I am a VA RN and a volunteer wildland firefighter / EMT-B. All those you show here was my usual meals at the jungle in Vietnam. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! C-rations featured options that included a variety of entrees, like spaghetti and meatballs, turkey loaf, ham and eggs, etc. It got to taste good warm after you got used to it. i was in from 1966 to 1972. i never ate a c ration that was younger than me. in Nam and why I dont like fruit cocktail to this day.In the last part of my tour, it was pecan roll and coffee. And in spite of all their faults, I do sometimes miss C-Rats, especially the Pound Cake! It would explain a lot of the stupid decisions Ive made over the years. Blocks of c 4 began to be available, this spared claymores. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vietnam war C-Ration Cigarette Pack Winston Repro at the best online prices at eBay! Pall Mall, Luckies, Winston, Salem and Benson & Hedges Menthol were five of the brands found in Vietnam era field ration packets. To you and to all the crew chiefs and gunners, from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you. Miss those soldiers from our lives deeply. I always enjoyed the pears and it went great with the pound cake. $40 . I do have a question the meat and beans I liked but raised on beans, I recently found and on line copy of the Us Army cook book. When I look at your blog in Opera, it looks fine but Who could ever forget about C-Rations? Dear Chrissy, Give me pears or apricots any time. Last time I tried to replace my Cs the price had gone out of sight. Photos of dissected original pack & other info is included in the pdf file. Levine named the threats as mold and deadly botulism if the sealing on the food has been broken, which isnt always visible. Hot BBQ beef. Back Also read a lot about their c-rat experiences too. (LogOut/ German military outfitter Bausenwein is offering brand new, reproduction C-rations. fruit cocktail about to down it and a 60mm blasted my can out Great site thanks for the memories. when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. "The bread was awful. If I remember correctly, we used heating tablets in our stove to heat a can of whatever (no ham and lima beans for me) well I guess that qualifies as a hot meal. Spicy Beef, One of my favorite meat dishes in a case of Cs. And to you Vietnam soldierswelcome home sincerely wished to you all. This Nov. 1966 incident happened as his unit left Camp Carroll in the DMZ, walked north, and after two days were ambushed by the NVA and Viet Cong. A combination my Italian wife would cringe at. You did a great job with this. $90 VE-545 Can Opener from the C-Ration Crate. 4th infantry, Great article. Most used their canteen cups, which nested on the bottom of 1 Qt. Best dessert was peaches & pound cake, but you had to trade for stuff. Our squad leader was fairturned all Cs upside down and would mix up..then we would pick..No Fear!! OK, now that your memory is refreshed, do you remember how you cooked your C-Rations. This is the official Quartermaster's description of C-Rations used in Vietnam "The Meal, Combat, Individual, is designed for issue as the tactical situation dictates, either in individual units as a meal or in multiples of three as a complete ration. With me it seemed the meals that were my least favorite when I first arrived in country were my favorite ones towards the end of my tour. SO, GOD BLESS YOU ALL. This stove was satisfactory, but did not allow enough oxygen to enter which caused incomplete burning of the blue Trioxin heat tablet, causing fumes which irritated the eyes and respiratory tract. 1 for 5 5 for 20 20 for 40 Keep an . The cigarettes were even contaminated with bugs ! My father used to grumble about C-rations from his service in WWII, also, so it was interesting to read this site. I do remember about a week after I was out in the field we received a case of onions by mistake. He vowed to hang on to it until the day he retired, storing it in a box with other mementos. Semper fi !! Every once in awhile they would send us out real food and some Beer and coke. Its even a little moist, he said, wiping his mouth. and heat a canteen cup of water and it provided you with quick hot water or c rations. And how did those taste? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage K Brand Rabbit Family Ration Patch Logo Snapback Trucker Hat Cap USA at the best online prices at eBay! Kevin. As an infantry soldier in Vietnam, C-Rations was my sole source of nourishment for at least 300 of the 365 days I served in-country. We never had cold meals. Once I got some pancakes that had been stuffed down an elephant rubber. C-rats. I was a dog handler in Vietnam 67-68. Today still add sugar to store hot ccco mix and eat it. Always cigarettes, toilet paper and matches. Glad to be on my way back to Goliad, TX so many of my buds were not so lucky. When I told my idea to my wife,she looked at me and said,baby,youre crazy ! And thats how we started Crazy Jerrys sauce company in 1989 with our oyster,clam and everything else sauce. l drove a 5 ton dump and heated meals for everybody on the manifold a hot can of SOS in your belly goes a long way towards boosting your spirits. . Good article. Upon further review it becomes clear that the lists of "things" have a much deeper