When Memorial Day arrives, I think of my dad and his stories of WWII. He didn’t tell me many until the last days of his life, but I have a collection of them in my head and remembering them is a way for me to remember him and celebrate him along with the others who’ve fought for our freedom.
The Goose and Black Coffee is one of my favorites, so I’m sharing it here today for my dad and all those others. Most of what I’m sharing is correct, but this is a story from an old memory, passed on to me some years ago and from sketchy notes in his photo album. The essence of the story is the best I can do.
France May, 1944
It was a gray day and the four dogfaces were tired and cold, in need of a place to sleep out of the weather. Their stomachs growled for something to eat. As they drove down a country road, they spotted a spiral of smoke. There was nothing unusual in seeing smoke, but even from a distance it didn’t look like a house was on fire. And it wasn’t a field. As they came nearer, they saw that it was a fireplace. That meant they might find something to eat and a place to take shelter before joining up with their unit. They were recon, so they often were ahead of the others and more frequently across enemy lines than behind them.
At the farmhouse gate, they pulled their Jeep to a stop. This place had escaped the bombs. The barn was still standing, and one lonely goose wandered out, then flapped its way around the side of the house, which was also untouched by the war. They might have driven off, my dad said, but they couldn’t resist the aroma of freshly brewed coffee coming from that house.
When they entered the kitchen, it was clear that the family had been there moments before my dad and the others got out of the Jeep. They poured themselves some coffee, and as my dad recalled, he’d never tasted anything quite a wonderful.
Now their stomachs really cried out for something to eat and that goose was out there and this might be the last real meal any of the men would have for weeks. The goose gave its life for the U.S. Army that day, and my dad, who was always handy in the kitchen, seasoned it and put it into the oven. Now all they had to do was wait. They were dry. They were warm for the first time in weeks. They’d soon have enough goose to last until D-Day, they joked.
They kicked back and savored the scent of sizzling goose and were debating about a quick nap when the bombs started raining down on them. Like my dad said, “We were not leaving that goose or that coffee behind.”
They grabbed the partially cooked goose from the oven, the coffee from the stove and jumped into the Jeep. With the goose and coffee secured between two of them in the back, they drove off, barely escaping the bombs.
It took them three days to find another house with a workable stove and oven, but when they did, they also found several unbroken bottles of wine. They stuffed that goose back into the oven, reheated the coffee and uncorked a little wine–maybe a lot of wine.
Above this picture my dad wrote, “Photo below brings back memories. Had a goose in oven of home with all veggies and big post of coffee going. 10 minutes after photo we were under heavy fire. Carried that goose for 3 days with that coffee before we could do it justice.”
Dad’s looking kind of serious second from the left. Not the best shot of him. |
Here’s the “Recon Fox” that Disney presented to the 93rd Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized that my dad was part of. I love looking through his collection of photos and notes. I find something I didn’t know about each time.
Quote of the Week: “A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and woods, it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.” George William Curtis
Choo Say says
It's a great story, I love visiting in this blog.
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Jacqui Murray says
That is a wonderful story–don't know how I missed it. I was rooting for the goose and the guys, but really, the goose understands from goose-heaven above.
Toinette Thomas says
I had a great uncle who fought in WWII, but his experiences weren't the type people like to talk about. Still, I enjoyed this story. It's nice to be able to have a personal connection to history; to have those mementos and memories. I like that quote you put at the end.
Lexa Cain says
What an amazing story! They were so brave to be on recon and be behind enemy lines so much. Maybe your dad was looking so serious wondering how long the goose would take to cook. (I can never figure that stuff out.) I love the Disney mascot! 🙂
Arlee Bird says
Great story! Couldn't help but wonder about the family that had left the house. There might be an interesting family story that they passed on as well.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Karen Lange says
What a story! It's nice you have stories and mementos to treasure. Appreciate you sharing them with us. I also appreciate your Dad's service. Have a great weekend!
Tamara Narayan says
Wow, what a story. I'm reading a book set in WWII right now called Lilac Girls. It's brutal, but a great read.
Sharon M. Himsl says
So glad it ended nicely and they got to eat their goose!
DEZMOND says
that is how it is in war!
