Ice cream is a comfort food, right up there with macaroni & cheese and tater tots, so it’s no surprise that the sweet treat played a key role in comforting our nation and our troops during World War II. It was so important to our comfort that during that trying time, the U.S. War Department listed six items essential for keeping troop morale high. Ice cream was on that list.
To help supply ice cream to soldiers and sailors fighting in the Pacific, the U.S. Navy built an “Ice Cream Barge” – a ship whose sole purpose was to make and distribute ice cream to the tune of 1,500 gallons an hour!
But while our brave men and women overseas were enjoying ice cream (and deservedly so), the rationing of milk, sugar and other supplies meant ice cream shortages back home. Ice cream shops still managed to satisfy our sweet tooth thanks to some quick thinking and experimenting with different recipes. When the rationing was lifted after the war, American’s worked overtime to get their fill of ice cream, consuming it in record amounts – 20 quarts per person in 1946 alone!
Tags: ice cream, turkey hill
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
Wowee. Thats alot of Ice Cream. Am I to assume they also do this for the troops in the middle east?! I would wonder how they’d keep the ice cream from melting in such desert heat.
Thanks for the history lesson!
Fourth of July is the best holiday for ice cream. The warm weather just demands an ice cold treat. I think I am going to my freezer right now to get some. yummy
Simple things bring great comfort in the worst of situations! I sure hope that there is lots of Ice Cream for our troops no matter where they are.
Happy Independence Day!
all i can say is turkey hill ice cream is the best.
Wowzers!!!! Hope everyone had a nice 4th!! I’m still hearing fireworks, and still hoping I can find some junior Mints ice cream in the near future!!
Happy 4th!!!! I eat some Mac & Cheese… goin to have some ice cream to end the day.
I had never heard of the ice cream barge. I learned something new today. Do troops nowadays get ice cream when they are off at war?
Happy 4th of JULY TO ALL OF US. WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY AND WE THANK ALL OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING US STAY FREE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEND A AIRPLANE FILLED WITH TURKEY HILL ICE CREAM TO ALL OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN.
LOVE THIS USA AND TURKEY HILL
The Navy got a barge, what did the Army get? I’m sure the ice cream helped to left the spirts of many of our troops.
I am an amateur historian, but never heard of this ice cream ship before. Would you let me know where you found that info? I live for source quotes. I’m also guessing that two other items would have been Hershey bars and cigarettes (based on the American culture at that time).
My apologies…I did not see the color change for “ice cream barge” on the first reading. Clicking on that took me to the reference link. I’m reading with older eyes. -Peg
Wow, thats a lot of ice cream to consume. I really enjoy learning about the history of our country, thank-you.
Thanks for the research on the Ice Cream Barge. You never hear about the few pleasant stories during a wartime era. Hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July especially enjoying their favorite Turkey Hill ice cream for dessert.
To:Victoria Corum…excellent comment!
I agree whole-heartedly!
Glad to hear that one of the icons of American life made it into wartime. What a great comfort and memory that must have been for the soldiers. Long may America be free! Thank you, Turkey Hill, for such an informative article — who doesn’t love ice cream? Yummmmmmmmmm……..
Thank You turkey Hill for that information. I did not know that about the history of ice in World War II.
Ice cream make you feel so good inside and outside. It is cold, soft,relax and you can just forget about almost anything while you are your eating your ice cream. Turkey Hill you are #1 in cie cream
good job
I wonder what the consumption of ice cream is today.
Would like to see them expand on this on History Channel. Thank you
I can understand why ice cream was good for morale during world war II. I wonder if they still serve it in Iraq?
Tried the Junior Mints, Good stuff, lighter mint flavor compared to mint chip, little tiny junior mints, go get some, top it w/ Hersheys syrup YUM, Rum Raisin is next on the list!!
I learned something new today.Thank You,Turkey Hill.I never knew that about the ice cream barge.
