Whats the weirdest thing you ate while in the military?

SGT Michael Glenn — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 12:47:08 -0500

I have eaten some weird things while on active duty and would like to see who else has done the same.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 1:34 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:34:19 -0500

Bugs, snakes, alligator, and other such delicacies at Jungle Operations Training in Panama (1976). Eating that stuff was part of the training.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 2:14 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:14:07 -0500

During my OIF deployment I was stationed with troops from other countries. I had the opportunity to eat a Japanese MRE. yes, the Japanese Army was in Iraq only to rebuild the infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, etc). The MRE was interesting. It contained fish, somewhat like kipper snacks, and was very salty. What I really wanted was an Italian MRE as those came with wine!

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Nov 9 at 2014 2:43 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:43:17 -0500

While in Albania once, I was fed donkey, pretty good.

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Nov 10 at 2014 8:42 AM

CPL Rick Stasny — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 08:42:32 -0500

I tried the lunch served in the MODA Building in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. We narrowed down the guesses of what it was to the following; horse, goat, or bat. We started going to USMTM they served good old American chow.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 3:45 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 03:45:50 -0500

I had an Annual Training in Camp Grafton, North Dakota where we were served T-rations (I'm dating myself a bit) for breakfast. For the uninitiated, this is a large aluminum tray filled with irradiated "food" that you heat up in boiling water.
What made it noteworthy was my discovery while on KP (another thing you noobs have never heard of) that the date stamp on the eggs and sausages that day was 1944!

I don't know if it tasted any better fifty years prior, but it was a vile, gelatinous substance with mystery meat suspended in it.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 29 at 2014 8:44 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 20:44:16 -0500

SGT Michael Glenn, I will offer what may not be the weirdest, but is certainly the worst thing I ever ate while in the Army, and made in the U.S. for goodness sake! Specifically, it was a can of Ham and Lima Beans, which was absolutely the most disgusting and revolting stuff I ever put in my mouth. Even if heated, it was awful. If you don't know what everyone really called them, believe me, it was a bad name! They were in a Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI) unit, which everyone still called C-Rations at the time.

Response by CDR Rob Eidsmoe made Dec 29 at 2014 8:50 PM

CDR Rob Eidsmoe — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 20:50:10 -0500

The most exotic thing I ate was down in the Philippines back in the 80's. I tried a Balut (chicken egg that had a partially formed embryo in it). I successfully ate it and it came back up about five minutes later.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 9:11 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:11:14 -0500

I haven't eaten anything weird. I remember this one time while I was working in the produce department at Walmart, a lady walked up to the grapes and asked me if the grapes were any good. I grabbed a bag, pulled a grape out, ate it and told her the grapes were pretty good. She looked at me in shock and asked, "You're going to eat those without washing them?" I said, "Ma'am, I have eaten things in the field that if they haven't killed me yet then these grapes aren't going to either."

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 9:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:22:41 -0500

An Afghan local national shared some cooked goat with my platoon while we were conducting a KLE. It was surprisingly tasty, but qualifies as weird being that it's a meat that isn't commonly served in America.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 9:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:35:50 -0500

Camel, Ostrich, Crocodile, Goat - probably some other stuff too, but no idea for sure.

Response by LCDR Jamie Galus made Dec 29 at 2014 9:38 PM

LCDR Jamie Galus — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:38:40 -0500

Cow Head Soup in Kaduna, Nigeria.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 9:39 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:39:49 -0500

In OIF II, I had a Spaghetti MRE in my fanny sack after clearing houses for a couple hours I was huddled in a corner of some room tired and hungry. Then all of a sudden I remember I had the best MRE ever with me so in the dark I took out my MRE and sliced my cheese packet and poor into the Spaghetti with a little smile on my face I dug in. WELL it was peanut butter I was pissed off but I didn't care I was so hungry I just dug in.
V/R

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Dec 29 at 2014 10:56 PM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:56:15 -0500

Marine chow hall, I don't know what half the stuff I ate was. After working a week on mess and seeing the black goo on the lettuce, it's scary. Some of it was never alive and I think some of it still was. Remnants of failed pod people.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Dec 29 at 2014 11:10 PM

SSG Jeffrey Spencer — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 23:10:28 -0500

Orange jello with raisins and onions.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 12:40 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:40:39 -0500

When I was in the Navy on Submarines, I was fortunate enough to travel around the world (literally). Every port we stopped in I tried something local and a local take on something American (like McDonald's).

Some of the strangest/exotic things that come to mind are the reindeer I had in Norway, the goat in Bahrain, the octopus in Crete, the McTeriaki burger at a McDonald's in Japan, and just being in the restaurant at all when we ate at a Hooters in Singapore.

Response by MSgt Jim Pollock made Dec 30 at 2014 6:39 AM

MSgt Jim Pollock — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 06:39:59 -0500

Ants in SERE school. Those little sweet tarts were surprisingly delicious!

Response by SrA Jay Strauser made Dec 30 at 2014 2:58 PM

SrA Jay Strauser — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:58:01 -0500

Silk worm cocoons and chicken feet in Korea. Unknown mystery meat sandwich in Desert Storm. Looked similar to head cheese.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 4:36 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 16:36:56 -0500

Curried Fruit Bat...Yummy! Tough as boot leather....

Response by SPC Christopher Busby made Dec 30 at 2014 4:48 PM

SPC Christopher Busby — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 16:48:06 -0500

Goat is the only thing i know of, but when Iraq who knows, right?

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 5:10 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:10:08 -0500

I'd say the Monkey on a Stick we had in Egypt...at least that's what we called it. Who knows what it actually was, but I think the weirdest I've personally had is Escargot in France...that is some nasty stuff right there. And i'm the kind of guy who will eat and relish anything as long as I've got hot sauce.

