Posted on Fri, Feb. 29, 2008
Eating 'round the world
The Army certainly exposed me to different types of food. Between new experiences while dining in the field and eating cultural specialties in the countries where I found myself, my palette learned to adjust on the fly. Fortunately I like to eat, so I took advantage of every opportunity.
I was in ROTC at Auburn long enough ago not only to enjoy C-rations but even to see C-rations with cigarettes. I never much cared for ham and lima beans, but I liked all of the other C-rations. I even liked ham and eggs if I had a little hot sauce and could heat them. Many a C-ration box sacrificed itself to my matches to make ham and eggs edible.
I particularly loved the cakes in C-rations. The chocolate nut rolls, pound cake and cinnamon nut rolls were great. When I heard that Meals Ready to Eat, or MREs, were coming out, I wrote the bakeries that made those three cakes to buy some. One bakery actually wrote back but had sold all of its cakes the year before. I was heartbroken.
MREs showed up a few years later. I liked them, too. The meats that needed hydration in the early versions were a bit questionable, but the Army made changes and the rations improved. The Army even puts special heaters in them now -- no more burned cardboard boxes. On a hot day in the desert, you can even throw an MRE component in the open and the sunlight will heat it. A little hot sauce still helps, of course. My driver during Desert Storm knew I really liked ham and eggs so he'd trade rations until he could scrounge up ham and eggs for me every day. I think he enjoyed the challenge because no one believed at first that I actually liked them.
Two tours in Germany exposed me to chow all over Europe. German food was and remains my favorite. I love schnitzel of any variety. My waistline sure began to show it on my first tour until I realized that I had to stop eating it every time I could. Schnitzel remains a favorite in our household. My wife does a good job cooking it for a local girl.
Korea provided the most interesting cultural food experiences. Since I was a garrison commander, most of my work force was composed of Korean civilians. Between dinner with local government leaders, civic group leaders and other civilians, my wife and I ate things we never thought we'd see, let alone digest. I enjoyed almost everything, but I admit that the shark fin soup in a Chinese restaurant in Pyongtaek was hard to eat and smile about. Whether enjoying some sort of celebration with my employees or rubbing elbows with one of the local mayors, every meal seemed to bring a new experience.
Between rations in the field and the cultural specialties I encountered, the Army sure opened my eyes to eating. It was quite an experience for somebody from Columbus, Ga., whose only foreign travel before the Army was a Boy Scout goodwill trip to Canada.
John M. House is a retired Army colonel who lives in Midland, Ga. His e-mail is housearmylife@aol.com.
