If you want to learn more about the Vietnam War and its Warriors, then subscribe to this blog and get notified by email or your feed reader every time a new story, picture, video or changes occur on this website the button is located at the top right of this page. 1967 Vietnam c-rations box being opened for the first time in 43 years. The section on C-rations brought waves of memories of those days. (LogOut/ My father was in the Korean War and war in Vietnam, near the end of his 20 year military service in the US Army. 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. Serving in the Marine corps the beef stew in cans, cold,! In 1966 during the Vietnam war Brig. Must have been around 2006 I was surfing the web trying to find guys I served with and to my surprise I found a website from the unit I served with, 1st bn 22nd inf, 4th inf division. Medevac. The Army also sends out a Sundries Pack or SP for each platoon, containing writing paper, envelopes, blue ink pens, foot powder, toothbrushes and paste, chewing gum, m&ms, Hershey bars, Almond Joy, Mounds, Three Musketeers, Snickers and assorted cartons of cigarettes providing us with many of the simple articles that helped make life a little easier. Nuac mam.gag. Our company left San Diego with a Navy Band giving us Marines a memorable send off. Original was from a formerly unopened original accessory pack. I thought that smoking American cigarettes was a big mistake. It was a common thing to trade C rations for cigarettes. I carry my P38 that i had in Vietnam on my keychain. Less known is that an unlikely snack . Dec 18, 2011. Ad vertisement from shop noviopera. Not sure how the armor units split their meals. We always had plenty of rice. They came sealed in foil . It does take one way back. I was with the First Air Cavalry, (67-68) when we moved the whole division from An Khe to what eventually became Camp Evans, (we called it Tombstone, because we were camping in a Vietnamese cemetery) The first brigade of the 101st Airborne was under the operational control of the Cav at that time. Although the meat item can be eaten cold, it is more palatable when heated. When out on missions, infantry units were re-supplied with food, water, ammunition, clothes and other items by helicopter every three to five days. We had the dubious honor of being the first Army ground unit deployed to VN in early May of 1965 from Okinawa and all enjoyed consuming our fair share of those gourmet C rations. Its chief use was to hold several ounces of insect repellant, which we then set afire and used in place of a heat tab, which were in short supply. Thank you for your time. But, Nuac mam still sucks ass! Back I was 13. As the Doughboys went to France, the ration changed. Only down fall was it was instant heart burn. 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. Army here, 67-70, most of 70 spent in Vietnam. C-packs also contained cartons of Cigaretts, M&Ms and other favorites, Looked for the fruit cans mostly, but some of the other items were tasty too. The ration had to contain meat, bread, canned fruit, and some kind of dessert. from United Kingdom. The brothers always would trade for Menthols. I always made it in a c rat can. In 1968-69 I ate c-rations that were older than I was. Excellent, brought back some good memories. Remember c rats well . 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. USMC 2/9 DA NANG , DONG HA, were dog rations and c rations the same thing? Most were tossed because they didnt want to clean them or carry the extra bulk in favor of the canteen cup which fit around the canteen and in the pouch plus it made no noise while you were walking around compared to the rattle of the utensils in your mess kit. When I had my first taste of LRP Rations I thought it was food for angels. My favorite C-ration dish was created as follows: 1.) To eating our faithful C rations. About C-Rations. Stand tall and thank you for your service. My dad knew few young kind and handsome American colleagues that I admired and impressed at that time. [] the bread and voila a toasted cheese sandwich. Well not like from our great restaurants. Forty years later, Henry A. Moak, Jr., still loves his pound cake. Reproduction WW2 German MP40 Transit Case $350.00 WW2 K Ration Heavy Duty Cardboard Packing Box (10 in 1, K Ration, Heffenreffer Beer.) Life-saving use of rations! Cigarettes were bad for your health along with bullets. Yes they did in WWI, WWII and right up to Vietnam. It was reported in the media that each soldier in Vietnam had a hot meal each day. $100 VE-546 Choice Vietnam Jungle Boots, size 12. Very interesting. A must have item for your helmet display, uniform or gear. Our operation moved from the Air Force sector to the other side of the Air Base about a million miles away from our Mess facility. At topa C-ration with P-38 can opener. in Nam and why I dont like fruit cocktail to this day.In the last part of my tour, it was pecan roll and coffee. Vietnam Era C-Ration Cigarette Pack www.hardscrabblefarm.com The photo above shows the components of the cigarette pack. Photo via Wikipedia. USMC. You, and all veterans