In the early 70s I was with 2nd Armored at Ft Hood. Standing order was that all units would spend one week of each month in the field. I was there for almost two years. Yeah, I ate a bunch of C-Rats.
Most of the ones we got were dated in the 1950s.
I kinda liked 'em. Or at least I didn't hate 'em. I considered them to be an acceptable meal. Even liked the ham and eggs. I'd eat the lima beans, but I'd say they were the ones I liked least.
Ah, but the fruit cocktail! That was the prize can everybody wanted. It was actually quite good!
IIRC you looked for boxes marked "B2 Unit". Those were the ones with the canned fruit and the candy bar.
An 8V-71 Detriot Diesel engine would indeed warm up C-Rats very nicely.
Anybody ever do the trick where you warmed up the coffee using the peanut butter?