C-rations
Canned soldier meals
C-rations were individual canned meal packs issued to American military personnel from World War II through the Vietnam War era.
Each contained a main course, crackers, dessert, and accessories like cigarettes and chewing gum.
The meals were notoriously bland and monotonous: We lived on C-rations for three weeks in the field.
Replaced by MREs in the 1980s.
Southeast Asian coastal nation
- KoreaEast Asian divided peninsula
- WWII1939-45 global conflict
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- 1960sDecade after the fifties
MRE · predecessor · replaced · obsolete · vintage · military surplus · collectible · museum
Sealed for preservation
- meatAnimal tissue for food
- crackersCrispy flat biscuits
- beansEdible pod seeds
- franksSeasoned sausages in casings
ham · cheese · spread · biscuits · fruit · pound cake · cocoa · coffee
Armed hostile engagement
- fieldArea of specialty
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- infantryGround combat troops
- GIU.S. military slang
deployment · foxhole · frontline · mess · kit · canteen · battalion · troops
Low temperature state
- heatedWarmed or passionate
- C-4Malleable military explosive
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- messDisorderly, troublesome condition
unappetizing · monotonous · bland · survival · calories · nutrition · sustenance · palatable
Vietnam
Southeast Asian coastal nation
1960s · MRE · predecessor · replaced · obsolete · vintage · military surplus · collectible · museum · era
canned
Sealed for preservation
franks · ham · cheese · spread · biscuits · fruit · pound cake · cocoa · coffee · P-38
combat
Armed hostile engagement
GI · deployment · foxhole · frontline · mess · kit · canteen · battalion · troops · barracks
cold
Low temperature state
- heatedWarmed or passionate
- C-4Malleable military explosive
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
mess · unappetizing · monotonous · bland · survival · calories · nutrition · sustenance · palatable · wolfed
- military rationsMRE, ready-to-eat meals, ready-to-eat, ship's biscuit, hot chow
- rationsMREs, MRE, hardtack, pemmican, provisions
- Vietnam War GearM16, AK-47, Huey, napalm, flak jacket
- infantryfoot soldiers, foot soldier, rifleman, riflemen, infantryman
C-rationsgourmet cuisine
Expertly prepared refined food
gourmet food · haute cuisine · farm-to-table · fine dining · fresh food
C-rationsbanquet
Formal celebratory meal
fine dining · formal dinner · sit-down meal · dinner party · sit-down dinner