meaning and carry an abundance amount of . THEY WERE STILL GOOD. so what did you feed your dog in nam? The Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI) was the name of canned wet combat rations issued by the United States Armed Forces from 1958 to 1980, when it was replaced by the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE). He was not overly fond of them, but did eat to stay alive. Loved the article brought back a lot of memories. Everything was always better with Tabbasco Sauce to spice it up. Fox 2/7 Marines 0311 June 1969/June 1970. it seemed like that to me :)) , and shredded beef ( per my visual to call it as such) . The Meal, Combat, Individual ( MCI) was a United States military ration of canned and preserved food, issued from 1958 to 1980. Never ate either one of these meals while in country. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Looked for the fruit cans mostly, but some of the other items were tasty too. . You brought back a lot of memories. I got a flashback Ill never forget those days Sometimes I would eat the pineapples, bananas or coconuts if I could get them. My first thought was that Crap,weve killed someone,but thankfully the only problem was that every bottle had been stolen off the tables,and he wanted to know if we would make him some more,which we did,and they were also stolen. During the 1960s C-ration cigarettes were identical to the sample packs of four that tobacco salesreps handed out to the public. Stumbled across this interesting site. When out on missions, infantry units were re-supplied with . Only down fall was it was instant heart burn. In the aviation community wed take a can of biscuits, poke holes in it, pour some JP4 into it, and voila a stove!! you have any idea how the mean and beans were made have never found a close substitute for them. Must have been super hot. a b -1-a unit was the topstobasco was the best.didnt have much time to cook in the 4th inf .but there were times ! 1960s US GI Vietnam era C-Ration PLASTIC SPOON Brand New $14.95 klink-one (11,878) 99.9% Buy It Now Free shipping 125 sold Sponsored Vintage Vietnam era unopened Combat C Rations B1 B2 B3 Unit Crackers & Candy Brand New $45.00 southern-surplus2016 (1,355) 100% or Best Offer Matches The suggestion of including matches was done at the same time as the inclusion of the cigarettes. Prayers-Love and GREAT BIG -Thank you to ALL Military personnel (still here or passed) and their families for serving our COUNTRY. The dilemma here is that water is required for these and at almost three pounds per quart; the extra weight is a consideration. This is a very nice Vietnam Era Survival Kit & Ration Packaging collectors set, with great display potential. shows storage age and wear and is still sealed. Well presented and will share with fellow Vietnam veterans and family. It smells good, Moak said as he put a handful in his mouth. C-packs also contained cartons of Cigaretts, M&Ms and other favorites, $45: VE-1225 Vietnam Boxed lock and keys. Thank you for your time. Helicopter Pilot. Change). Welcome Home my brothers & Sisters. For sure peaches were like gold I was one of the few guys who didnt like them and could trade them for almost anything. and "M" (meat) units, each menu contained an accessory packet, fruit, and cigarettes. This is the official Quartermaster's description of C-Rations used in Vietnam "The Meal, Combat, Individual, is designed for issue as the tactical situation dictates, either in individual units as a meal or in multiples of three as a complete ration. Any leads would be greatly appreciated! $40.00 WW2 German Patronenkasten 88 Ammunition Crate $150.00 WW1 German Patronenkasten 88 Ammunition Crate $150.00 WW1 British and Commonwealth Biscuit Ration Crate $90.00 Issued as one boxed ration per person per day. I have so much respect & admiration for them. Im writing a book which is fiction loosely based on my real experience for ages 10-14. I came from Landisville PA in Lancaster County that was only 12 miles from Lititz. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thanks for your service. , Just looking at a can of Ham and MFers makes me wanna puke. Scottie Hill CW4(Ret) Ret. Larry, as a young WO1 pilot just reporting to Nam, making and using the crew chief stove was one of the first thing my crew chief taught me to do. So many times I got something other that ham & Lima so I made out in the bargain department. We used to make stoves by using a can opener to open up the two sides of a small can on both sides (which were then pushed in). or four? One SP was intended to meet the requirements of 100 men for one day, but we usually saw one SP per platoon (30 men) every two to three weeks. Well, with aSTOVEyou made, right? I drew ham and eggs. DD345 - Liberty Pass. Dont forget to stir before putting over fire. Viet Nam most of 68. Beans an winnies the best.ham and eggs always green no way I would eat it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I always made it in a c rat can. The small cans included in the meal were ideal for making a stove. MACTHAI advisor here. We burned and buried the last ones in the system in1986 in the Sinai desert. I was barely more than a toddler during the Vietnam war, and am a non- veteran. The C-ration (officially Field Ration . They have the following menus: Ham & Eggs Ingredients: 82.5% whole egg, 9.3% of pork, onion, herbs, spices, salt, E250, E621, E300/E301, dextrose. