Re: [HoE] Milrats/MREs(was: Longevity)

[deadlander@juno.com]

On Fri, 25 Sep 1998 23:37:14 -0600 Allan Seyberth <darious@darious.com>
writes:
>An MRE is hard to describe unless you've eaten one.  Take your 
>average>small brown sack - the kind that are used for small purchases at
>convienence stores - about 12in x 6in x 4 in.  Now crimp both ends so 
>that>there is a 1/2 inch seal.  The resulting volume is the food put
into 
>the bag.
>
They do make great food for those long pack-only trips into the
mountains, though.  Besides, after being raised on my mother's meatloaf
MREs were a step up.

>It usually consists of  a "main" dish.  Dehydrated beef and pork 
>patties>(maybe 5in x 3in x 1/2in - called Beef/Pork cookies) were in
great 
>demand>and usually ones of the first to go out of a box. Another popular
one 
>was>slab o'  processed ham block in salt water.   

I was actually partial to the Corned Beef Hash.  At least it came out of
the pouch looking like Corned Beef Hash.  I am not a big fan of "Pork
Cookies".

>The alternatives were 
>worse,>ending with the dreaded Chicken-Ala-King (lovingly called
>Chicken-Ala-Puke).  

This one could make a toxic zombie sick.

>A couple of the MREs came with a
>"candy-bar" that was in great demand - 

These make great trade items with the rest of the crew.  I used to get
cheap ciggies sent to me off of the indian res to trade for these.  Stuff
like this is probably the "cash" of the Wasted West.

>A condiment bag with gum of dubious 
>chemical>properties, a package of freeze dried coffee strong and harsh
enough 
>to>substitute for Baron LaCroix's zombie juice, and some various 
>non-edibles>like a napkin/toilet paper square, spork, salt, etc. etc.
>
The coffee also is great for attracting bugs.  I don't know why but I
always wound up with a layer of bugs floating on top of my coffee, mmm. 

>MRE's were so concentrated, or there were chemicals in them, that one
>usually didn't have to undergo a bowel movement but once every four 
>days.
>
Even then you'd swear you were passing a stone or something.

>I'm still surprised that people buy cases of this for $60-$100 on the 
>open>market.  
>
Like I said before, these make for great fodder if you have to pack all
of your food in.  Here in Arizona we have to carry 4 gallons of water for
a 2 day trip and if you can shave off a few pounds by packing MREs you
live with it.

>On other notes:
>
>C rations were the precursor to MREs.  They were basically tins of 
>food>(afaik).
>
Also called "Sea Biscuits" by my grandfather.  He said that everything
that came out of the tins had the same consistency as uncooked biscuit
dough.

Templar Simon

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