The 121st US Army Infantry Division marching through Hürtgen during Thanksgiving 1944.
An order was passed by command that EVERY man in the field should have a Thanksgiving meal…unknown to command was the fact that the Germans had their positions zeroed in with their artillery. Soon as the men received their food the Germans opened up and many many US Soldiers died.
The effect lasts to this day:
“I sat in a trench with my pals, eating and laughing when Jerry hit us with everything they had. When it was over…I sat there looking at what was once my friends. To this day I still cannot eat turkey on Thanksgiving.”-SSgt. Thompson F Company