It's Just Coffee...

[Albany Rifles]

When I took command of my company, the first thing we did was turn in our M113s and convert to Bradleys (M2A1s). I went to an RV store and bought a 24 VDC/110VAC converter with standard 2 plug outlet. Next I got a metal plate about 12 x 12. Gave them both to my motor sergeant and had him install near the fuel tank in the back. Then I put my 30 cup coffee pot on the shelf, used bungee cords to hold in place.

I always amazed the tankews I cross to when I had fresh coffee every AM...this was when the Army was experimenting with T Rations and only sending hot water and instant coffe in logpacs. It also meant the battalion comamdner visited me every day first thing...but then he left me alone.

Used to store my canteen cup behind the Coax Ammo box inmy turret. My NBC NCO rode in back and would fill the coffee cup for me as we moved!

And C -Rats...how about peanut butter on John Wayne Bars or melting cheese and pouring into the Beef w/ Spice Sauce? Yum

[tim52]

Originally Posted by crooks

The only thing they serve is global Inequalicinno latte, with extra whipped exploitation cream.

Do they also have a non-fat global Inequalicinno latte?

[S-2]

Cup never gets touched. Mexican chocolate settles and hardens on bottom...

Gets scraped and re-cycled through. S-2 mocha now drank from a porcelain beer mug. No messin' around.

"...replaces that good potable water with local stream water."

Let me guess...only coffee ready in the morning. BC, X.O., FDO, top, smoke, gun-chiefs and half the battery are drinking out of that.

That's really bad juju...

What goes around, comes around.

[crooks]

Originally Posted by glyn

Their customers would appear to have more money than sense! As Arkwright from 'Open All Hours' cried "'Ow much?"

That is certainly the case here with the term 'Starbucks generation', the abominable gluttony which has followed my and my age group's far less well off upbringing - we as an age group understand the value of money, the yoof of today don't.

And shure they don't care about the price of anything, it's daddy's money they're spending you see .

[S-2]

"LOL! I used to "dip" that powdered coffee, when the Copenhagen tin ran dry."

The heavy-duty dudes down on the gun-line snort it. Skull6, my friend Walter, who was in Vietnam, is convinced that C-RAT coffee was methamphetamine...

"Better living through modern chemistry"

[Southie]

Well, there are many a morning that I wish I was drinking my coffee with a BIG splash of amaretto!

Then I would switch to my diet coke with a BIG splash of rum!

[Gun Grape]

Originally Posted by S-2

"...replaces that good potable water with local stream water."

Let me guess...only coffee ready in the morning. BC, X.O., FDO, top, smoke, gun-chiefs and half the battery are drinking out of that.

That's really bad juju...

What goes around, comes around.

Nah, XO pit always had coffee Thats where the CO XO and Btry Gy stayed. And us grapes brew our own. Our Btry Gy about same as your Smoke. And in those days Marine 1st shirts didn't go to the field. They do strictly admin stuff.

I did regret that in addition to the FDC types, the comm chief and supply Sgt were also nabbed.

Now we did seem to get a lot more "High angle, DNL" missions come down that were EoMed without firing on that field op.


I never snorted the instant coffee. But I have dipped it to where it caused
my mouth to blister. The things you do to stay awake during a 3 day MCCREES/ARTEP

[Skull6]

Originally Posted by S-2

"LOL! I used to "dip" that powdered coffee, when the Copenhagen tin ran dry."

The heavy-duty dudes down on the gun-line snort it. Skull6, my friend Walter, who was in Vietnam, is convinced that C-RAT coffee was methamphetamine...

"Better living through modern chemistry"

LOL! It's a good thing the "powers that be" never decided that caffeine was a drug to test for while I was "in." I would certainly have been sent straight to counselling. & while my intake of that "liquid meth" has reduced some since then, I think I could still be classified as an "abuser" even today.

I found that, as a dismounted-at-times armored scout platoon leader, the caffeine found in a carbonated beverage just didn't quite cut it--even when drank in mass quantities.

[Gun Grape]

Originally Posted by Skull6

LOL! It's a good thing the "powers that be" never decided that caffeine was a drug to test for while I was "in." I would certainly have been sent straight to counselling. & while my intake of that "liquid meth" has reduced some since then, I think I could still be classified as an "abuser" even today.

Would a 3 pots a day habit classify someone as an "Abuser"?

[Skull6]

Originally Posted by Gun Grape

Would a 3 pots a day habit classify someone as an "Abuser"?

Moreso than I...but not by much!

[S-2]

Do any of you remember a part of RED STORM RISING where the C.O. of some frigate in dock is having morning coffee, I think, in the officer's mess w/ the helicopter pilot. Clancy, IIRC, is talking about how navy coffee is brewed with a bit of salt (no, not saltpeter).

Has anybody heard of that?

[Gun Grape]

Originally Posted by S-2

Do any of you remember a part of RED STORM RISING where the C.O. of some frigate in dock is having morning coffee, I think, in the officer's mess w/ the helicopter pilot. Clancy, IIRC, is talking about how navy coffee is brewed with a bit of salt (no, not saltpeter).

Has anybody heard of that?

Yea sure have.

A pinch of salt keeps the coffee from turning bitter. One of the problems I guess you have when your have to make your own fresh water.

[S-2]

"Now we did seem to get a lot more "High angle, DNL" missions come down that were EoMed without firing on that field op."

No kidding. Arms get a little tired at the ol' elevation handwheel?

[Albany Rifles]

Originally Posted by Gun Grape

Would a 3 pots a day habit classify someone as an "Abuser"?

No, in my unit they would be called a tea totaller....

Oh, and btw, when you dipped the C Rat/MRE/T Rat "coffee", it usually had to mixed in with Skoal or Red Man.

Yes, I had offensive breath while in the field.

[S-2]

"And C -Rats...how about peanut butter on John Wayne Bars or melting cheese and pouring into the Beef w/ Spice Sauce?"

HATED C-RATs. Spagetti & meatballs was it...and peaches. The rest was on me. Loaf of bread and spreadables made good night-time sandwiches. Plenty of space for goodies in an M-577.

Lots changed by MREs. Cool little stoves easy to take to the field. Seemed you could whip up better meals without taking lots of time and work to do. Big bag of spices and hot sauce and it was ALL good.

Gotta go get some coffee...be back in a minute.