a couple of weeks ago I bought at ebay.com a "weird MCI ration", which is dated November 1979.
The first four photos show the card board of the ration from different views
Comparison of two ration card boards: In the back you can see a "real" MCI cardboard. The size is exact identical, but the printing on the lid is different: The "weird" ration has no "MEAL, COMBAT, INDIVIDUAL", also the number of the "B UNIT" is missing. The packers name "so-pak-co" seems strange 1979, in that year it was usually designated "SOUTHERN PACKAGING AND STORAGE CO."
View into the opened card board of the "weird" ration
All contents of the "weird" ration at one glance:
SPAGHETTI WITH BEEF CHUNKS IN SAUCE (5 ½ OZ
)POUND CAKE
B UNIT CRACKERS CANDY (two cans
)PEANUT BUTTER
ACCESSORY PACKET
Card board divider
White ration spoon
All contents of the "real" ration at one glance:
SPAGHETTI WITH BEEF CHUNKS IN SAUCE (12 OZ
)CINNAMON NUT ROLL
B-2 UNIT CRACKERS COCOA BEVERAGE POWDER (one can as usual for MCIs
)JAM, APRICOT
ACCESSORY PACKET
Card board divider
White ration spoon
Close-up of the SPAGHETTI WITH BEEF CHUNKS IN SAUCE 5 ½ OZ can
Date code "9268": September 25, 1979
Close-up of the POUND CAKE can
Date code "24109", that means October 24, 1979
Close-up of one of the two B UNIT CRACKERS CANDY can with the unusual "SO-PAK-CO."
Date code "11 79", that means November 1979 (both B UNIT cans have the same code!)
Close-up of PEANUT BUTTER can, no difference between the "real" MCI PEANUT BUTTER
Date code "04109", that means October 04, 1979
White ration spoon, the shape is similar to a "real" MCI spoon, but the used fabric is less transparent and so more white
Printing on the spoon "V.B. CLINTON…" with the ®, not usual 1979
ACCESSORY PACKET packed by "SO.-PAK.-CO.", no contents stated
If you compare the packaging dates of the single cans, you can see that they match with each other
. That is a argument that the contents of the card board are original.The ebay seller sold more of that "weird" rations, with that entrees: CHICKEN HASH; BRUNSWICK STEW; BEANS WITH CHICKEN FRANKS; TURKEY WITH DUMPLINGS
. All of those have B UNIT CRACKERS CANDY only .Is it possible that that "MCI ration" were produced for commercial use, so as commercial MREs today
So long mreheater72