have my utmost respect and admiration. Glad to be on my way back to Goliad, TX so many of my buds were not so lucky. Right? took the fire extinguisher and use it to get our cokes cold. It? Returned 13 months later via Tiger airlines to a civilian air port in LA & greeted by a lot of people flipping the bird at us. Heating the meals and water required a small stove (see article below) with Sterno tabs or C-4 plastic explosive, the later burning very hot and fast preferred for quick meals. Click Here for web printable Marlboro Cigarettes from C-Ration Accessory Pack. They have the following menus: Ham & Eggs Ingredients: 82.5% whole egg, 9.3% of pork, onion, herbs, spices, salt, E250, E621, E300/E301, dextrose. A can opener (called both a John Wayne or a P-38) was needed to open the cans. 2nd tour, NO problem, LOACH pilot and home every night if I didnt get shot down! Change). 1st tour grunt recon, etc. . Posted March 31, 2018. Excellent piece and very true in every respect. On the way we had C-Rats, I liked the Ham and Lima beans, they were easy to trade for as a lot of guys like you did not like them. These things have left a deep impression on him, and he recalls to those memories fondly, despite the trying period his country was facing during that time. C Ration Cigarettes (1 - 3 of 3 results) Price ($) Any price Under $25 $25 to $100 $100 to $250 . Cigarettes were bad for your health along with bullets. Where can I buy this rations ?I like this food too much. Elements of a United States Military Meal, Combat, Individual ration, as served in Da Nang, South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, 1966 or 1967. Being from MN was my home connection. 2. The MCI was intended as a modest improvement over the earlier canned Type C or C ration, with inclusion . I was a dog handler in Vietnam 67-68. Well, my friends, let me refresh your memory and tell you everything you need to know but have forgotten about those wonderful meals. As a Army pilot, I knew this well. I delivered beer to you guys. $50: VE-1125 Vietnam Grenade Carrier. C rations boxes contained three meals for each of eight men. PHU BAI, CAMP CARROLL, NAM 66/67. We would get a hot meal maybe onced a month. A small chunk of C-4 explosive could also be substituted for the Trioxin tablet for faster heating. C-ration cans inside our huge transmitter, and after a couple hours sending messages back and forth we could remove those cans and enjoy a delicious hot meal e.g., my favorite, Ragout of Beef. 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). When I was in AIT training, I can remember eating the fortified chocolate wafers made at the Wilber Chocolate factory in Lititz, PA. yes i remember . Each meal was in its own cardboard box, which contained the individual items sealed in cans. Everyone I knew always had a John Wayne (P-38) can opener on his dogtag chain and a plastic spoon in his pocket. great footlocker or combat field pack display item. I got my first Going through a box of memorabilia a couple days ago. C-rations combat rations. The first and last time I ate that meal. Each usually consisted of a can of some basic course, a can of fruit, a packet of some type of dessert, a packet of powdered coca, a small pack of cigarettes, and two pieces of chewing gum. Cigarettes, once considered crucial to American fighting men, have sadly gone the way of the daily rum ration. Enjoy! Using a John Wayne (a P-38) pierce a series of closely spaced holes around the top and bottom rims of the can. The military teaches you to be a thief . I REMBER C-RATS I LIKED POUND CAKE AND RANGER PUDDINGDENNIS 4TH INF DIV 69-70, So cool, i love your post, I am from Vietnam. I get a lot of the cans of fruit cake. I do recall being thirsty. so what did you feed your dog in nam? Each ration was composed of a B-unit and a M-unit; total weight was approximately 7 pounds. Corporal. Since I didnt smoke, the cigarette 5-packs (except Chesterfields, which nobody wanted) came in handy for that. The Army colonel popped open an old military 'C' Ration can of pound cake from 1969 at his retirement ceremony, and dug in. Voilatoasted cheese sandwich. The 4 meals I remember are 1- chopped ham and eggs 2 beans and wieners 3- ham and lima beans 4- beefsteak and potatoes. just outside of Da Nang, we were working with the KMC. $40 : VE-1124 Mortar carrier's shoulder pads, to support the metal barrel. You are describing a military mess kit, but they were not used by most GIs in Viet Nam. Most of them were manufactured the year I was born, or the next after. Vietnam C Ration Cigarette : Top Picked from our Experts Good article. It would burn hotter and was much better for heating water. I appreciate the education you help to provide and for keeping it real for those like myself who have never had these experiences. I wish that cigarettes were never part of those C-rations. Through some investigation he found the manufacturer of it was Sara Lee. I remember the first c-ration meal we received. My last CO loved them. I remember the first time we got to sample some Cs just after we went threw the gas obstacle back in basic