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Patrick Douglas Erb was there from Oct.20,1970-March 15,1971. A must have item for your helmet display, uniform or gear. made it somehow. I have a few fng stories about Cs. I got ham and eggs. The Food Service Officer (Canadian Major) thought she got a deal on them. So the food on a paper Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. Most of us knew there were others who had it harder than than we did. You were the unsung heroes of Army aviation. iI LOVE C RATION WISH I HAD SOME NOW I ATE THEM EVERY DY WHEN I WAS IN NAM I W THERE FOR 18 MONTH WIT THE 101 ST ABN. The heat tabs gave off exhaust like tear gas, which could drive guys out of a tent or bunker, so a little C-4 was just the thing burned hot and clean, and no danger of exploding because C-4 was a stable substance. just outside of Da Nang, we were working with the KMC. Sitting in a bunker with a m60 in the monsoons I try to forget. Beat the heck out of what we scrounged up to eat with our counterparts. But it was usually raining. https://charliecompany.org/2012/04/20/c-rations/ Reply With []. Vietnam Equipment VE-547 Choice Vietnam Jungle Boots, size 12. No heat tablets before Vietnam. Life-saving use of rations! There was always enough for seconds, but most of us passed as our shrunken stomachs have already overextended from a single helping of this gourmet meal. I lived on peaches & pound cake for breakfast with hot chocolate. $50: VE-1125 Vietnam Grenade Carrier. It had a flavor I can not duplicate to this day. The C-4 was safe to use as long as it wasnt compressed or using too much at one time. I was in Vietnam with the Marines from 68-69. So I gave my last Cs to a Boy Scout Troop and switched to freeze-dried packets (civilian version of MREs) . Through some investigation he found the manufacturer of it was Sara Lee. What do you think? Hey, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues. I was a crechief on Hueys who resupplied you guys. My dog would not eat the ham and lima beans. It was a luck of the draw right after we went through the gas obstacle coarse at basic training. Cs provided a good snack during night-time flight line work. Twelve different menus are included in the specification. During the 1960s C-ration cigarettes were identical to the sample packs of four that tobacco salesreps handed out to the public. Typical commercial brands issued in the cigarette rations in Vietnam were: Camel, Chesterfield, Kent, Kool, Lucky Strike, Marlboro, Pall Mall, Salem, . Meals such as beef stew, spaghetti and meatballs, chili and others were a wonderful diversion from the mundane canned food we were subjected to. With its flip-top box, Marlboro was the most popular brand in Vietnam, despite COMUSMACV General Creighton W. Abrams' penchant for cigars, a preference dating back to his World War II service as a tank battalion commander. Never told 2nd Lts about the hazards of heating an un-opened can. Posted by webmaster webmaster has not yet written their Bio. We, the Army Inspectors, condemned them all. The popular brands like Winston, Marlboro, Kools and Salem were always in short supply and benefited the non-smokers who used them to barter. I appreciate the education you help to provide and for keeping it real for those like myself who have never had these experiences. Also sometimes we added the sugar, creamer, and coffee park in the coco package adding a little water mixing it up. When we shut down to eat we would use our really long pliers to hold the meal as the ship was running down. I lived on pound cake and chicken noodle soup cooked with a pinch of C4. Should you have a question or comment about this article, then scroll down to the comment section below to leave your response. I was 13. always seemed to get to to the carton last an last was trash eating. Although the meat item can be eaten cold, it is more palatable when heated. The first and last time I ate that meal. Funny story, Buzz. I served in Co. B, 1/12th, 1st Air Cav I 1967-68. Mass-2 Marine attached to the 3rd Marine Div. The coffee, sugar, creamer and hot cocoa came in paper envelopes. Then there was the white worms in red sauce. Technically, the C-ration of the Vietnam-era was a different thing than the World War II C-ration, but troops still called it a "C-rat," and it was very similar in packaging and content. After a short naval round almost blew us away, I smoked too many of those Lucky Strike four packs and suffer today as a result. To eating our faithful C rations. At topa C-ration with P-38 can opener. Brings back memories of a distant time.. Given the risks we do everything possible to ensure that overly aged rations are not consumed, said Lawrence Levine, a spokesman for the Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia. Dan DMZ M/co 1969 USMC Hill 461 Sieara Rock Pile , Stud, LZ MAC chopper down! Even then I ate one like an apple but the fellows that had been there longer made c rat stew and threw in the onions. We went through East Germany on the Autobahn to Holiefields in Weat Germany for a training mission. The brothers always would trade for Menthols. Had to have Tabasco sauce for the C rats. There were times I ate the Cs and the dates