[Ads-l] antedating "MIA"

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Excellent cites, JL. Here is a slightly earlier instance.

Date: April 23, 1943
Newspaper: The Jasper Herald
Newspaper Location: Jasper, Indiana
Article: Hark The Herald: America's Hymn "Let Freedom Ring"
Quote Page 1, Column 1
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/540949188/

[Begin excerpt]
But these boys all are M.I.A.
. . .
*M.I.A. Missing In Action
[End excerpt]

On Tue, Apr 11, 2023 at 5:37 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> OED: 1946.
>
> 1944 _Springfield [Mass.] Daily Republican_ (July 20) 3: In Washington, the
> War Department file on Pfc Fred T. Gentry...reads "M. I. A." - missing in
> action.
>
> 1945 _Seattle Daily Times_ (Jan. 25) 2: I've come back with two engines
> wind-milling...and still not been worried - in any other plane you'd figure
> you were automatically M. I. A. (missing in action).
>
> JL
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org