Camp Sheridan, Ala.
Nov. 28, 1917
4:30 P.M.
My Dear Dad: -
Well, the biggest part of the day is over. The Dinner was great. However it was not as elaborate an affair as it was a year ago on the Border. We had turkey, oyster dressing, pickles, bread, butter, jelly, peanut butter, mashed potatoes, gravy, celery, cookies, doughnuts, olives, apples, oranges, grape-juice, and coffee, followed by pumpkin pie. It sure was some feed.
I saw that each fellow got a cigar, after dinner. They each asked that I thank you for them. It was the only smoke that was given the boys and they all appreciated them.
Last evening for supper we had oyster stew, and we had a light breakfast, so we were already for the big feed this moon.
I had my breakfast at the Stockade, steak, smothered with onions. The prisoners had the same menu as had the other companies for dinner.
Rec. Mother's letter for Nov. 25th, also one from Uncle Billy. The box arrived O.K. but I could not find the pictures. Did you forget to put them in? I enjoyed the contents of the box very much, & thank all of you for same. All of the boxes from the Aux. arrived O.K. and contents enjoyed. On the whole our Thanksgiving was a complete success.
Some of us were sorry to hear that Scott won the game over Waite - 19-0 as the report came. It must have been a good game.
Hope Thurlow Bachman gets better now that he is home. Everybody is well & happy in our company.
I heard about Dorothy Engfer, several says ago. Went to town the other night, met lot of my old pals.
As for my transfer, there is not much to tell, except that after trying vainly six or seven times to get it, I was just about ready to give up. I decided that there was one more way open. So I crabbed at everything I had to do, in fact I crabbed all the time, finally Maj. Wilson got so tired of hearing me grumble at everything, that he was glad to get rid of me, so he asked if I still wished to go back to the Co. I said "No" and he said I could go if I wished, so I said, "Well it doesn't make any difference to me anymore. However I would just as soon go." He then got me my transfer. So you see how I worked it. As for a promotion, I think I get one as soon as there is a vacancy again. Lt. Shaffer gave me a nice little talk and from that I rather surmise that I'll get something as soon as he can get an opportunity.
Love to All
Howard
The above photo from the National Archives is from 1918 (not 1917), but it is Thanksgiving at Camp Sheridan. Good to know turkey and pumpkin pie is still going strong, although the plethora of oyster dishes apparently got lost from the family Thanksgiving traditions at some point.
A little history about Waite and Scott high schools. Waite opened for the 1914-15 school year, so if Howard was a graduate, he did not attend there all four years. Waite replaced Central High School. Howard's sister, Marion, was five years younger than he was, so she was likely a student or would attend Waite the following year. Scott High School opened in 1913, and a football rivalry quickly soon developed for the new schools after Waite opened. From 1914 to 1963, Waite and Scott played each other in football Thanksgiving morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment