The C-Ration Cook Book



As a career infantry soldier I was fortunate to have served all over the



world. The American G.I. has a history of being inventive when it comes



to improving the basic comforts of life while in the field or combat.



C-Rations were boxed canned meals comprised of various meat, vegetable



and assorted desserts. Pork and Beans were an added treat. Desserts consisted



of crackers, chocolate, fruit cake, fruit cocktail etc, also included was a pack of



toilet paper, several cigarettes and two pieces of Chicklet gum.



For the purpose of this offering I will address my tour of duty in Vietnam. I had



The honor and privilege to serve in a Long Range Recon Unit and the 1O1st



Airborne Div. Ranger Company as a sniper. We operated in 6 man teams far



into enemy territory to conduct various types of missions. We did eat C-rats when



in the rear area and when we were too lazy to go to the mess hall or could do better.



The problem with C-Rations in combat were many. They added extra weight to a 60



plus pound ruck sack. When cooked in the field the enemy might smell what you were



cooking and become an uninvited guest. The empty cans were used as improvised



weapons and booby traps against us. These concerns were widely ignored by most larger



units since there were few alternatives.



In our, for lack of better term, elite unit we took the best of the C-Rat offerings, crackers,



cheddar cheese and the small cans of peaches and such with us, we either brought the



empty cans back or buried them. We, for our main meals, carried dehydrated meals that



we added hot water to. We heated them using a pinch of C-4 explosive that burned super



hot and fast. If you stepped on it to put it out you could possibly blow your foot off.



These meals would stay warm using body heat, then we would take a few bites when it



Was safe. These meals, like C-Rats were pretty bland till G.I. ingenuity took over.



Many a package from a loving mom or wife contained socks, beef jerky and various



Taste enhancers. More important than a recent picture of Fido were bottles of A-One



sauce, Hienze 57 and Tobasco sauce along with small bottles of spices we couldn’t



even pronounce.



I have seen boys, not yet men, who have been in the jungle for 90 days hunting the



enemy sit around a fire making gourmet meals out of C-Ration ingredients. The recipe



was simple, Add This, Add That, Taste, Repeat if needed.



Relationships are like C-Rations



…When opened, they contain things we like and some we don’t…..



…Can become extra baggage such as old affairs, past mistakes…if we let them…



…Things left behind can be used to hurt others….things buried should stay buried…



....Like the meals, you try in life the things you like and improve on them,



Remembering that tastes change…



..Besides A-One sauce, your family can offer more, advice, experience and love….



The best meal made is one shared with a friend...



C-Rations are like old values, rare to find but most endearing to those that



remember them…



“Both my daughters ate C-Rations as infants and are so much better for it”.



Michael Monfrooe USA Ret

March 13 2006