Thanks for the information. I love little tidbits of history! I’m sure a BIG bowl of Turkey Hill would keep spirits high!
I never heard about the ice cream barge.
When i was in Germany, it was cigarettes.
This is a wonderful story about the ice cream barge. Our troops deserve whatever we can do to give them a little comfort. I hope ice cream is still on the list and it better be Turkey Hill!
Let’s all take time this 4th of July weekend to remember all those who fought for our freedom.
Thanks For The Imformation
Loved this historical tidbit but not as much as I like Turkey Hill.
That is good information to know. THANX!!!!!!
Very interesting. Bet our troops in the Mideast could go for some ice cream.
Thank you for info. Being without ice cream especially Turkey Hill ice cream not a pretty picture.
wow that was interesting, great to know that ice cream is considered a comfort food though, because lately I seem to be comforting myself alot with it!
Comfort food??? That would explain us having to have a dish of ice cream almost every night! (Followed by a long walk, of course!)
Have never heard of the ice cream barge – very interesting!
I just heard that 4th of July pizza was sent to our service men and women overseas.
I bet some yummy cold Turkey Hill Ice Cream would be sure to please!
I’d gladly give up some of my TH for our soldiers. Thanks to all who serve to fight for our freedom.
The info. about the ice cream barge was very interesting. Thanks T.H. for sharing.
Sending the ice cream barge to our troops was surely a comfort to them-a taste of back home. Growing up in an ice cream loving family, we always had ice cream in the freezer. Sunday was extra special because we would visit my Grandmother across town, and take her a 1/2 gallon of ice cream. Ice cream runs in our “blood”, and Turkey Hill is the best!
@0 quarts or 5 gallons per person in 1946. At age 1 I guess I was short changed so I am now making up for it now with my freezer of TH. Hubby remembers the Good Humor man with a truck using dry ice in the freezer around 1950 and a large cup (6 ounces) for about 12 cents. He loved to ring the bell.
God Bless our troops – past and present. And God Bless ice cream!!
How imaginitive, an Ice cream barge. I still find Ice Cream comforting… It takes your mind off lots of other things.
I wish that all our troops could be HOME to celebrate the 4th with a big bowl of Turkey Hill ice cream!!! Honor Independence Day by thanking a veteran!
LEARNED SOMETHING NEW THANKS
How about a new ice cream, red,white and blue (cherry, vanilla and blueberry)called ‘stars & stripes” in honor of our country and our troops.
My husband does’t like to go to bed with out his ice cream. That is his favorite food.
Love Turkey Hill ice cream!!! Question…does Turkey Hill make an ice cream with red, white, and blue in it? I’d love to see a “PATRIOTIC CONFETTI”!!!
My mother often talked about the rationing of foods here. I never heard of the ice cream barge, though. I am glad that they did give the troups ice cream. It was a well deserved treat.
My son is serving in Afganistan, sure would love to be able to send him a barge of Turkey Hill!!
Hiya friends! For those of you who missed the SuperScooper Ice Cream Festival at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia today, you missed quite a treat, and a killer brainfreeze! All the Party Cake, Graham Slam and Junior Mint you could handle! (P.S. The new Junior Mint is TO DIE FOR!!! I highly recommend it!)
Thanks, Turkey Hill, for donating these flavors to support a wonderful cause — the rain didn’t stop anyone, and actually encouraged people to seek the tent for refuge! The Kahan family had a great turnout and hopefully raised big $$ for the Joshua Kahan Fund, fighting to cure Pediatric Leukemia!
Yes, people celebrated when sugar was no longer rationed. My ninety four year old Mom tells the story of the cake she baked on VJ Day. She, my two brothers, my aunt and my two cousins ate the entire cake at one sitting! We really don’t know how lucky we are.
At that time I was a small girl and I do remember the rations and the tokens that the nighbors traded with each other.My fear at that time also, were the “blackouts” we all had to endure.I also remember if I ever had a dime, I ran to the drug store (pharmacy) to buy an ice cream cone or a “Donald Duck” funny book.
