Opening and Eating a WW2 US Army Field Ration C

Amongst the many lessons I learned in the Army was that war, on an individual basis, is nothing more than a violent game of survival. The thoughts of glory and all the other high ideals leave as soon as the bullets start flying. From then on, all you want to do is survive until your hitch is up.

While the Army doesn’t teach survival classes per se, they do teach a number of skills intended to help individual soldiers survive. They also provide a wide range of equipment and supplies with that same intention. The average soldier on the line doesn’t realize it, but officers are taught that the lives of their men are valuable and that they are to do all they can to conserve those lives, while still completing their mission.

As an officer, I received this training, but it wasn’t until years later that I realized how much effort the Army puts into ensuring the survival of their soldiers. Even the little things, like the combat rations we were issued, were designed with survival in mind.

Today, the Army issues MREs, which stands for “Meals, Ready to Eat.” Anyone who has been through boot camp will tell you that this is “three lies for the price of one.” Those were just coming in when I was going out. Back then we had C Rations, which were canned food.

Along with the cans of food was an “accessory pack” which was where the Army’s attention to detail on survival really shone through.

Vietnam Field Ration C – Opening

Opening and Eating a WW2 US Army Field Ration C 

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