Thread: U.S. Mess Utensils- Knives

We called the canned rations of the 70's C rations, but technically, real C-rats had not been around since 1958. What we had with the MCI or Meal, Combat, Individual in milspeak. My dad went into the Army in 1958 so he saw the last of the real C rations AND the K rations which were meal specific (breakfast, lunch and dinner versions) and lighter to carry, but had fewer calories per package so you got 3 a day instead of 2. K's were originally intended for airborne troops, tanker and such for short term use where weight and size were an issue. I think that they were replaced by the Army on a MUCH smaller scale by the LRP rations which were the ancestor of the MRE, had even fewer calories than the MRE or LCI, but were supposedly better, assuming you could find a clean water supply to rehydrate them as they were all freeze dried. As for the MRE's, it wouldn't have taken much for anything to be better than those first ones.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I had a few of those leftovers in 79,, I actually preferred them over the MRE's that first came out,,,, I loved that "pound cake" you guys had,,,