From a May, 1944 Time magazine article. While "rank has its privileges", sometimes they also have unforeseen consequences! "One noontime last week General Eisenhower inspected huge, noisy "Willow Run." the mass-production officers' mess in London's swank Grosvenor House. Refusing a table in the alcove reserved for rank, General "Ike" joined a line of junior officers at the cafeteria. In due course he collected pork, potatoes, spinach and salad. Presently the Supreme Commander, full and beaming, swigged the last drop of coffee and pushed back his half-eaten meal. He had broken his own rule. A tactful escort murmured about the mess regulation on food economy, which is enforced by slips inscribed: "Eat all you take on your plate or explain by endorsement here-on." Said General Ike: "Doggone if I'm risking a reprimand." He polished his plate. Later he went on to inspect the kitchens. The serving woman, who had noted his four stars and given him a double helping of everything, marveled: "Lumme, what an appetite! Like a paratroop second lieutenant." See: Ike's Appetite - TIME Here’s an interesting one on the Japanese surrender terms: Attention, Tokyo! - TIME I really enjoy reading those old Time articles from the "moment"!
The Willow Run in the story was the joke name for the American Service Man's cafeteria in London. It was a funny reference to the large "mass production" plant at Ford, i.e. "move 'em in, move 'em out, fast". That plant in Detroit was amazing in its day, although it took so long for the dang thing to come on line to start with, the inside joke there was also on the name. In that case it was "Will it Run?", also funny.
