Jimmy Stewart has his milk glass. It sits, empty, on his tray. It's the guy behind him who has no milk glass on his tray, but that's because he is holding it in his hand.

I'm thinking the meal was good solid food, including meatloaf.

Women.

Don't count the hand in the lower right-hand corner of the picture but going from the first boy next to it, count up five boys. Now look at the boy with the big eyes and James Stewart "Who, me?" expression and curled hand up by his face. That's all well and good; he had glanced up and was looking at the photographer. But why doesn't he have a glass of milk? There's a blank space on his tray where the glass should be. Lactose intolerance? Was that a known thing in 1943? And without the milk, how will he wash down that lumpy cupcake? I can't stand it but in my reasoning mind I think he had drunk his milk then gone to wherever he could exchange his empty glass for a cup of hot coffee, but it wasn't finished brewing yet so he's waiting to eat his dessert when he has his coffee. With milk.

Amazed at those trays in civilian use, while there was still plenty to build thousands of aircraft and other wartime equipment. American GIs had aluminum mess gear while Germans had to lug heavier enameled steel.

I don’t see anyone holding the fork with their left hand. Probably why there are no left handed shovels.

Nothing like a blast of tobacco smoke to enhance the taste of those baked apples.

He either got there first or he was hungry. Plates are clean or are the other boys just getting started to eat.

Looks like they're all saving their their dessert until last.

I am guessing that the iced delicacy is a muffin or a dainty cake. But no one seems to be eating it.

It looks like three of the young gentlemen dressed for dinner by wearing a sport coat or suit jacket over their plaid shirt. How civilized!

Unless Uncle Dave is toying with us, it appears that Future Farmer Bob Janowski of recent Shorpy fame has taken a seat next to the fellow at lower left of the photo (which also seems to reveal a robust pocket of consumer support for the Brylcreem-Vitalis-Wildroot hair-care industry).

This may have been the Farm to Table class.