When did they stop making C rations?

In 1958, C-Rations were replaced by “Meal, Combat, Individual” rations. The contents were almost identical to C-Rations, so they continued to be called C-Rats until the early 1980s, when “Meal, Ready-to-Eat” replaced them. MREs came in packages instead of cans, so they were much lighter than C-Rations.

Why have soldiers rations changed over the years?

Military nutrition has evolved over time. In the past, armies that ventured beyond their supply lines lived off the land, by pillaging food from the people whose land the army occupied, or requisitioning it. Often more soldiers died of disease that was exacerbated by malnutrition than from combat.

Can hardtack stop a bullet?

Soldiers could carry enough hardtack in their backpacks to eat for several days. In 2010, college students performed an experiment by firing pistol shots into chunks of hardtack. They were astonished to find that the crackers stopped the bullets!

What did Vietnam soldiers eat?

It was very cold and wet – especially at night – that February in I Corps (at the northernmost combat zone in South Vietnam), and the fighting seemed always to take place under heavy rain or in dense, gray overcast. In our rucksacks, we each carried several olive-drab colored cans of C ration meals.

What cigarettes did Vietnam soldiers smoke?

Typical commercial brands issued in the cigarette rations in Vietnam were: Camel, Chesterfield, Kent, Kool, Lucky Strike, Marlboro, Pall Mall, Salem, or Winston. Due to health concerns, cigarettes were eliminated from the MCI accessory packs in 1975.

Who is the only officer that stayed at Valley Forge the entire winter with the troops?

The Marquis de Lafayette, who joined the Continental Army at age nineteen in the summer of 1777 as a volunteer Major General, spent most of December 1777 and January 1778 with George Washington and his Continental Army troops at their winter quarters at Valley Forge.

Are saltine crackers hardtack?

Saltines have been compared to hardtack, a simple unleavened cracker or biscuit made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. However, unlike hardtack, saltines include yeast as one of their ingredients. Flat saltine crackers have perforations on their surfaces.

Can you still buy hardtack?

The most popular and accessible version of hardtack is called Sailor Boy Pilot Bread. It’s made in Virginia and while the bulk of it goes to Alaska where they still consume it regularly, you can buy hardtack commercially to add to your survival food stash.