Re: The Survivability of C-Rats

[<CavKVet50@aol.com>]

In a message dated 8/2/00 7:08:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jrdennis@earthlink.net writes:

<< >>LOL - I was with an active Army Reserve unit in 1965, still eating those 
 >>great-tasting B & M beans canned in Portland, Maine. Still packed a 
powerful 
 >>punch! C-rations were on there way out then and the remaining stores were 
 >>foisted off on reservists. 
 >
 >C-Rats survived until 1982 before being replaced by MRE's.  The Active Army
 >certainly had them:  I ate more than my share in the 1970's when I was on
 >active duty.  We had WWII dated C-Rats when I was in ROTC Camp at IGMR in
 >'71, Korean-War era C-Rats when I was in my OBC at APG in '74, and
 >Vietnam-era C-Rats thereafter.  I never saw any C-Rats made after 1972 or
 >though.
 >
 >Marc
 >
 >msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
 >Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!
 >
 >
 I think a lot of people are confusing what a "C-Ration" really is.  
 
 In Military Terminology, an "A Ration" is one with fresh vegetables, 
 fresh meat, fresh milk and so on, served in a dining facility/messhall 
 etc.   This stuff needs refrigeration
 
 A "B Ration" is one that is from a can, or is preserved some way.  some 
 of us remember canned bacon, steaks in cans (just add water) and so on.  
 These are generally served in the field mess facility.    No 
 refrigeration required.
 
 "C-Rations, D-Rations, Iron Rations, K-Rations and so on, were given to 
 the troops for them to fix.   The "C-Ration from World War II fame (and 
 still around from Korea) was a single can, everything was in it, 
 including several small cans.    The K/Iron/D rations came in a "cracker 
 jack box".  
 
 The Meals Combat Individual (MCI) came out at the start of the Kennedy 
 Administration (they had been developed but they were waiting for the 
 WWII stocks to go down).   This was the "C-Ration" for the folks in Viet 
 Nam and what a lot of us remember up to 1982/83.  
 
 The Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) has been through several variations as has 
 the infamous "T-Rations".  
 
 I guess we are going to have to go to the Quartermaster Corps website and 
 see if they have something on C-Rations.  
 
 The QMC did publish a book (probably with other of the Branches) on what 
 all they went through to get good food to the combat troops in Korea.  In 
 fact because of the abuses that we saw in WWII, the QMC made it a point 
 to give the combat troops the stuff first (as opposed to finding some QMC 
 guy killing him and stealing from the body).  The further from the front 
 you were the worse you ate or were dressed.
  
 There is a chapter on how they took powdered milk (which was a big 
 complaint in Europe and the Pacific).  The QMC made a big mixer and they 
 added butter and other things until the "milk" tasted like real milk. 
 
 There is also an interesting chapter on how the QMC developed a 
 "C-Ration" that appealed to the Korean Soldier.  But as the S. Korean 
 Army (higher staff) was more concerned in stealing than serving the 
 soldiers, the ROKs would have probably eaten anything.  
 
 Bob Dennis
  >>

y'all:

I dunno from nuttin after 1965, all I know is that the same tasty beans I 
craved in July 50 - Jun 51, were still being issued in 1965. After 1965, 
until I retired after 24 years, never saw a C-ration again! Marty