“C” Rats, good enough for Chesty, good enough for me – 1977

Comments

G. Willard 0311, 8651/0321, 8511,…… - April 20, 2020

LOL. Hilarious post Top, and they were K rats according to my dad and uncles.
I don’t recall any lima beans and ham oh, but I do remember “ham and m*****f*****s”. Couldn’t trade them if you gave them MPC’s to go with it.

Sgt Marko - April 20, 2020

I’ve eaten a lot of C’s and probably experienced all of them. It was interesting to see what was left in the case, or what individual items were thrown back in the case for whatever reason. Everyone refers to the can opener as a P38 which I believe was its actual designation. I’ve heard some marines refer to it as an “Itty Wah”, probably because of the sound it made when it open the cans. Has anyone else ever heard it called that ?

‘Stoney’ Brook - April 20, 2020

Every day a Holiday,
Every meal a Feast,
Every payday a fortune,
Every formation a family reunion,
Every operation an challenge,
Every Liberty Call an adventure.

US Marine Corps: Just one good deal after another

Cpl Bob Korea - April 20, 2020

I still have my P-38 on my tags from the Korea Operation. Lot of C-Rats consumed during that operation. Kept us going. Must have been nutritional.

Paul T Kuras - April 20, 2020

We didn’t have to eat many C rats in the Air Wing, but occasionally got them in the field. The spaghetti and the baked bean versions weren’t too bad if hungry enough, but the Lima beans and ham weren’t the best sellers.
GySgt Paul T. Kuras USMC (Ret) WWII, Korea,Vietnam

MSgt Edd Prothro, USMC Ret. 1964-1984 - April 20, 2020

It was sometime in September ’69, I can’t remember the exact date. They installed a temporary crown and I went back for the permanent gold crown. That lasted until just last year when my dentist had to remove it because of underlying infection. He was amazed that it had lasted for 50 years. I kept it, along with other souvenirs of my two southeast Asia vacations. Semper Fi!!!

Harry 1371 - April 20, 2020

BTW the Delta-Deltas at NSA were awesome!

Harry 1371 - April 20, 2020

MSgt Edd I was sent to NSA China Beach for an infected centipede bite Feb 69. When were you there? Still have a P-38 on my tags but not sure if its the one from Vietnam or from field training stateside. I do remember C’s dated late 50’s Harry 1371

MSgt Edd Prothro, USMC Ret. 1964-1984 - April 20, 2020

From all the stories I hear and read about WWII/Korea era C-rats, I’m really surprised that most of the Marine Corps didn’t expire from ptomaine poisoning, but I have no reason to doubt the validity of your memory. Personally, I can’t remember the dates and any C-rats which I consumed, only that I was usually hungry, some were good, and some not so good. My father, a WWII veteran, told me that he was not aware of C-rats, but that they consumed K-rats which were somewhat different. In 1969, I cracked a tooth when I chomped into a pit while I was eating a can of the coveted peaches. Was sent to NSA DaNang (China Beach) for dental repair. Still have my P-38 “John Wayne” can opener taped to my dog tags. Semper Fi!!!