Re: The Survivability of C-Rats

[Mike Davino <mdavino@yahoo.com>]

The MRE's were issued starting in 1982, however canned
C-rations were still in the ration system until the
mid-80's.  I have an unopened case in my garage that I
bought in the Fort Benning Commissary in 1984.

Mike Davino

--- CavKVet50@aol.com wrote:
> 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


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