It looks like you have a near-complete E-3A Flyer's Personal Aids survival kit. These were produced in ethyl cellulose with a clamp-on lid secured by a wire bail, and screw cap spout. The E-3A was designed to fit in the shirt pocket; once the contents were removed, the kit could be used as a water c...

In case anyone is interested, you can make your own Scho-ka-kola for a lot less money. -Take a package of DARK chocolate baking chips or shave a DARK chocolate baking bar. -Melt over a double boiler or in the microwave -Mix in one heaping tablespoon of instant coffee (powder, NOT the freeze-dried cr...

My favorite is still the MCI Turkey Loaf. Favorite dessert was the MCI pound cake with MRE strawberries.

The old Vietnam Era LRRP was the best

Many pictures of SPAM in WW2 show it packed in a round silver colored can labeled "Pork Luncheon Loaf." SPAM was so ubiquitous, supply depots were nicknamed "SPAM Canyons," and Uncle Sam was sometimes called "Uncle SPAM." The 125th Fighter Squadron named their base in the Pacific "SPAMville". A souv...

MCI's are shown in both "Platoon" & "Hamburger Hill". (Both movies about VietNam.) C-rats are shown in several WW2 movies (e.g. "A Walk in the Sun"), but I can't recall any Korean War movies that show C-rats. As an aside, I wish someone would make a movie based on the book, "The Gentle Infantryman" ...

What I normally carry for a "bring-your-own-water" Boy Scout weekend hike is: - 3-liter Camelback attached to outside of pack - US Army surplus 5-quart collapsible water bladder inside main pack - US Army surplus 2-quart canteen clipped to side of pack - 1 quart Nalgene in outside pack pocket - US A...

It really depends on the situation. In the desert (Iraq, Saudi Arabia & Kuwait) we needed 7-8 liters/day in the summer, 4-5 liters/day in the winter. Same in Panama, roughly 4 liters/day MINIMUM. This was for drinking purposes only,, by the way. Cooking required additional water. I've been taking Bo...

Vietnam era LRRP, Chili con carne. Actually had a real chili flavor, and the chocolate covered coconut bar was fantastic. You had to be careful and completely rehydrate it, though.

-pouches of tuna, salmon & chicken, single serving pouches of spam -small cans of crab, ham, shrimp, tins of sardines, small cans of Vienna sausage -if you can find them, the small single serving cans of pork & beans or "Beanie Weenies" are pretty good -starting to see small plastic cups of vegetabl...