Military Background?

[BTemple]

Hey everyone, was just curious about how many of the people here in our MRE/Ration community have a military background? Either yourself personally or family members. Did that connection to the military fuel your love for rations?

I haven't served personally in the military but my Grandfather served in WW2 with the Royal Navy from 1940-1946, my other Grandfather helped build the US Argentia Naval Base during WW2 and made one trip on a Merchant convoy during the war. I've had Uncles serve in both the US Navy (ended up being an instructor at Norfolk) and the Royal Canadian Air Force, a great-uncle serve in the Canadian Army, a godfather/cousin serve in the Canadian Navy and another cousin serve in the US Marine Corps. Also countless other friends and distant relatives have served in the Canadian Army, primarily in Afghanistan and the Balkans.

[RockyRaab]

I served 23 years in the USAF, including a year in Vietnam as a pilot (300 combat missions). Then an instructor pilot. Finished my Reserve career as a Public Affairs Officer for the space program.

While in Vietnam, ate both MCIs and LRPs. Retired during Desert Storm, but never got an early MRE.

I forgot to add that my Mom and Dad were both US Army during WWII.

[BTemple]

I served 23 years in the USAF, including a year in Vietnam as a pilot (300 combat missions). Then an instructor pilot. Finished my Reserve career as a Public Affairs Officer for the space program.

While in Vietnam, ate both MCIs and LRPs. Retired during Desert Storm, but never got an early MRE.

My Uncle served from 1962-1975 in the Royal Canadian Air Force and had wished that Canada would have joined the Vietnam War, he was a radar operator on the CP-107 Argus, basically the Anti-Submarine/Reconnaissance plane in between the Neptune and Orion.

[shawker71]

10 years split between US Army Active, Reserve and National Guard. Eating late '80s and early to mid '90s MREs got my passion up even though they were the "dark ages" of development in my opinion. They were even in dark brown, dark green packaging.

[Spot87]

Currently serving in the Australian Army. I did 4 years in Armoured Corps and now I'm a fitter. I've eaten my fair share of CR1Ms and CR5Ms but in armoured we always took jack rations (store bought) out field and rarely touched the CR5Ms.

[parafireboy]

I was in the Air Force / Air National Guard a long time ago. I got out in 2001.

My father was in the Air Force during Vietnam. My step-father spent more than 30 years in the military, working in Army special operations. He was a command sergeant-major when he retired a couple of years ago.

[BlackDogBob]

Currently serving in the Australian Army. I did 4 years in Armoured Corps and now I'm a fitter. I've eaten my fair share of CR1Ms and CR5Ms but in armoured we always took jack rations (store bought) out field and rarely touched the CR5Ms.

Bro! Would love to get a coupe, CR5Ms to the States and into the hands of people like Gundog and Steve.

[BlackDogBob]

Machine Gunner, USMC, 1989-1995. Ate my share of MREs for sure!

[FREMONT]

Grandfather volunteered to the Navy during the Korean war because he didn't want to get drafted to fight (his cousin was wounded in Korea if i'm not mistaken). He sailed all over the world and never once anchored in Korea. My other grandfather was drafted during peace time oddly enough, he was near the end of completing firefighting school when this happened. A good friend of his was already in the national guard. his friend and some officer pulled some strings or something (I forget this part of the story). But after his completion of firefighting school he was then part of the national guard for a number of years whilst being a firefighter. My grandfather's uncle was a bombardier in a B25 and was shot down over Germany or North Africa (Condolence on telegraph message is from commanding general in North Africa) he also had an air medal with two oak leaf clusters). I don't know who else served in my family but I am somehow related to "Mad" Anthony Wayne. As for myself, I haven't decided to join due to tinnitus and a sensitive left ear. There goes my plan was to go through college then joining up as an officer later on

Oddly enough, none of this attributed for my interest of MREs. My grandfather told stories of serving in the national guard during the winter, they would heat up C-rations using the engines of trucks

[Spot87]

Currently serving in the Australian Army. I did 4 years in Armoured Corps and now I'm a fitter. I've eaten my fair share of CR1Ms and CR5Ms but in armoured we always took jack rations (store bought) out field and rarely touched the CR5Ms.

Bro! Would love to get a coupe, CR5Ms to the States and into the hands of people like Gundog and Steve.

I'll see what i can do next year. Maybe see Gundog and Steve do a CR5M review together. It's a big ration.