World War II
American Rations
US WW II Canned Instant Coffee Ration
Here it is! One can of soluble (instant) coffee. Found in the 5-in-1, 10-in-1, and Mountain Rations, this much sought after component was so popular that it often "disappeared" from QM supplies. The sturdy tin can be re-sealed and used many times. Bearing the proper label, it contains about one ounce of instant coffee - enough to keep caffeined up for an entire weekend.
PRICE: $4.95
US Army WWII Pork Luncheon Meat - "Spam"
When my dad was discharged and sent home at the end of World War II, my mother planned a big family dinner as a celebration. She asked my dad what he would like served at the dinner. “I don’t care,” was his reply, “As long as it isn’t Spam!”
Spam and similar processed pork products made by a variety of manufacturers was churned out by the millions of cans each week during the war, bearing the familiar white “Pork Luncheon Meat” label. It was widely distributed among allied forces as well, and found a place in civilian aid programs. The ration was so ubiquitous that GI’s often ended up dining on “Pork Luncheon Meat” two and even three meals a day.
It is no understatement to say that no military exhibit or kit is complete without at least one of these cans.
This offering features a can with the authentic key opener, firmly attached to the bottom of the can (no cheesy pop-top), and the white label is an authentic reproduction of the original. In addition the contents are fresh from the shelf so that re-enactors can, if they wish, plan their own meal in the field around “Pork Luncheon Meat.”
PRICE: $6.95
US Army WW II K-Ration Corned Beef Hash
To bolster morale and maintain troop fitness, the military tried to provide a variety of food items for the GI's. Here is a replica of one of those less-familiar items - a can of Corned Beef Hash. The label reflects that it was manufactured by Hormel Foods (just like the civilian version) and the can contains almost a pound (15 ounces) of fresh-from-the-grocer's-shelf hash; a filling meal for one, or plenty for two if shared with other rations.
PRICE: $5.95
US Army WWII Charms Candy Ration
One pack of Charms brand candy, just as issued in all U.S. rations and as a supplemental energy food. They are wrapped in the colorful paper outer wrapper that was so unique among the normally drab ration packages, with a foil inner wrapper.
These are authentic Charms candy, fresh from the grocer's shelf.
PRICE: $3.95
US Army WWII M Unit - Chicken Chunks
This is a reproduction set of WWII rations as used by the US Army in the mid-war "Ration, 5-in-1" and its late war successor "Ration, 10-in-1". Both were group feeding rations similar to the British "Ration, Composite", which delivered food in master boxes aimed at feeding 5 men for one day, or, in the later rations, 10 men for one day.
Initially designed mostly for mechanized and motorized units as a feeding solution between the first 24-48 hours of action and the establishment of regular field kitchens after action, these rations soon became a standard for most units.
While the breakfast and supper menus were designed to be eaten in a group setting (including some rudimentary preparation, such as heating canned meals, or sharing out portions of canned bread between squad members), the dinner meal (nowadays better know as "lunch") was a "portable" ration. The idea was that soldiers may be more actively engaged in operations in daytime, when sharing food was not practical, so, each soldier received a 2-box lunch.
Box one contained beverage (usually coffee), bouillon, sugar, matches, crackers, and a confection, along with a can opener and was called tne "Partial Dinner Unit."
This is box two, which contained canned meat (in this case Chicken Chunks) and a wooden spoon. This will definitely help your US GI or Marine impression perfect. When those unfamiliar with the ration ask you what it is, just tell them you got it from "that Sherman crew over there…"
By the way, food cans were not painted early in the war, until they discovered that the unpainted shiny cans were visible to enemy aircraft from high in the sky. A coating of OD flat paint quickly put an end to that!
As always, the contents are fresh from the Grocer's shelf and safe to eat.. Please note that the sheath knife in the background is neither offered nor available, it is there for perspective and scale only.
PRICE: $5.95
US WW2 Partial Dinner Unit
This is the companion piece to the M-Unit ration. The Partial Dinner Unit contains the rest of the noontime meal and a couple of vital accessories. In this box you will find a packet of bouillon powder (usually beef, although other flavors are encountered) a packaged Graham cracker, a packet of instant coffee, a box of granulated sugar, a confection (usually Charms or Caramels), a stick of chewing gum, a P-38 can opener, and a book of VD matches.
That was lunch in the combat zones. As with all of our reproduction rations, every food item here is fresh from the grocer and ready to eat. The can opener is a true replica P-38 and can be used to clean your nails, break down your M-1, repair the ignition on your jeep, lever a jammed cartridge out of your carbine or - oh yeah - it will open cans too! The matches are modern safety matches with the VD warning message printed on the face of the book (no stickers here) and the crumpled up wrappers and boxes will serve as kindling for your noon coffee fire. These items are all wrapped in an air tight cello-like package before being placed in the box.
Several of these items are not available separately, and if they were, total cost would be upwards of $20 and you still wouldn't have the Partial Dinner Unit box.
Please note that the 1911-A in the background, along with the dummy grenade, mag and dummy rounds are not offered or available. They are shown for perspective and scale only (sorry, they stay in our collection).
PRICE: $12.95
US Army WWII M Unit - Ham Chunks
This is the other M-Unit; Ham Chunks.
What to say, except that they offer a refreshing break from Chicken Chunks (or did Chicken Chunks offer a refreshing break from Ham Chunks?).
As always, the contents are fresh from the Grocer's shelf and safe to eat..
Naturally the dummy grenade and the very real sheath knife are not offered or available - they provide perspective and scale only. Sorry.
PRICE: $5.95
Smoker’s Partial Dinner Unit
Cigarettes didn’t suffer from Political Incorrectness during WW2. Watch some of the old John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart movies from the 1940’s – everybody smoked! In fact, cigarettes were considered a basic ration item by the Military back then, and were issued just like Hershey bars and clean socks. Sometimes they actually came right in the ration box.
What we offer here is an accurate replica of the 5-in-1 and 10-in-1 Partial Dinner Unit, Menu No. 2, which contained a small pack of cigarettes. In addition the box contained a packet of crackers, some candy, a packet of Lemonade or Orangeade, sugar, chewing gum, matches, and the ubiquitous P-38 can opener. (Don’t ask me why they didn’t include coffee instead of lemonade – I just make the replicas, okay?).
As you can see, our replica has all of the contents except we leave the outer box unsealed because there aren’t any cigarettes inside the Camel box. We don’t smoke (well, except for George’s cigars) and can’t sell tobacco products, so we left the box unsealed so you can put some of your smokes in the Camel box, slip it back inside the outer box, seal it shut, and you’ve got the real thing, ready to open on bivouac.
Sorry, the M1 Carbine, GI blanket and other eye candy is not included, offered or available. They stay right here in my collection!
PRICE: $12.95