of the pass near Saverne. ... That night, due west of 2nd Battalion’s position at Bois de Geudertheim, the 311th FA BN stumbled into enemy forces who had strayed from their units due to the breakthrough at Saverne. The cannoneers held fast, and the next morning, 2nd Battalion policed up 130 POWs from the Bois. ... A Battery lost a truck & gun and their uneaten Thanksgiving turkey when a French tank detachment fired on them. The Army, God bless it, replaced the turkeys and trimmings with dazzling speed, so the troops got their Thanksgiving."

In the Pacific

In November 1944, two significant battles in the Pacific theater were raging.

Leyte Campaign (Philippines): In October 1944, U.S. forces, alongside Filipino guerrillas, initiated the invasion of Leyte to liberate the Philippines from Japanese control. By Thanksgiving, the battle remained fiercely contested. On November 22, near Limon, Leyte, the 1st Battalion of the 34th Infantry Regiment faced relentless rain and intense enemy assaults. On November 23, Thanksgiving Day, the Japanese did not renew their attacks, though sporadic automatic weapons and artillery fire persisted. The combined efforts of American and Filipino fighters were crucial as they engaged in intense combat to reclaim strategic control from the entrenched Japanese defenders. This campaign was pivotal in weakening Japan's hold in the Pacific and facilitating General Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines.

Arthur Veysey, a Chicago Tribune reporter, wrote:

"I remembered Thanksgiving Day in the mountains. Dinner consisted of powdered soup, Spam, biscuits, a bar of pressed figs, a stick of gum, and four cigarettes. And that had taken two days to get there. Alligators had carried it part way; Lawrence Figg and others toted it the final miles up the hills. I had asked Ted Walker what he was thankful for. 'To be alive,' he said."

Battle of Peleliu: Initially expected to be a swift operation, the Battle of Peleliu began on September 15, 1944, but extended into November due to unexpectedly strong resistance from Japanese forces. U.S. Marines and Army troops encountered brutal fighting conditions against well-entrenched enemies. The U.S. military made efforts to provide Thanksgiving meals to troops in the field, including those on Peleliu. If hot meals couldn't be provided, boxed rations were issued.

Wilfred "Swede" Hanson requested Thanksgiving meals for his troops, which were delivered in thermoses that the troops had to retrieve from the water. The battle, one of the bloodiest in the Pacific, concluded on November 24, 1944, the day after Thanksgiving, lasting 72 days instead of the few initially anticipated.

A Convergence of War and Celebration

During World War II, the battles across the European and Pacific theaters were fierce, with soldiers engaging in intense and often close-quarters combat. These battles resulted in significant casualties and played a crucial role in determining the course of the war. The soldiers, far from their homes and loved ones, faced immense hardships, clinging to hope and carrying out their duties amidst the chaos of war.

Thanksgiving in 1944 brought a poignant moment of reflection for both the soldiers stationed abroad and their families back home. Despite the backdrop of relentless warfare, the holiday provided a brief respite and a chance for emotional connection. Families in the U.S. tried to maintain traditions, sending care packages and letters to convey love and support, while soldiers found solace in receiving these tokens of home.

In his 1944 Thanksgiving Proclamation, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated he would officially:

"...proclaim Thursday the twenty-third day of November 1944 a day of national thanksgiving; and I call upon the people of the United States to observe it by bending every effort to hasten the day of final victory and by offering to God our devout gratitude for His goodness to us and to our fellow men."

In England, services were held in small churches nationwide and notably in Westminster Abbey. GIs extended hospitality to war orphans, often forgoing their own turkey portions so that these children could experience a hearty meal. By the war's end, approximately fifteen million children across the United Kingdom and Europe had lost their parents. And yet, on Thanksgiving 1944, the war continued, and the Battle of the Bulge and the Pacific battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa loomed.

In many ways, Thanksgiving 80 years ago was a convergence of violence and celebration—moments of gratitude amidst the widespread horror of war demonstrated the innate human ability to find connection and solidarity even in the darkest of times.