VietNam 1970, we had been having connect with the VC off and on for a couple of days; so when it became time for our resupply choppers to come in—they didn’t. Grunts understand, all too well, that choppers can be shot down with a lucky hit from an AK-47 or PRG round. Also, Cpt. Darling was finding a supply of water from local wells and such but it was the lack of C-Rations that was the bigger concern. Again, any grunt will tell you that you only carry what you actually plan to eat anything else was too heavy. If a chopper didn’t come in on schedule, it didn’t take long to run out of food. Which is what happen to us on this particular occasion.
Well, we’re Marines and we might fight with each other from time to time but share our last drop of water and in this situation whatever food we had. i was humping the radio for “Red” the third squad leader. We got into position that evening, some of guys had a can of whatever they saved from the last supply run but not much. Red got the squad together reached into his pack and brought out a can of sardines in mustard sauce that he had gotten from home.
He open it up and pass the can around for each of us to take a bite of sardines and someone had C-Ration crackers (not the best but who cares). I didn’t even know what the stuff was—never ate it before. But you know what? That was one of the best meals I had ever eaten!
I have since talked with friends about that experience who usually respond with “I wouldn’t touch the thing let only eat it”. I just tell them that they don’t know what being hungry is like. I doubt they know what they might do or eat if they were. Red’s action of sharing what he had has stayed with me over all these years. To this day, giving to the community food bank and working at them has been very important to me. I knew hunger until “Red” shared his last can of sardines with all of us. Hence the Marines motto Semper Fi—Always Faithful—to each other and the Corps.
Footnote: My favorite meal was to take the chicken noodle soup and pour the liquid out. Save the meatballs from another meal and put them in with the noodles. Then get some ketchup from one of guys and put it into the noodles. Meatballs, and noodles in ketchup sauce—MMMM—well maybe not anymore…..
35 comments
I can recall being the Cpl of the Guard while in An Hoa for showers and resupply. We sat on the line talking about food or the first thing we were going to eat when we got home for most of the night. I think there people who would be suraise to learn what men will talk about under these circumstances. Don’t you?
I find it interesting that when the subject is chow (C’s or otherwise) everyone has a favorite or a special recipe. Speaks to the high priority that ground pounders attach to food (especially while in the bush)!!
May of 1965 my Platoon of Marines were so hungry as we had been eating “Cs” since moving out on 327. It was hot, dry, and humping the Tuy Loan all day and night then back up 327, spending the night at that old French Fort, at it’s base, we were hashed. The company had a cook that had been enjoy the night life, and the lassies of Da Nang too much, and he needed help. He was referred to me for some reason. I told him I could help him out with his problem, but that I would like 4 gallons of Fruit Cocktail. One for each squad, and one for the Platoon CP, and anyone that had the watch. It only took one day to get the desired goods and my Marines were thankful for the fruit cocktail.
February 1984, I turned 25 y/o while in Beirut, Lebanon. My Grandmother sent over a box FULL of home-made Cinnamon Rolls! You know, the really gooey kind, they were packed in popcorn. Well we threw them into the field range at the cooks tent for about 5 -10 min. and all 100 of those cinnamon rolls found their way down the throats of my maintenance platoon and were just a memory in less than 10 minutes. They kept begging that I ask for more, but we pulled out a few weeks later and headed home shortly after.
I think the CP rations were what we knew as PX rations or issue during the Persian Gulf War. The first ones we got had cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco, as well as candy, writing paper, pens, playing cards, etc. The later ones didn’t have tobacco products. Each box was for 100 men. It was nice to get them. I took some over to a friend’s battalion who wasn’t getting them. It was like Santa had arrived!
Meatballs and beans
We had Korean war vintage C-rats at ITR in ’69. Was impressed by what a tin of 17 year old peanut butter looked like. All of the oil separated and rose to the top while the “peanut” stuff sank to the bottom and turned into granite – that stuff was useless. Love the spaghetti and meatballs though.
