D-Rations

[Glenn R. McMannly]

I visited a surplus store near here and found an elderly seller with some WW2-era D-ration chocolate bars for sale.

They were expensive but I bought a couple:



They’ve been well stored and I decided to try one. Tasted like musty old library books but I didn’t get sick. I finished the bar and felt quite full for the rest of the afternoon.

Displays well with my Tisas GI M1911A1. Not bad for nearly 80 year old chocolate. God bless.

-Glenn

 

[Wingmaster]

You're braver than I am.

 

[Greyman50]

Holy cow you ate an expensive emergency bar. Years ago when I had a huge WWII US collection had all the rations but never ate any. Did eat some LRRP rations from Vietnam in the 80s when camping with son, they were fine as freeze dried.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Never had a D.
Have eaten a fair amount of these.

 

[TJm15.38]

You're braver than I am.

What he said.

 

[Onomea]

Interesting choice, eating one. Appreciate your writing up the experience!

 

[Phenix]

Never had a D.
Have eaten a fair amount of these.View attachment 872125

When I was in Army Basic Training in 1981 we were issued C Rats on a fairly regular basis.
I thought they were quite good. Especially the sliced peaches and most of the meat. Never could do the ground up scrambled eggs and ham. Looked too much like dog vomit to me.

 

[DixieRanger]

Was gifted two sealed cases of 1966 MCI rations complete with cigarettes and toilet paper. Gave one case to friend in Vietnam with 5th group in 1970.

 

[Greyman50]

By chance one has MCI rations open the box and remove Any and All cans that have tomato anything in them as well as fruit, open can on Bottom and dump and wash can out . Tomato and fruit will eat through the can RUINING any other boxes of rations. Learned this in 40 years of collecting. This is about all I have left. The LLRP next to the MCI box is the second type and pretty rare. First version was in a clear package with dried fish. Have only seen 1 in 40 years.

 

[Alpo]

Making your own D ration chocolate bar.

 

[jeffrefrig]

My stomach churned into a knot when I saw that bite out of that chocolate bar. I mean, I don't see "Hershey" written anywhere! Blahh!!

 

[eveled]

You were brave eating that! But it was a great photo op!

The WW2 German chocolate was loaded with caffeine. I worked with a guy who ate it instead of drinking coffee. SHO-KA-KOLA I think it’s still available.

They also issued Pervatin which was something like Meth.

Apparently sleeping was not allowed!

 

[Walkin Horse]

What is considered expensive?
I think the bags of chocolate in the store is expensive.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Now a days during Field Training you supposedly get the smaller MRE.
Anybody got a Family Member who can confirm?

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Now a days during Field Training you supposedly get the smaller MRE.
Anybody got a Family Member who can confirm?View attachment 872293

Some years ago a close friend in the reserves worked on a local Army post in the supply department. This wasn’t long after 9/11 and they had a surplus of MREs.

He made a real killing off raiding the dumpsters there at night and “liberating” hundreds of cases of old MREs and selling them at gun shoes etc.

 

[duke2002]

My dad was in Vietnam in the mid 60's in the navy. He said he dreaded battle conditions cause the kitchen shut down. He said they ate rations from wwii and korea at those times. His favorite was hardboiled eggs packed in olive oil lol! In all the years he was alive he refused to eat spam lol!

 

[Harv 24]

I started on C Rations in 83, graduated to the original 12 MRE's then expanded on to the follow on Generation or MRE's, I've had the T rations and the TOTM's (Just a lower cost, stripped down MRE that they designed for the Reserve/Guard on MUTA drills.

Today's rations are pretty good compared to what the guys ate back in WW Eleven.


The T-rations did not last long and were universally hated. I loved the Corned beef hash MRE along with the Ham & Turkey loaf.

The Vomulette was by far the worst.

 

[marinevet]

I ate C rats in the Corps in the early 80's, I liked them better than the early MRE's........

 

[lihpster]

You were brave eating that! But it was a great photo op!

The WW2 German chocolate was loaded with caffeine. I worked with a guy who ate it instead of drinking coffee. SHO-KA-KOLA I think it’s still available.

They also issued Pervatin which was something like Meth.

Apparently sleeping was not allowed!

Pervatin WAS meth. The Nazi's were the first to mass produce it and popularize it.

 

[Greyman50]

Germans in the Battle of the Bulge were " hopped up" on pervitan.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Pervatin WAS meth. The Nazi's were the first to mass produce it and popularize it.

It’s a big hit in the area around me. I haven’t partaken myself.

 

[huntandfishguy63]

Back in the 70's I might have been ten, or eleven years old. My father and I were in a military surplus store in Beaumont, Tx. Daddy let me buy a small can of spaghetti from the Korean War. I ate it, I don't remember what it tasted like but it didn't kill me.

 

[Retired W4]

By chance one has MCI rations open the box and remove Any and All cans that have tomato anything in them as well as fruit, open can on Bottom and dump and wash can out . Tomato and fruit will eat through the can RUINING any other boxes of rations. Learned this in 40 years of collecting. This is about all I have left. The LLRP next to the MCI box is the second type and pretty rare. First version was in a clear package with dried fish. Have only seen 1 in 40 years.

Beanie weenies!!! Out the door and into the jungle. Wouldn't feed that to Vegas' pet monkey.

 

[Greyman50]

As for expensive WWII D bars, years ago when I sold US military collectables had a D bar for sale for $75. This was at a Big WWII reenactment. This guy came by looked at it and offered $50, told him sorry its $75. He put it down and said " I'll find a cheaper one". There were 7-8 buildings of for sale stuff and in about an hour he came back and started haggling again. Some long time buddies had been to the other buildings and told me I had The Only D bar there. Told the weasel $75 take it or leave it as its the Only one here. He finally paid up. He was a known cheapskate.

 

[Greyman50]

Surprised no one has mentioned " ham and limas". Wont post what we called them, LOL....

 

[Retired W4]

Surprised no one has mentioned " ham and limas". Wont post what we called them, LOL....

I was thinking ham and limas but tried to get them out of my mind so I did not post. Thanks for ruining my breakfast !!!

 

[Greyman50]

Sorry Tom just had to post it, LOL. I need to go back to Va. and get some Real Smithfield ham from a little place on Rt 460.... Most so called Smithfield ham sold in grocery stores is FAKE....full of chemicals.

 

[Harv 24]

I was thinking ham and limas but tried to get them out of my mind so I did not post. Thanks for ruining my breakfast !!!

Ham and Mother F*%kers!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Here’s one I never liked.

 

[Skeet 028]

Ya gotta know how to make a Smithfield Ham. The lady in the drugstore next to us knew how to make 'em grear ro eat too, Back when we raised hogs we always did a few for my mother and aunts...Made hickory smoked bacon too. Cooked sausage patties put 'em in a 1/2 ga canning jar..filled with lard...put on a top and you could eat sausage a couple years later...if you didn't eat it all quickly