Apple or Blueberry: A Slice of Home on the Front Lines

In the classic WWII film Battleground (1949), there's a quiet but telling moment between Private Holley (Van Johnson) and Private Jim Layton. Layton, trying to momentarily escape the misery of Bastogne, shares a dream about being back home eating hard-shelled crabs and drinking beer. Holley responds that this is “against regulations”—because soldiers are supposed to be dreaming about Mom’s blueberry pie.

While the line might seem lighthearted on the surface, Holley delivers it with a sincerity that reflects the unspoken understanding among soldiers: they all long for home, for the simple comforts that war has stolen from them. Blueberry pie, in that moment, isn’t just dessert. It’s a symbol of home, of warmth, of family, and the quiet rituals of a peaceful life. That one simple image stands in stark contrast to the cold, chaos, and violence around them.

These pies—blueberry for personal memories, apple for national pride—symbolize what war separates soldiers from, and the pieces of home they hold onto in their hearts. It’s not about the crust or the filling. It’s about the kitchen they came from, the mother who made them, and the life waiting on the other side of the war.

While Holley names blueberry pie, apple pie is the dessert most often linked with American identity. Interestingly, apple pie didn’t originate in the United States—it came from Europe, especially England and the Netherlands. But as colonists settled the New World, apples became widely grown, and pie-making evolved into a uniquely American tradition. What began as a practical dish turned into a cultural symbol.

By the time of World War I and especially World War II, apple pie had become shorthand for home, family, and the American way of life. The phrase “as American as apple pie” began showing up everywhere—from war bond posters to soldier slang—turning a simple dessert into a powerful reminder of what was worth fighting for.

Whether it’s blueberry or apple, the idea is the same: these pies aren’t about food—they’re about belonging. About a life left behind and a reason to keep moving forward. In that sense, a slice of pie becomes something larger than itself. It becomes the taste of freedom.So which pie wins the hearts of soldiers—blueberry or apple? The answer likely depends on where home was, who made it, and what memories came with it. Blueberry pie might remind one soldier of summer nights and a mother’s quiet humming in the kitchen, while apple pie stirs memories of holiday gatherings and shared laughter. In the end, there’s no wrong choice. Each slice, whichever flavor, is a taste of home—a reminder of what’s worth fighting for, and what waits when the war is over.

And let’s be honest—no matter which pie you choose, apple or blueberry, a scoop of ice cream on top always makes it better.