I remember the rationing, stamp books and trading civilian women did to make a treat for their family, it made you feel your sacrifice was helping the war effort.
Wouldn’t all of our troops from the US & Canada enjoy a treat of your ice cream.If there was only a way to get it there.
Sure wish we could soldiers.
nice history lesson ice cream is always a favorite thing in this household and with the economy the way it is we still will not cut back on ice cream.
Hey, hey this sounds like the prize for me!!! Love Turkey Hill Duetto’s! And of course prolly 15 regular flavors too.
That was an interesting historical tidbit. Wouldn’t it be great if our troops could all be home to have an ice cream with us today?
Nothing like eating Turley Hill Ice Cream on a rainy day inside! Of course you end up eating the whole container but this is okay just go and buy another one!
maybe you make a dehyraded product for the soliders to make a dish of turkey hill ice cream ,when time allows
We used to make snow cream – scooped up fresh snow and stirred in a little milk from the cows on our farm and added a little vanilla – yummy! Maybe that could be a new nostalgic flavor for your line for winter – Snow Cream! I like the chocolate and coconut duetto flavor – reminds me of eating fresh coconut purchased from a vendor in Pisa, Italy. God bless our troops – may they all come home safe and sound and get to enjoy a cone of their favorite flavor of Turkey Hill!
What a day for celebrating America and ice cream!
My father served in the Pacific during WWII-and I don’t recall him ever mentioning having ice cream during his service there. We sure made up for that after he got home-Thank you for the information-keep it coming. We need to be thankful every day for the U.S.A.
What is more American than apple pie (served a la mode with Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream of course)!
Thanks for the info on the Ice Cream Barge. I too have learned something new!I cannot imagine life without ice cream, esp Turkey Hill’s Nutty Neopolitan!!
We love Turkey Hill ice cream, especially the Lemon Shortbread that is now only available seasonally and not often found in our stores when it should be there. Wish you would make more of that flavor, my kids eat the entire carton in one sitting!
We love turkey hill ice cream. My family especially enjoys the lemon shortbread when we can find it. Wish you made more of that each year!
When we visited the USS NC, they had an ‘ice cream parlor’ for the troops on board and they told us what a treat it was for the men. That surprised me.
Very interesting piece of history that I did not know…….I will definitely use this when we have a trivia game….I will tell them the winner will get Turkey Hill Ice Cream!!!!
I celebrate every day with Turkey Hill Ice Cream. Just found Lemon Pie – Great
Keep up the good work, and the history lessons. Is it still made the same way today as back then?
Wow! An ice cream ship!
During the war, my mother worked in an ice cream factory in Philadelphia. We grew up eating ice cream as a special treat. She would tell us stories of working at the factory and how she met our father while at work.
Icecream is a great treat and turkey Hill does it great.
It was an excellent idea for our nation to provide ice cream to American soldiers overseas.They were fighting for America’s liberty and democracy.They deserved the best food our country had to offer.
I guess we sure love our ice cream!
considering the shortages, this is still a lot of ice cream, 1,500 gallons an hour!
That’s amazing for ice cream to be distributed in 1946 that rapidly. It sound like there were some hungry soldiers and salors that wanted to cool off w/ a cool treat!
God Bless our troops. Wish there was a way we could send some Turkey Hill to the troops. I am sure they would enjoy it. They certainly deserve that and much more.
If any people deserve to be treated with something as comforting as ice cream, those who are defending this great country top the list. God bless those who have done so in the past and those who continue the tradition.
What better way to eat ice cream in the heat of the summer than to get Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream scoop it into a large glass and then add chocolate milk to the glass. Don’t stir just scoop out the ice cream with some chocolate milk and you get a refreshing cool treat. For a change peanut butter ice cream is also good with chocolate milk.