were from the Korean years. ate a lot as a kid . I agree almost entirely with you assessment of taste and quality and preferences, with one exception: I was a combat photographer with the First Air Cav, and made it my personal mission to photograph an op from each of our original 8 infantry battalions , all of our artillery battalions, and the engineer and cavalry units, plus every company in the Aviation brigade. But themilitarydiscourages eating from old rations. took the fire extinguisher and use it to get our cokes cold. The C-Ration was replaced in 1958 with the Meal Combat Individual (MCI). Cases of C-Rations are assigned and split among a squad of soldiers theres an ample supply to cover three meals per person 4.5 pounds of canned wet food for each days adequate nourishment. Food was of secondary importance. unopened vietnam c-ration accessory pack with cigarettes. Never know when you may have to open a can of crackers! When out on missions, infantry units were re-supplied with food, water, ammunition, clothes and other items by helicopter every three to five days. The MCI was intended as a modest improvement over the earlier canned Type C or C ration, with inclusion . I was hoping you could help me identify a certain piece of equipment that soldiers used to cook/reheat their meals during the Vietnam War. The K-ration, developed by University of Minnesota physician Ancel Keys, provided three complete and balanced, 3,000-calorie meals in compact packages. Gen. Walter S. McIlhenny. The dehydrated pork and beef hockey pucks were supposed to be the big thing but the dried fruit was the best part. As I recall, only about 30% of the soldiers in my platoon did not smoke. Dec 18, 2011. Nuac mam.gag. Toward the end of my tour, we began having access to the freeze-dried LRRP meals. My favorite meal was SPICED BEEF and GRAVY with crackers and cheese. Message me for more detailed photos and orders in bulk. Packages of 20 cigarettes each are the same as the regular civilian packs and were sold in US Army operated PX stores. Open can of peaches with P-38. Meatballs and beans! They Tried! During the 1960s C-ration cigarettes were identical to the sample packs of four that tobacco salesreps handed out to the public. Heating the meals and water required a small stove (see article below) with Sterno tabs or C-4 plastic explosive, the later burning very hot and fast preferred for quick meals. B9719 VIETNAM ERA US Military C Ration Spoon in plastic bag IR19A - $16.35. Each complete meal contains approximately 1200 calories. I did 3 tours 69-71 with Army artillery..Our 1st c rats were stamped 1946 and tasted no differnt than those made in the 60s..Beans and Weenies all the way! This would include various survival items and rations. They were the best canned peaches Ive ever had. We got a hot meal in the jungle only after a firefight. Cigarettes were eliminated from rations in 1972. With the water pouring down on us. It does take one way back. Pingback: Remember C-Rations? Since Cs were pre-cooked, they didnt need to be heated up, but it helped. I think I was one of a few who actually liked ham and Limas. One thing I remember about Cs was the fruit. C-Ration: Development began in 1938 and was completed between 1941 and 1945. I was on Google looking up information on c-rat socks as this is a new term that I just learned and that is how I arrived here. Id buy several cases in an instant. I will call and order. Ha, ha! A typical . The standard ration pack issued to infantrymen in Vietnam was the Australian Combat Ration (One Man). meal eggs always looked greenish . Camel Cigarettes C-Ration Vietnam Era Vietnam 2 Quart Canteen M1967 Cover Mint 1972 Air Defense Artillery Guidon 1st of the 59th Sleeping Bag Carrier Strap Assembly Vietnam era Vietnam Era Flyers Kit Bag 1972 Vietnam era 1968 Lubricating Oil Tin O-190 Vietnam era 1971 Medium Weapons Oil Bottle Vietnam era 1969 Rifle Bore Cleaner Less known is that an unlikely snack . I do not smoke so I save the small pack of cigarettes. It was great when someone got a care package from homewe all shared. Marines were not great cooks, but they were inventive. These meals came in a case containing 12 meals. Your email address will not be published. That went for Officers and enlisted men. 4.) And at 75 years old, thats a blessing. The new menu (late 1968 onward) included good stuff like beans & weenies. We already carried 4 5 quart canteens to keep hydrated until the next resupply. Bill McD Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I thought that smoking American cigarettes was a big mistake. Its characteristics emphasize utility, flexibility of use, and more variety of food components than were included in the Ration, Combat, Individual (C Ration), which it replaces. Hey Fred, I was with the same unit as you except I was in B Company, August of 69 through June of 70. if so, what was the dogs favorite meal? 10 days later gulfort, mississippi.. jus lemme have a p38.. $50: VE-1123 Vietnam period shoulder bag for machine gun . Hill 55 out of DaNang. C-Rations are commercially prepared meals, used in the field and at times when hot meals were not available. $100.00 Vintage Complete Sealed Vintage Complete Sealed Vietnam Era Us C Rations Accessory Packet Wspoon Vintage Complete Sealed Vietnam Era Us C Rations Accessory Packet Wspoon.