Dad Wrote “Chateau of Chow” Mr. Cain wrote ” Chow, St. Max”
I was reading on the Veterans Facebook page and they were asking for stories about Thanksgiving while being deployed. I wondered what exactly where dad was and what he was up to. Here is his letter from that day.
23 November 1944, near Chateau-Salins, France
My Darling Wife,
Say Mommie you don’t know how near you came to not getting a letter tonight. After chow I put on water and took a bath and washed my pinkies. Then made my bed laid down and was almost asleep. Had I completed the letter you would have been neglected, but today being Thanksgiving I just couldn’t do that. We sure had a good dinner. Turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, peas and carrots, raisin bread apple cobbler and of course coffee. It was really good too. But supper killed that. Spam again. Say in case you can’t read this I’m all cramped up trying to write in bed. Have to be in a bad position in order to see. Again I didn’t get any mail. But a couple of men got packages so we ate. But again that isn’t helping my morale anyway. We still have tomorrow though and when we haven’t that to look forward to we won’t need the mail. Have been looking at our picture. Honey you know you’re the prettiest woman I know. Gosh I love you so much my darling. If I don’t get on the ball your [sic] going to miss tonight-anyway. I got to thinking about you and that’s as far as I got. Gee honey I miss you so much. I haven’t anything to say now except how much I love you. I love you so much my Darling. I hope you and Jr are getting along ok. I wouldn’t want either of you getting sick now. It just won’t pay. I love you honey. I love you so much. I love you. I love you.
All my love,
your husband, Lefty
Please take a moment and say a prayer for all those deployed. I hope they are not having to eat Spam
notsofancynancy 
How sad he was… and I’m sad with him, that he was so far away on Thanksgiving…
By: easyweimaraner on November 28, 2014
at 3:45 am
I am glad they got to eat turkey dinner, but how sad his next meal was spam? Dad always bought Spam when we were camping so I wonder if when we did if it brought back memories of the war. This is something I never thought about before.
By: notsofancynancy on November 28, 2014
at 6:54 am
Most of our deployed soldiers are eating a good Thanksgiving dinner, those at outposts I am not sure but positive it ain’t spam. MRE’s are actually pretty good but no substitute for a turkey dinner. 🙂
By: Patty B on November 29, 2014
at 3:13 pm
So glad to hear Spam may not be a part of their diet. I am sure they came a long way with the MRE’s and am glad that dad got a good meal in 1944.
By: notsofancynancy on November 29, 2014
at 8:47 pm
Which I am sure was a rarity! I think of our soldiers often especially those that served over seas before emails, skype and phone calls. How lonely it must have been for them.
By: Patty B on December 2, 2014
at 4:59 pm
Lefty’s letter is so heartfelt… I wonder what emotions surged through you holding it.
I am so happy they all got a “normal” family meal out there. Meals like this were sure morale boosters, weren’t they? I’m sure a picnic table would have been nice.
By: Mustang.Koji on December 13, 2014
at 9:55 am
It was amazing holding and reading each one of dad’s letters. I felt blessed. I am glad they got something close to a real meal. It shows someone cared they were fighting and tried to give them a bit of home in an otherwise ugly war.
By: notsofancynancy on December 13, 2014
at 10:23 am