- Historical Date: November 22, 1940
- Location:Camp Beauregard, Louisiana
Photo: Willie La Vanture, Harold Lund, and Carl Stenberg with their “steel spring cot, heavy mattress, sheets, [and] two woolen blankets”.
This Army Life is Great Stuff, Says Sergeant
Muskegon Men Gain Three to Eight Pounds at Beauregard, Look at Thanksgiving Menu!
Army life is definitely agreeing with the men of Company G, now in training at Camp Beauregard, La., First Sergeant John Groulx reports in a letter to The Chronicle.
“The men have gained on an average of three to eight pounds a man since arriving in camp,” the sergeant writes. “The army really does build men!”
A look at the Thanksgiving Day menu of Company G convinces anyone that the men had something for which to be thankful. It consisted of roast turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed peas and corn, cranberry sauce, bread and butter, pumpkin pie, ice cream and cocoa.
Long underwear has been issued to the company but was promptly stored away in foot lockers as the warm climate has made it unnecessary yet, and cool nights are offset by the company’s thoroughly adequate equipment, according to Sergt. Groulx, who reports that each man is now equipped with a steel spring cot, heavy mattress, sheets, two woolen blankets, a kapok comforter, pillow and pillow cases.
Persons writing to men in camp are asked by the sergeant to make sure their letters are correctly addressed. Correct form is “Private John Doe, Company G, 126th Infantry, Camp Beauregard, La. Letters so addressed are assured of prompt delivery.1
Reflections
For the mobilized National Guard, the first Thanksgiving away from home sounds like they at least had all of the comforts of home. The Army certainly went to great lengths to tell the people back home that their boys were doing well and had “thoroughly adequate equipment.”
- “This Army Life is Great Stuff, Says Sergeant.” Muskegon Chronicle, 22 Nov. 1940.
1 comment
From the Curator of the Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum located at CP Beauregard what a wonderful picture if anyone has more and would like to share please contact me at 318-641-5733 or richard.b.moran.nfg@mail.mil. Thank You