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Thread: Vietnam War field rations, were WW2 K-Rations still being used?

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    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    Vietnam War field rations, were WW2 K-Rations still being used?

    Some time ago, on a documentary programme either on the radio or television, it was stated that WW2 produced K-Rations, that had been in storage, were still being issued to U.S. troops during the Vietnam war. It went onto say that the food contained in the tins was still perfectly good but that it was often a lucky dip as to what you got because the labels had often come off the tins. It was stated that vast quantities of K-Rations were left over at the end of WW2 and that the surplus was put into store, to be got out again for Vietnam. These rations were supposed to be sufficient to last the U.S. Army out until the end of Vietnam.

    I was a little sceptical of these claims but I have no way of knowing if they are true or not. With a number of Vietnam veterans as Forum members I thought that this would be an ideal place to ask if K-Rations or some of the contents were still be issued during the Vietnam war? More generally, how was the food while serving in theatre? Was there sufficient quantity, especially while out on patrol, or were the wrong types of food being supplied? One of the problems of going out on patrol must be the weight of what you are carrying; could it have been packaged better?

    Thanks for any information.
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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    I was training in Coronado-Cross-the-bay during December '74 with the USMC. They brought out hard rations for lunch one day and the cans were marked for 1945. They would have been around.

    All during the '70s the ration packs we had were cans.
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    Legacy Member armabill's Avatar
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    "K" and "C" rations from WWII were issued during the 1965 Vietnam era as well as prior years. I was there at that time and that's what we had. We also had WWII com radios and other gear.

    The rations were OK to eat but better if heated up.

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    Quote Originally Posted by armabill View Post
    The rations were OK to eat but better if heated up.
    And better yet if you could do it in a kitchen environment...
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member emmagee1917's Avatar
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    I was never GI . In the mid-sixties when I was a kid out camping , I'd eat WW2 rations . It was amazing to me at the time to be eating a cow that died a decade before I was born !
    Chris

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    Yup, we were amazed too...but different...
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member Sunray's Avatar
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    "...cow that died a decade before..." What makes you think it was just 10 years? snicker.
    U.S. National Guard was still issuing M1icon Rifles well into the 1970's.
    Canned stuff can be just fine for eons as long as the can isn't damaged and, like ammo, it was stored correctly. In 1865, a steamboat loaded with canned provisions sank in the Missouri River. In 1974, the canned stuff was tested by the National Food Processors Association (FPA) for bacterial contamination and nutrient value. They found that other than the taste(applies to Army food at the best of times. Isn't just the Army that can wreck an egg either. Done by hospitals too.) the contents were fine and completely safe to eat.
    "...must be the weight..." Yep. However, the technology of boil-in-bag and freeze dried stuff was applied to food until the 1970's. Despite being invented during W.W. II for blood products.
    Spelling and Grammar count!

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    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by armabill View Post
    "K" and "C" rations from WWII were issued during the 1965 Vietnam era as well as prior years. I was there at that time and that's what we had.
    Did you get issued with the complete WW2 K & C ration packs or was it normally just the tinned food out of these packs, please?

    It shows that it was a good quality product that was produced and packaged, that it was still perfectly good for use 20 years or more later.

    Thanks for this interesting information, chaps.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying10uk View Post
    the complete WW2 K & C ration pack
    We had the whole thing issued right there on the beach...as new.
    Regards, Jim

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    By 1969 in the 2nd Bn, 34th Armor, 25th Infantry Division, it was, "Meal Combat, Individual" aka C-rations for the mid day meal. Quite often, the evening meal came out on the resupply chopper and was B rations. Paper and plastic had replaced mess kits by then.

    Unlike our dismounted bretheren, there was no weight penalty, so we carried C-rations by the case. In addition, we had the luxury of being equipped with a pair of tanker stoves. Further luxury came from carrying between 10 gallons of potable water in the 5 gallon cans on each side of the turret. But the supreme luxury was the Mermite can strapped somewhere on the turret In this case you can see it long side the commander's cupola. A case of canned beverages and ice would keep for three to four days.
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