The Empty Chair, Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1944

For the third year in a row, the extended family gathered for their traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Cousins, aunts, and uncles always looked forward to, and treasured, this special day. And as it has been for the past two Thanksgivings ,one chair sat empty. The plate was set, silverware all nicely polished for the special day, standing ready for the guest who would not be attending.
And as it has been the past two years, conversation was a bit subdued, and understandably so, for the son who always occupied that particular place at the table, was several thousand miles away, as he had been since October 1942.
He would have his own Thanksgiving dinner with his temporary family, members of the Army. On this day, as they ate their Thanksgiving meal, which they wrote home to tell their families was an excellent meal, especially considering the conditions under which they had become accustomed to, these men had a chance to talk back and forth about their individual families scattered across the country’s annual Thanksgiving traditions.
Their break in the war, just a few short hours long, was enjoyed by all, knowing that within several hours they would once again be engaged in battle.
In the Wednesday, November 22, 1944, <i>New Glarus Post</i> Katherine Theiler, co-owner/editor with her husband, Art, wrote the following, in her weekly front page column, THIS and THAT, a column of local happenings and her thoughts.
<i>“Thanksgiving again tomorrow and already the third Thanksgiving that some of the boys in service have been away from the family table. Time used to be, that when Thanksgiving came along, prayers of praise and thanksgiving were said on that special day for our country and the peace it knew, for advantages of the people living here and for the special care the Almight seemed to have given our nation. This year’s Thanksgiving prayers should be humble. Those of us, that still are privileged to have our loved ones at home for the day, will appreciate it, more so than ever before, but we will not thank God that we have been specially blessed any more than we can thank God that ours is the only nation at war that has not yet been bombed. Thanksgiving 1944, should remind us of the need all over the world and spur us to do more than we have been doing for the millions who need our help—the wounded men, who need the dressings we fold, the Prisoners of War, who are helped by us through the Red Cross, the lonely boys and girls all over the world (and in our case for the New Glarus Post) and the hungry and homeless people in the ravished countries, the parents, the wives, sweethearts, and children waiting at home, who will appreciate just talking about their loved one, and above all Thanksgiving 1944, should bring many, many a prayer for a lasting Peace, soon to come.”
The weekly column, NEWS of Men in Service, each week carried information and letters about the local men and women serving in the military.
<strong>November 22, 1944</strong>
Robert Gmur, German prisoner of war writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gherig, under the date, August 14, that he has received two food and clothing packages; also several letters from his parents, from his brother Joseph and wife, from aunt Mollie Gmur, and cards from Ed Fuhrmann and N.K. Zweifel and thanks for everything. One package of three cartons of cigarettes was sent him by the Legion Auxiliary. This is the first letter they have had from Robert in two months. His address is: PFC. Robert F. Gmur Prisoner of War No. 22273, Stalag 2 B Germany.
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Gmur, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gmur, is now in the Philippines. His parents had not heard from him for some time until the recent letters from the Philippines arrived this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Kehrli on Tuesday had a letter from their son, Sgt. Arnold Kehrli Jr., now stationed in the Dutch East Indies where he has been transferred recently.
Nothing has been heard from some time from Harold Maurer who was stationed on the Aircraft carrier Essex, which is believed to have been under fire in recent action.
Pvt. Ernest Maurer writes that he is recovering nicely from wounds in a hospital in England, and is able to be up and around. He says that in another month or two he may be back in the front lines of action.
T-4 Emil W. Wittwer arrived at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois last week, after 32 months of service in the Southwest Pacific area. He is the son of Mrs. Anna Wittwer.
Pfc. Alfred Zimmerman has been cited by the 351th infantry regiment of the “88th Blue Devil” division and awarded the combat infantryman’s badge for actual participation against the enemy. He is with Lieut. Gen. Mark W. Clark’s Fifth Army in Italy.</i>
<strong>Let George Do It!</strong>
Our country has been at war now for two years, eleven months and eight days. We slip daily farther and farther from a one hundred percent backing of a war effort. Why is it there can be so many people whose consciences say, “Let George do it. Let George fight the war. Why should I exert myself?”
It seems to be a law of human nature that people will enter into a thing with enthusiasm, but only a few will carry a thing to completion. Someone has a suggestion for a party or picnic. Fine, a dozen people are ready to go. But what happens? Sally ends up buying all the supplies and Joe gathers the firewood and gets a blaze going. The others mean well, but it’s so much easier to “Let George do it.”
It is also true that in times of sorrow and tragedy human beings tend to gather together for protection and condolence. A flood or wind storm levels a community and each is ready to help his neighbor. A danger threatens and all band together to see it through. But, some stick with it longer than others. The rest decide the peak of danger has passed and they will rest while others ward off the lessening threats.
Seeing a movie such as “Since You Went Away” very forcefully brings to ones being the realization that only a small core of people are IN this war. Those whose immediate families are touched, those who have a vacancy in the family circle, those who spend each day with a dread in their hearts, they are the people who are NOT letting George do the job nearest to them. They do it themselves.
“They” are the young girls who work 48 hours at a regular job and then have time to do nurses aid work or spend one evening a week in a war plant because there came a plea “for more batteries or bullets”. They are the mothers, who with gnawing uncertainty about a “missing in action” message in their hearts, calmly go about their housework, then join a Red Cross Circle or a war relief group. “They” are the fathers who, tired and drawn, to try to do not only their regular job at home and at the office or factory, but the extra things their Johnny might do if he weren’t away flying a plane or carrying a bazooka.
“They” are the folks who aren’t letting George do it cause they know that George needs all the help he can get, and the more help he can get, the more help he gets the sooner the war will be over.
And, at the top of the “they” column, are the very top of the heap of those who do not let George do it all, are the G.I. Joe’s themselves.