Chuli 1965-66 Gulf 2/4. Take the ham out of the ham and mother’s ,rinse off all the grease on the ham.,set aside. Take the ham and eggs chopped,open both ends push out the contents and slice 1/4”. Open a can of beef stew with potatoes, remove the potatoes and rince off the potatoes. Get your mess kit bottom with the handel and heat over an empty c rat can with some c-4 if you got it . Add a little lard from the ham & mothers in the mess pan,fry the potatoes,add the ham,add the slices of eggs chopped,toast some sliced canned bread loft for toast and add peanut butter. The Breakfast of Champions. All of the above will only take place if your not receiving incomeing artery and small arms fire ! Semper Fi PS who remembers Operation Starlite August 18 1965 .
You should not say sorry about the FUBAR comment. YOU WERE EXACTLY RIGHT. Just wish I would have thought to say it.
Sounds good. Sorry about the FUBAR comment ! Harry
You guys will never believe this story. While at Gio Linh there were also 40 Army up there. One of the Army guys named Freddie ??? a Sgt. felt sorry for us Marines because all we got were C-rates. So he stole a truck ( Army ) and 4-5 of us drove down to Dong Ha. There was this supply depot that we drove through loading up the truck will case after case of canned food. How he did this with out any paper work I have no idea. When we got back to Gio Linh, DL could not believe it. He was pissed but happy. That Freddie guy was a great person. Once or twice a month the ARMY would fly up hot meals in big metal boxes for those guys and Freddie always called us over.
We had stopped for a few days at an old ruined Cathedral in the middle of no-where, Thua Thien province. I was a fairly new Doc to “C” company, 1/4 in May of ’66. The rain was a constant torrent and some old trenches and small bunkers from the ARVN were soon underwater, miserable for most of us, damned dangerous for those who were shortly trapped inside those mounds of bamboo and mud. One of these Marines had liberated a large can of hamburgers from an engineer unit’s ‘kitchen’ a day earlier. Someone else volunteered the tin lid from a home package. Then came the generous donations of the canned cheese and canned bread (Lord how I hated that bread!) Heating the tin box lid over a small fire, the burgers fried in their own fat , then the cheese was added on top. Each tin of bread was sliced in half awaiting the best damned cheeseburgers I believe any of us would ever have in our lives! My Marines were a generous bunch. As for Ham & Mothers, every now and then I still whip up a batch for myself, but there are no other takers who are brave enough to share them. Sad.
My best C-rat meal took some time to collect. Meatballs & Beans, mash up the meatballs add a touch of water, when hot(heated with small bits of C-4) then add Hickory smoked cheese, crush up 3 crackers, add Tabasco to taste(sent from home or a PX run), this was a massive feast. Nothing like C’s. My first C was in ITR ham and eggs chopped, I still remember the taste. Good memories.
Hi Harry. I am having someone from VFW in the Federal building 16th floor doing all my paper work. Plus a lady from congressman Doyles office. To tell you the truth I do not know the name of the hearing, I was just told to report to Aspinwall for a hearing. I’ll keep you posted as to what is going on.A good friend of mine ( Green beret ) has this person from VFW working for him so I used the same person. They got him 100% for agent orange.
Hey Sgt.Sisson, Sorry to hear about your problems with VA. I do,nt understand why,since bladder cancer was added to the presumptive list (toxic water @ Swamp Lagoon ) you should not have to get a C&P exam ,if that is what you are referring to as hearing,even if you filed agent orange or suzy rotten crotch it should not matter. did you ever contact DAV to be your service rep (ie. power of attorney) ? Best decision I ever made.I would probably still be fighting with VA if it were not for DAV.If the powers that be would get their behinds off their hands we would have more agent orange presumptive added to list.Keep the pressure on. I am at the VA hospital every Monday with my group I’ll ask around and see if I can find out anything. This thing sounds FUBAR! Harry
Yes we got CP packages. All I remember was the foot powder and the Pall Malls. That was my brand of smoke and no one else wanted them so I had them all to myself. We got a CP package every several months. When I extended and went to 11th Marines down south I never saw them again.