The story is probably hyperbole
Let me point this out...having well over twenty years of military service, and another fifteen years of contractor/GS service with military personnel. Everyone eats a full-up meal. Between the local NCO Club deal, or the chow-hall deal...it’s generally always a reasonable cost factor. Toss in comissiary items at a reasonable price.
The only time I ever felt pushed to curtail my Thanksgiving was when I was sent TDY, and the local chow-hall had some add-on fee for temp-duty folks of $11 for the holiday meal, which I felt at the time was outrageous.
Ridiculous story.
I recall our family and others in the 1950s. Many times money was tight. However, even of the humblest means, creative people found ways to have a Thanksgiving Day dinner.
I hate to break anyone’s hyperbole but a huge majority of servicemen with families is on food stamps. When I was an eligibility worker for food stamps we had to process boxes and boxes of them every quarter when they would redo their income statements. Edwards Air Force Base was our biggie.
Agreed. Granted food prices are insane now but a Thanksgiving meal can be done pretty inexpensively. Especially if you use fresh items. Turkeys go on sale plus many supermarkets give small turkeys away if you spend over a certain amount. Or they used to.