"Hello Chocolate Man" - United States Military Chocolate

[BalancedDiet]

After reading a previous topic that is now closed. I took the chance and did some online searching.

I found a very interesting article about United States Military Chocolate that was manufactured by the Hershey's company and was a part of the basic field ration packs.

There was in fact chocolate manufactured specifically for ration packs in tropical regions, called the K ration useing Hershey's Tropical Bar formula.

This may help the gentlemen involved in the discussion/debate regarding the term "Chocolate man" used by some Thai people.

Perhaps there are some apologies owed!

Quote: "Military chocolate has been a part of standard United States military ration since the original Ration D or D ration bar of 1937. Today, military chocolate is issued to troops as part of basic field rations and sundry packs. Chocolate rations served two purposes: as a morale boost, and as a high-energy, pocket-sized emergency ration. Military chocolate rations are often made in special lots to military specifications for weight, size, and endurance. The majority of chocolate issued to military personnel is produced by the Hershey Company.

When provided as a morale boost or care package, military chocolate is often no different from normal store-bought bars in taste and composition. However, they are frequently packaged or molded differently. The World War II K ration issued in temperate climates sometimes included a bar of Hershey's commercial-formula sweet chocolate. But instead of being the typical flat thin bar, the K ration chocolate was a thick rectangular bar that was square at each end (in tropical regions, the K ration used Hershey's Tropical Bar formula).

When provided as an emergency field ration, military chocolate was very different from normal bars. Since it was provided as a quick emergency food source, officials initially outlined that it should not be a tempting treat that troops might eat before they needed it. But even as attempts to improve the flavor were made, the heat-resistant chocolate bars never received rave reviews. Emergency ration chocolate bars were made to be high in energy value, be easy to carry and to withstand high temperatures. Withstanding high temperatures was extremely important, since infantrymen would be outdoors, sometimes in tropical or desert conditions, with the bars in their pockets against their bodies. These conditions would make any normal chocolate bar melt within minutes."

http://en.wikipedia....itary_chocolate

[pmarlin]

doubt it has nay thing to with the provious posting on this subject. I was in Thailand with the US Army from 1970 to 74 and never heard the term used back then and in fact not a lot of C-Rats used by American forces in Thailand. We had nice Air-Con dinning facilites here.

[PattayaParent]

"Chocolate Kings" by PFM was one of my favourite albums in the '70's.

It was an Italian band and inspired by the American GIs always having chocolate to give out in a country that had been through rationing and not seen chocolate in a long time.

[giddyup]

I thought the word "chocolate" was referring to persons of a darker skin colour.

[PattayaParent]

I thought the word "chocolate" was referring to persons of a darker skin colour.

It is common here in Thailand to hear the girls refer to black guys as 'chocolate man'.

On another well known forum that's been around Thailand a long time there's a famous poster who uses the moniker "Chocolate Steve" as his name's Steve and he's black and the girls always call him "chocolate man"

[craigt3365]

Interesting, but I'm sure will go pear shaped shortly. Just like the other thread. So will close this down before it gets out of hand...again...