Food for Fighters (1943)

[356butch]

Anybody else notice how the soldiers shown in this old reel all look like they just got out of a concentration camp and all look around 40 years old compared to today's soldiers. Are they still victims of the 1930s depression or do people today just age better through better nutrition from childhood on?

[JayKay62969]

The rations may have served their purpose for the military but unfortunately it also started us down the path to processed (non) food.

[jason60chev]

For as much grief as it has taken, you kinda have to applaud the Army in it's efforts to feed it's troops. It's difficult to feed Tens of thousands of men 3 decent meals a day....especially in field or combat conditions. I'm sure it was a treat to get behind the lines to a field kitchen for a HOT meal, no matter what it was. In my collection, I have an early, unopened K-Ration and 2 C-Ration B Units from 1940/41.

[blissy1]

@jason60chev I would'nt try eating those ration packs!! Unless you're really hungry !

[mountaindweller44]

C-Rations also had cigarettes...two individual cigs in their own little box, within the C-Rat. LOVED the green eggs and ham!!! It became green quickly after being canned...though was still ok to eat...I have eaten 1957 canned rations, still TASTY! Don't throw the wagonwheel crackers...they could KILL someone!

[mountaindweller44]

My favorite can within the C-Rations was the "crushed pineapple desert"...I think, on the can it said, "pineapple, crushed, fruit"...take your "John Wayne" (p-38, or if you were 'special', your p-8 opener) and crank it open! Also, the cheese was neat...used together with the jelly, you could stay 'regular'. Trust me, they were TONS BETTER than the 1st Gen MREs!!! Those patties were REALLY CARDBOARD!!!

[iamanotsalesman]

I recently ordered a reproduction of the K ration. They took the cigarettes out but sent the box anyways XP

[enjoixander]

8:49 cigarrettes are great for your military! No one on earth has a right to complain about US Military rations, they are the BEST!

[enjoixander]

Thank you usa government for supporting our good, old fashion, nourishment for the lungs, decent and healthy cigarrette companies. Tests on military were sufficient to promote the product for profit in peace time.. Invest in war time products and become rich! Our own greatest enemies are those within who seek to profit off of you!

[pierneus]

@enjoixander yours is the only comment which makes sense in here!

[katanaburner]

@enjoixander Well said!

[qwertasdcfghjklmo24z]

@enjoixander You really think healthy living was on the soldier's minds when bullets and bombs were flying at them?

[gamergeektwo]

your right and they aslo used d rations which were energy bars and you could even boil it into a drink. that had to taste bad. X(

[redeye117]

... In reality The K ration was a failure.. It just simply didnt provide the sufficient calorie for an invidivdual soldier..ended up soldier suffer from malnutrition..

The army continue to favor C ration..

[123123000000]

Thank you so much for posting this, I'm writing a story, and all they have to eat are K-rations because, well they're paratroopers.

[marpoq]

they got me convinced! im enlisting! jk

thanks for posting the vid its kewl

[tcufrogz]

Super pill = meth!! WooHoo!!!

[FLUFFYPUNK]

Thank you so much for posting! Watching reels from this era is so interesting. The propaganda is so prominant in this film lol. German rations were crappy but they did have meat and stuff. Same with the Japanese rations although the main part of the Japanese ration actually was rice :P

Anyway Thanks for posting!