Vietnam era meat can pouch

[lonewoolf]

During WW2 the M1928 meatcan pouch was used for carrying the mees kit. What was used during Vietnam ? Did they have a later designed pouch, or did they use the same M1928 pouch ?
Thanks.

[Nick Riviezzo]

Lonewolf, I entered the Army in July of 1963 and retired in Feb.1986.I don't ever remember a designated carrier for the mess kit.I think we put them in our rucks,waterproof bags, or duffles what ever was convienient.Nick

[lonewoolf]

Nick...Thanks for the reply, and thanks for your service.

[Dan Shapiro]

While stationed in Germany, we were required to have all our field gear (helmets, gas mask, web belt and pack) ready to go on top of our wall lockers. The mess kit was in the field pack, rolled up in a couple of towels, along with spare t-shirts, underwear, socks and poncho. When I went to Vietnam, I don't recall ever carrying a mess kit. Always seemed to be eating out of a can when in the field. In base-camp, we ate off the old aluminum trays at the mess hall.

[lonewoolf]

Dan, Thanks for the input, and your service also. Being aboard ship...we always were fortunate enough to eat off the metel trays.

[Maury Krupp]

The Meat Can Pouch was part of the M1912/M1928 Haversack. It wasn't a separate item. The way the haversack and associated envelope roll were designed some sort of pouch was practically a necessity.

When the haversack was replaced by the M1943 Jungle Pack and later the M1944/45 Pack System the Meat Can Pouch went with it and the mess kit became just one more thing to cram into the pack.

In my Army experience (1971-74) mess kits were seldom used for other than junk-on-the-bunk inspections. In the field when not eating C's, except for one short period with an ate-up 82d Airborne Division commander who thought mess kits were more "soldierly" paper plates and plastic flatware were the norm. Easier cleanup and no food-borne diseases.

In the Air Force we ate off plates in the dining hall ;-)

Maury

[lonewoolf]

Thank you

[BlitzKrieg]

Maury nailed the answer but forgot to mention the Air Force had tables and linen on them.