training. Division base camps and some larger firebases had staffed mess halls, serving three hot meals every day. It smells good, Moak said as he put a handful in his mouth. Answer (1 of 10): I served in the Regular Army, Feb. '61- Feb. '64 and saw many brands of 5 cigarette packs in the C-Rations that we were issued. Anything a dog wont eat should not be consumed by a human. Honestly, the scrambled egg chunks or beans and weenies werent bad cold, but the rest needed to be heated in order to be palatable. Smith Bravo Co. 2nd Plt 1st Bn 1st Mar Rgt 1st Mar Div, Old memories A generation full of Peace&Love did not belong in Vietnam ever! Some of the guys cannot stand to watch me eat one. crispy critters burn victims CS Popular products. Left the nam brought one home should have seen the looks I got. A whole heat tab had to be used. Original Vietnam era US Military C Ration white plastic Spoon.From C Ration 382314172092. My two favorites were green eggs and ham and yes, ham and lima beans. The small cans included in the meal were ideal for making a stove. I , however, could not find its same taste and flavor in America after 30 years in USA. The C-4 was safe to use as long as it wasnt compressed or using too much at one time. It was often supplied by water trailer or inflatable bladders from helicopters (called water buffaloes) because they were black rubber, and placed on a Gerry built wooden stand surrounded by sandbags to prevent shrapnel or small arms fire from penetrating and emptying the water. Typical commercial brands issued in the cigarette rations in Vietnam were: Camel, Chesterfield, Kent, Kool, Lucky Strike, Marlboro, Pall Mall, Salem, or Winston. Miss those soldiers from our lives deeply. I considered serving with the US Armed Forces on countless occasions however I have an old skateboarding injury in my foot and ankle and hardware that came with it that ultimately made me decide to serve domestically. Typical commercial brands issued in the cigarette rations in Vietnam were: Camel, Chesterfield, Kent, Kool, Lucky Strike, Marlboro, Pall Mall, Salem, . Hats off to all of you guys! Yes they did in WWI, WWII and right up to Vietnam. Thanks for your. It tasted like delicious warm and moist cake fresh from the bakery. The last two I couldn`t eat and they found botulism in the beans and I almost starved . I got a flashback Ill never forget those days Sometimes I would eat the pineapples, bananas or coconuts if I could get them. Hey Fred, I was with the same unit as you except I was in B Company, August of 69 through June of 70. $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 The ration was very heavy, weighing 5 lbs . Despite the new name, the MCI was still popularly referred to by the troops as "C-Rations" (or "Charlie rats"), which it resembled in nearly all respects. The VC had no heart pinned down one day took out my last So many times I got something other that ham & Lima so I made out in the bargain department. Free delivery for many products! What is wrong with me? "Peanut butter and crackers was the best," Orbell said. taste of C-rats in 1975 in basic training at Fort Polk La. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of these posted messages about C rations, even though Ive never tasted even one bite of food from one of those cans. B9719 VIETNAM ERA US Military C Ration Spoon in plastic bag IR19A - $16.35. 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. L/Cpl P.T. of my hand did not care about cut hand But mad till this day So, I have no military or Nam stories to tell, darn it! Agree pound cake slice it mix choc sugar creamer make icing. We were supplied by air drops and you ran to the pallet to get the best c ration unit. 98 the LEMCO Cha Rang Valley 66 67. Almost never saw heat tabs , we called them c tabs they didnt want us to have flames. I do not smoke so I save the small pack of cigarettes. would love to find a rec for them now Now I know why I lost 40 LBs. Greg Dearborn says: 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. I flew as a Crewchief on a UH-1C Gunship. There are several websites dedicated to US military combat rations that show all the brands. Ahh, comfort food in the middle of the jungle. 4.) Pingback: A brief history of coffee in the US military | We Are The Mighty, On the tug Agnes Foss we hauled a lot of C-rations around the coast and up rivers. Anyway, you made my day this morning. The foil pieces are 1.75"x1.75" and 1.75"x6" in size. Sounds like a lot of B S to me. The Vietnamese will sit for hours with a homemade fishing pole fishing. Do you remember your special recipes? In and around Quang Tri with side trips to Hue, Khe San & Dong Ha. I was an US ARMY Veterinary food inspector from 1967 to 1987. Never ate either one of these meals while in country. The local food in Thailand deserves its stellar reputation. I got to Vietnam in July 1967. ago. With the water pouring down on us. I never went away hungry! Spent almost 2 yrs in Northern I corps. The dilemma here is that water is required for these and at almost three pounds per quart; the extra weight is a consideration. Meals such as beef stew, spaghetti and meatballs, chili and others were a wonderful diversion from the mundane canned food we were subjected to. Typical commercial brands issued in the cigarette ration were: Camel, Chesterfield, Kent, Kool, Lucky Strike, Marlboro, Pall Mall, Salem, or Winston. Found four P38s still in the brown paper wrapping that I brought back from Nam in Dec. 72. Daddys description was not very glowing! 