Born in 1946, I actually got to eat C-3's in the 1960's.
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Type C-3 ration (1951–1953)
In 1951, a new C-3 menu for the Type C-Ration was introduced. The C-3 ration was composed of the same five menus of the C-2, but offered greater variety. In addition to new and improved “B” (bread) and “M” (meat) units, each menu contained an accessory packet, fruit, and cigarettes. The ration was very heavy, weighing 5 lbs. 8.5 oz. [2.5 kg.], and was packed in 8 small cans in a cardboard box. There were 6 daily ration boxes per cardboard case.
- Three “M” (meat) components, which offered 10 different varieties of meat entrées.
- Chopped Eggs and Ham
- Pork and Beans
- Meat Chunks and Beans
- Three “B” (bread) components consisting of:
- B-1: a unit of 5 crackers, a packet of soluble coffee, a packet of powdered milk, a packet of granulated sugar, a cocoa disc, and a 1.5 oz (43 g) tin of jam.
- B-2: a unit of 5 crackers, a packet of soluble coffee, a packet of powdered milk, a packet of granulated sugar, 1 cookie sandwich, and 1 chocolate fudge disc.
- B-3: a unit of 5 crackers, a packet of soluble coffee, a packet of powdered milk, a packet of granulated sugar, 2 cookie sandwiches, and a 1.5 oz (43 g) tin of jam.
- B-4: a unit of pre-mixed and compressed cereal.
- One 12 oz (340 g) can of fruit.
- One sundries can containing the accessory packet (chewing gum, toilet paper, a P-38 can opener, granulated salt, and a flat wooden spoon) and the cigarette packet (one 9-pack of cigarettes and a book of matches).
Field cooking equipment was not required for the preparation of this ration. The C-3 ration was more adequate than the original C-Ration in respect to its nutritional value."
This was prior to my own Military USMC service (in the Scouts, don't ask), but by the time I was actually serving (early 1966) they had been depleted and were no longer available. I missed them.
...And yes, I've eaten a lot of MRE's (again, in the Scouts, don't ask) after my service. I enjoyed most (some would give
SHIT!!! a bad name... Thai Chicken, for instance...) and they did indeed bind up my works...
Having eaten the several types I mentioned, I would clearly prefer the C ration, or especially the C-3 over the MRE, despite the added bulk and weight involved. I've even tried finagling a Poor Man's Charlie Rat, but nothing I came up with could compare favorably.
Combat Rations have been maligned by their consumers for many, many years. But get into the thick of things, and they can quickly turn into that small part of a shitty day that reminds one fondly of home. I lost my foodie inhibitions right quick during the elections in late 1967 when the NVA had our chow hall zeroed in at Qua Viet and Charlie Rats were the only show in town. I miss them to this day.
Greg
PS, as a Corporal of the Guard on the Northern Perimeter (11th Engr, 9th Motor T, and 12th Marines Arty HQ Sectors) of Dong Ha in early 1967, I got to distribute the Charlie Rats and then go back and collect the unused items. I loved the 'Ham and Mothers' and got all I could eat. I would also fix up one or more monster canteen cups of Mocha from the leftover coffee/cocoa fixin's strong enough to walk across and would spend the rest of the night positively wired wide awake. Field expedience at its best... Yee Hah, MoFo!
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