The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-09-17

meal all right, weakened though we
were by the firewater. continued
to impress him. The only obstacle
I hit was his reminder that I would
be spending Thanksgiving on kitchen
police.
We parted when told him /
couldn't get out Of a reception !
had to attend at 2:30. / had suffi-
GENTLY impressed him and, with the
aid Of Providence, / might be able
to borrow money from him occa-
sionally back at Fort Bragg.
The meal cost me nothing, but
the fifty-cent tip was staggering. II
worst should come to worst, I could
always hook my watch. If had q
watch.
Thanksgiving Day-with all its
roast Vermont turkey, its pies and
fruits, its candies, and free ciga-
rettes-was just another day to me.
Phooey to it.
Our mess sergeant, one Orville D.
Pope, was disgustingly cheerful
when he awoke me in the morning.
please 60 away" / said. "Just
60 away and let me gently curse"
"Oh, Private Hargrove," he
crowed, 1--WE have so much to be
thankful for. So very, very much!
We have food, and warmth, and
freedom!"
'Food, we've got" / growled. EN-
Guiding potatoes, with Feelings to
peel. This is my 678th potato this
morning. I don't need coal for
warmth when I'm bathing myself in
sweat. And freedom? See, I am
Laughing bitterly! It is Thanksgiv-
ing Day and am peeling pota-
toes and washing dishes for the
orgy. Phooey to Thanksgiving"
Sollie Buchanan, the cook, who
was student with me in Battery A,
strobe up humming that maudlin
old grammar-school song about
cover the river and through the
woods, to grandfather's house we
CO."
''It is a glorious day." drooled Pri-
vate Buchanan. sit does my old
heart good to think Of the expression
on those boys faces when they see
that Thanksgiving dinner"
"Repress yourself, Pappy," I
asked him. ''It is not to think Of
the dinner. / am thinking Of the
sinks overlooking with dirty dishes
left by those gluttonous hogs. It
was not enough that we had trays
to wash. Now we have to have
improvements. Now we have to
have china plates. And cups. And
soup bowls. And silverware. hate
progress!"
Better leave the lad alone, Pap
py," sighed Sergeant Pope. "He is
pouting and will not enter into the
spirit Of the day. He has done wrong
and is paying for it now"
Private Buchanan and the mess
sergeant busted themselves at the
ovens. / sat there ferociously jab-
bling at potatoes and muttering
wildly. Three times ! scowled at
the sergeant, but he wasn't looking.
Maury Sher, my bosom compan-
ion from the cooks battery, came
racing in through the back door.
Maury was slated to be transferred
to cooks job at Madison Barracks,
New York, and would be leaving the
following day.
eff you have come to extend the
seasons greetings, comrade," told
him YEARLY, kindly do not trouble
yourself. To paraphrase Dickens,
any fool who goes about with Happy
Thanksgiving on his lips should be
boiled in his own slumgullion and
buried with CT breadstick in his
heart. Do not attempt to cheer me-"
"I'm not going to Madison Bar
racks" he shouted. ''I'm staying
here. Right here in the Replace
ment Centerl I'm going to be a mess
sergeant in the antitank battery. A
mess sergeant!"
-
! WAS dawdling over a huge choco-
late nut sundae the other night at the
Service Club cafeteria when John
ny Lisk walked in with someone
who was dead ringer for Simmons
Jones of the Charlotte News staff.
Anyone who is a dead ringer for
Simmons Jones can't be anybody
but Simmons Jones, ! decided, SO
! gave the low whistle. The two
saw me and came over.
It was Simmons, all right. He
looked as if the two things he needed
most at the moment were a haircut
and kind word Of sympathy. He
had the look Of utter futility known
only to those who have been in the
Army for less than ten days.
'Well, boy" I asked him, chow
do you like the Army? And you
don't need to lie about it,"
II don't think I'll ever get used
to it," he said. 1--WE been pushed
and crowded and yelled at for
week now, and it doesn't get any
better. Maybe I was just born to
be q civilian"
"You should have seen Johnny
and me when we got in" told him.
''That's been only four months ago,