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What is an FNG? General abbreviation for
the entire book: Definition: 'Fuckin New Guy'.
What does (WBM) mean? Definition:
'Will be met', Page 7, line 5.
What is the definition of a US Veteran.
A US Veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her young life, wrote
out a blank check on their honor, made payable to the United States of America, and to all who live there as citizens, for
an amount of up to and including the cost of their own lives, for the protection of and defense of the lives of all Americans
around the world. This is a debt of HONOR, found in the hearts and souls of Americas youngest and bravest and in all
its Veterans, the men and women who fought its wars and gave up their lives to keep America Free....
Sadly, There are way too many people in America today who
have forgotten what honor stands for. In addition, too many have forgotten how many have given their lives to make sure
they can live their lives as a free person. Now being aware of that fact, lets all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before, in our thoughts.
What is a LRP Ration?
In my book, I refered to their
use, during their developement and testing in the field, and the use of other foods rather than using C-rats on some
of my missions in 1967 and 1968.
Production was limited to 5 million units in 1967, rising
to just 9 million in 1968. It was considered a novelty by line soldiers, who usually "acquired"
as many as they could before going on field operations.
Like the regular-issue U.S. canned Meal, Combat, Individual ration (MCI) or C ration, the LRP ration came with a plastic spoon and a brown-foil accessory packet containing coffee, cream substitute,
sugar, salt, Candy-Coated Gum (2 pieces), toilet paper, book of matches, and a pack of 4 commercial-grade cigarettes.
However, the LRP daily ration was 'energy depleted': it supplied 1,200 fewer calories (5.0 kJ) per day than the MCI.
This calorie count was inadiquit to support the vigorous physical requirements of the average GI operating in the field in
Vietnam.
LRP Menus
consisted of a main entree and a dessert item. Entrees
included:
Menu #1: Beef Hash, Menu #2: Chili con Carne, Menu #3: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Menu #4: Beef with Rice, Menu #5: Chicken Stew, Menu #6: Pork with Scalloped Potatoes,Menu #7: Beef Stew, and Menu #8: Chicken with Rice.
The LRP dessert unit included one of the following : a Cereal Bar, a Fruitcake
Bar, chocolate discs (2), a packet of individually-wrapped pieces of candy (Brachs caramels or Charms hard candies), or even
freeze-dried fruit (pears, peaches, or apricots) in the late-war issue rations.
Criticisms:
As it was a freeze-dried (dehydrated) ration, that required 1.5 pints (700 ml) of water to cook and reconstitute.
This was normally not a problem in environments where water supplies were generally plentiful. However, the water sources
in Vietnam were usually teeming with parasites (e.g., blood flukes, tapeworms and viruses), so fresh water had to usually
be transported in by vehicle when on large-scale operations or collected from rainwater when in the field on patrols. In an
emergency, the ration could be consumed 'dry', but the GI doing so had to consume extra water to prevent dehydration. GI's
usually mixed its contents with canned C-Rations to reduce monotony and to supply extra calories, as the ration was insufficient
for an active soldier.
Food
Packet, Long Range Patrol: Due to
these drawbacks, the original concept of its wide adoption was shelved in favor of its limited use by Special Operations units
like the Long Range Patrols, Special Forces, and Navy SEALs. It then acquired the new designation of Food Packet, Long
Range Patrol (LRP), also known as "Lurp meals" or "long rats".
The LRP ration continued to be procured
in small quantities until the mid-1980s, when it was replaced by a thermo-stabilized ration, the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE).
Quartermaster Command and Army Food Services viewed the new ration as a suitable replacement for issue in all combat environments.
Despite the long history of operational failures previously encountered in standardizing on a single type of individual ration,
the new MRE was duly adopted with the intention of replacing all the field rations and ration supplements in use.
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