Heather R. Holden says
Aw, great story. Love how determined they were to keep that goose and coffee with 'em!
Guilie Castillo says
What a jewel of a story. In its lightness, it shines a piercing beam of clarity on the horrors of war. Chrys is right; you definitely need to collect your dad's stories into a book. I'd read it 🙂
Thanks for the visit over at Quiet Laughter earlier today, Lee. I'll be looking forward to hearing what you think of 'Jackie' when you do get to see it.
Happy Hump Day!
Chrys Fey says
You should write down his stories. At least to pass on to family. 🙂
Sandra Cox says
We honor and thank your father for keeping us safe.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That is a wonderful sentiment. Thank you, Sandra.
Shilpa Garg says
That's such an incredible story and the one that shows the human side of the war too. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes, you wouldn't find it in the history books, would you?
sage says
That's a wonderful story!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I enjoyed telling it.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Love this memory that you shared!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, YV.
Roland D. Yeomans says
That was so neat that Disney did that for them. WWII was a war that touched so many in ways that still ripple out through their children like you. thanks for visiting my blog today. 😉
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Roland. I love that Disney cartoon and it was fun to find among my dad's papers. I always enjoy my visits to your blog.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
What a lovely story. I know you're proud of your father and the men who gave so much for us. My older brother served in WW11, in Egypt.
C. Lee McKenzie says
So many live touched by that war. Hope your brother returned without injury.
Robert Bennett says
I love that story. It really captures a very human moment in the midst of war.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think that's exactly why it stuck with me.
J.H. Moncrieff says
Wow, how cool that Disney did that cell for them!
Thanks for sharing your dad's story. I'm glad they finally got to have that meal.
C. Lee McKenzie says
This is one of favorite stories he shared. Thanks for reading it.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – thanks for sharing your special story with us. Incredible to read about … they were lucky to find the coffee and the goose … and then to actually be able to 'enjoy' them – at least fill their rumbling tummies.
I've just found a photo of my Dad about 10 years after the war and he's still skinny as a rake – quite scary to see him like that. I've a few things about the War … but it's not something I'll write about here … thanks for this though – I'll treasure those descriptions … cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
It was a dark time for so many countries and so many people. You Brits bore the brunt during that war. I can only imagine how it must have been.
Liz A. says
Great story.
Elephant's Child says
Love that story.
My father never told us much about the war – except that there are no winners.
I do remember him telling us that while in Egypt they had to cover their meals coming from the mess tent or dive-bombing eagles would filch the meat…
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's a great story. I'm seeing it in my mind's eye now.
DMS says
What a special memory your dad shared with you and you shared with us. I can imagine how welcome that coffee was when they stumbled up on that house. I can't believe they had to wait three days to finish cooking the goose. Glad they got to enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
~Jess
C. Lee McKenzie says
My dad was always very determined! 🙂
Lynda Dietz says
What a great story, and how cool that you have the photos to reminisce about it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I do treasure them. Glad you liked the story.
Sarah Foster says
That's a great story! Love that they were determined not to let the goose or the coffee go to waste.
C. Lee McKenzie says
My dad never got over being hungry during the war. He kept our pantry well-stocked.
Pat Hatt says
Bet that all got used up, especially after 3 days. That goose had to be cooked.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I have to laugh when people point to uncooked poultry now and scream salmonella! Right, you sissies.
Juneta Key says
Enjoyed the story. My dad and 2 brothers fought in WWII. The youngest was a gunner in France. He died here. He sent his mother a sea shell from the beach of France. I still have that sea shell.
My grandfather fought in WWI.
' Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
C. Lee McKenzie says
We have a lot in common. My grandfather was in the Navy in WWI. How touching you still have that seashell.
Juneta Key says
I meant he died in France,not here, sorry. Yes we do. I think its pretty cool too about the seashell.
L. Diane Wolfe says
LOl – I love that story. I'm sure none of that goose, coffee, or wine went to waste.
My father died when I was young, so I never got to hear any of his WWII stories. I do have B&W photos of him on the ship and several metal pieces from the Japanese planes they shot down.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I treasure these photos even though they're grainy. Sorry you lost your dad at that age. He must have also been a young man.