Thanksgiving Dinner for Army Air Corps Cadets (ca. 1943)
Description:
This black and white photograph shows Army Air Corps cadets dressed in casual uniforms with name tags lined up to be served their Thanksgiving dinner in the mess hall at Springfield College (ca. 1943). They are pictured carrying trays with apples, bread, and turkey. Cafeteria workers are seen serving the soldiers. There is a typed description written by the Press Bureau at Springfield College on the back of the photograph. At the start of World War II, Springfield College served as training grounds for the Army Air Corps, which allotted the college $90,000 for upgrading facilities. In the spring of 1944, the training program was canceled; in order to conserve its assets for expanded postwar operations in the face of decreasing student enrollment, Springfield College negotiated a contract with the U.S. Navy to serve as a Naval Special Hospital. The Navy allotted $75,000 to bring the college up to the mark of a naval hospital, and the first contingent of one hundred and fifty patients arrived on September 22, 1944. It was estimated that five hundred patients could be served. Alumni Hall was used as the hospital, and the old dormitory (now called the Administration Building) became administrative offices and housing for nurses and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Typed description on back of photograph
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