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. As I remember our C rats were marked 1941 &42. Pingback: A brief history of coffee in the US military, Your website really help me and my grandson doing a paper on me. At times we actually had to buy cases of C-rats in Phan Thiet where there was a thriving black market. A better stove was created by simply using the can opener end of a church key (a flat metal device designed to open soft drink and beer containers with a bottle opener on one end and can opener on the other commonly used before the invention of the pull tab and screw-off bottle top) to puncture triangular holes around the top and bottom rims of the can which resulted in a hotter fire and much less fumes. Also sometimes we added the sugar, creamer, and coffee park in the coco package adding a little water mixing it up. At the time no one wanted the egg Thanks for this article and thanks all American officers and soldiers in the field of VN war. 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. Matches The suggestion of including matches was done at the same time as the inclusion of the cigarettes. I remember that there were no hot meals and you learned the hard way what each unit in the box contained. C-rats. 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. We sometimes ran out of C-rats, especially when we couldnt get resupply because the runway on our LZ was damaged by mortar attacks. Nov 16, 2013 at 2338hrs, Being an MACV Advisor C-rations always tasted good when ever we had a chance to beg some. C-rations and m-60 mechine gun and GOD are what got me through tough times . It's one of the most celebrated feats of World War II: On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 troops stormed the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion . A combination my Italian wife would cringe at. Read about all of these, noticed that none of you brothers mentioned using the tin of peanut butter as a stove. THE C-RATIONS I ATE IN VIETNAM IN 1970 WERE DATED 1943 THATS 27 YRS OLD AND Moak said he wasnt worried about getting sick from any bacteria that may have gotten into the old can, because it looked sealed. A strictly utilitarian use of C-rations for crew chiefs and gunners on our D model Hueys was to replace the M-60 feed chute with a can of Cs. I have an entire case of unopened C rations from 1969 for sale on Ebay right now. I drew ham and eggs. I was an infantry radio operator with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, located in the Hiep Duc. Three of us hailed a cab & that older gent stopped & bought us a six pack. I wanted to see more of his brave journey. recovered jeep. I got pretty good at stealing C4 to cook with , and those LRRP rations . Thanks Freddy Wright. I thank each of you for all you have done and all the countless sacrifices you made. I was there during the transition from C-Rats to MREs during the early 80s. I was raised on Spam in South Dakota and Minnesota since Spam is manufactured in Minn. To this day I enjoy Spam sandwiches!! Thank you in advance! Plate. 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). about fruit cocktail. I say all and families because a Military person has or had people waiting for them and worrying about them. $79.95 Vietnam Us Army $45: VE-1225 Vietnam Boxed lock and keys. Thank you so much. Broight back some memories for me from my year in the bush. Loved the lerps when we could get them. So I gave my last Cs to a Boy Scout Troop and switched to freeze-dried packets (civilian version of MREs) . Moak joked earlier this week that he hoped the can wouldnt explode. The brands I remember are: Marlboro, Winston, Camel, Pall Mall, Old Gold, Raleigh, Salem, Kool, Chesterfield, Newport & Lucky Strike . In 1976 I found the notebook in some old Marine stuff I was going through and I finally got to make the sauce,and it was pretty darn good. Those wonderful recipes that you made up so the Cs were more palatable. I came from Landisville PA in Lancaster County that was only 12 miles from Lititz. With this type of stove only half a Trioxin heat tab was needed to heat the meal and then the other half could be used to heat water for coffee or cocoa. Ive often wondered since who made those peaches and if their product is still available. I liked ham and limas. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. vet 69-73 does any one have a recipe for meat and beans? Give me an address and Ill send you one. 4.5 out of 5 stars (128) You brought back a lot of memories. Lots of exploded food and they had to clean up the tail of the ship. when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. Not to bad either! Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water.