tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post7244356329645088546..comments2023-07-04T10:09:25.824-07:00Comments on The World War II Letters of William Wellington Taylor, Jr.: Letter 164- December 24, 1944Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-3967221744729571512009-12-09T15:50:25.658-08:002009-12-09T15:50:25.658-08:00Regarding "SOS" my father used to make ...Regarding "SOS" my father used to make reference to this on the rare occasions we had chipped beef on toast at the Taylor household.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-76791442922305461302009-12-09T15:47:29.659-08:002009-12-09T15:47:29.659-08:00I guess this shows that even on the very front lin...I guess this shows that even on the very front lines routine housekeeping had to be performed on a daily basis.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-44937296544471458692009-12-07T08:57:04.838-08:002009-12-07T08:57:04.838-08:00Edible garbage doesn't sound very appitizing. ...Edible garbage doesn't sound very appitizing. Did they actually cook that stuff? Maybe that was the "S" on "SOS"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-48840568982832149012009-12-06T13:39:46.671-08:002009-12-06T13:39:46.671-08:00If I'm not mistaken, that photo is at the end ...If I'm not mistaken, that photo is at the end of chow. Those gas heaters go into garbage cans full of water to provide cleanup for mess gear. You scrape off the remaining solids into a can (edible garbage), then hook the top and bottom (sometimes called a meat can) and the utensils (which have holes in the handles) onto the handle. Don't forget the canteen cup which sits inside the canteen on your rifle belt. <br /><br />You start by dipping the equipment into the first garbage can which has soapy water. There might be a long-handled brush to assist in the washing. <br /><br />Next comes the first rinse, just dunk to rinse off the soapy water. Last is the second rinse, really hot water to hopefully sanitize the mess gear for the next meal. <br /><br />In the 50s I supped with Dad's National Guard unit and learned the drill from real veterans. The equipment was undoubtedly of WWII vintage.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885277626153324891noreply@blogger.com