Response by PO1 Jotham Anderson made Jan 1 at 2015 12:55 PM

PO1 Jotham Anderson — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:55:46 -0500

Dog in Thailand

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Jan 20 at 2015 12:13 PM

PFC Donnie Harold Harris — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:13:04 -0500

Dog... I suppose. In Korea in 72.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2015 12:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:20:34 -0500

Sheep butt-fat in Afghanistan.

I ended up living in a port-o-john for a few days.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jan 20 at 2015 9:39 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:39:02 -0500

I are some strange unknown meats in Iraq and it cleaned me out. I lost like 7 lbs in 2 days. Like a morbid type of cleanse.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 10:38 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 10:38:11 -0500

Chili and Macaroni that never expires... Wait... That was an MRE.

Response by SPC George Long made Feb 9 at 2015 11:49 PM

SPC George Long — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:49:18 -0500

Beating Cobra Heart and blood in Viet Nam. My counterparts thought it was a big deal. Rat on a stick, Monkey also.

Response by PO3 Robert Gunderson made Feb 10 at 2015 12:43 PM

PO3 Robert Gunderson — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 12:43:24 -0500

I have eaten some seriously weird stuff while on survival training like grub worms, skunk and sugar ants with a cattail used as a potato, just to name something and beaver meat. While on ship I had octopus, squid and crawfish in a stew type meal.

Response by A1C Jacque Chandler II made Feb 10 at 2015 2:20 PM

A1C Jacque Chandler II — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:20:39 -0500

The gum out of the MRE's!!! No just kidding. Probably, steamed squid egg sacks with seaweed garnish or maybe it was this balut (pictured above). They eat some crazy things in the Philippines.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Feb 10 at 2015 2:33 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:33:32 -0500

I spent a lot of time in Asia, so I followed the old Army policy of "don't ask, don't tell". Some things you just don't want to know!

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Feb 10 at 2015 2:43 PM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:43:13 -0500

The weirdest experience was in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield. I was the one who got to pick the live goat that would be sacrificed in our honor and serve as the main course for our meal while visiting with the local Saudi Officials. Being that I selected the goat, it was my distinct "honor" to eat the eyeball.
What really chaps my ass is being told that I "had" to accept anything during the meal or I would insult our Arab comrades. Ohhhhh so many years later I learned that I could have said no humbly without causing an International incident :/

Response by PO2 Christopher Morehouse made Feb 10 at 2015 3:17 PM

PO2 Christopher Morehouse — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:17:01 -0500

Raw horse sliced thin and served at a temperature right around freezing. It melted in your mouth and the texture changed from stiff into something tender. All in all, it was pretty good; kind of sweet.

Response by SSG Christopher Parrish made Feb 10 at 2015 3:19 PM

SSG Christopher Parrish — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:19:48 -0500

Chicken Pesto Pasta MRE. Looks like wet cat food. Tossed one in a field latrine once and it spit it back out at me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 3:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:22:22 -0500

This doesn't count because I didn't eat it, but one of our patrols in Kabul brought back a salmon... pizza. Let me go over the sequence of events.

1. Where did they get the salmon from? There is no body of water nearby except for the Kabul River.

2. We had recently received instructions from Higher that anybody who accidentally tripped or fell in the Kabul River was to be isolated and checked out thoroughly by medical personnel. The river had so much algae and sewage in it that it literally looked like a green field... until you stepped in it by accident.

3. This pizza looks suspiciously like naan bread. I love naan bread, but naan bread is not pizza.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 3:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:24:17 -0500

Boiled squid tip. Fried dog, a hamburger made from water buffalo, and some Nước chấm.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 3:34 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:34:04 -0500

I ate a rabbit heart at SERE. Never been stationed outside the US, so not much opportunity for more bizarre local foods...but I'd be happy to try any of them once.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 3:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:35:56 -0500

One of the weirdest things I've ever eaten is my ex mother-in-laws biscuits. They were hard as a rock. My brother-in-law said we could have taken a couple dozen to Vietnam and won the war.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 10 at 2015 3:40 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:40:27 -0500

Turtle egg soup in Honduras, Gaegogi in Korea

Response by SPC Neil Hood made Feb 10 at 2015 3:43 PM

SPC Neil Hood — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:43:55 -0500

What appeared to be a congealed onion/pork fat broth brought out to the reactive Fire range at Fort Benning. It tasted sour and I have no idea why. Well I called it dog vomit and onions and I will never forget it. Yum.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 4:01 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:01:30 -0500

Fried whale blubber in Singapore

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 4:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:39:39 -0500

Well, I can't be sure since there wasn't much evidence to go on.......but.......there was a few months at Ft Irwin where the options in the chow hall were going up while "coincidentally" the coyote population seemed to dwindle some.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 5:35 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:35:15 -0500

I have to stop reading this page. It is like a train wreck-- I cannot look away. Lol!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 10:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:31:36 -0500

Dog, Kimchi and monkey in Korea, Chocolate covered ants and grasshoppers,can't remember where that was. Oh, and sugar coated squid on a Popsicle stick. But the best was the Hobo stew we created with the C-rats in the field cooking in a steel pot. You old timers know what that is!

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 10:46 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:46:36 -0500

Thankfully, I don't know. I have my suspicions.

Response by TSgt Jackie Jones made Feb 10 at 2015 11:11 PM

TSgt Jackie Jones — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:11:57 -0500

Fermented shark and dolphin in Iceland. Shark was the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth. Dolphin stark was actually very good. Like the venison of the ocean.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 11:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:14:18 -0500

The MRE omelette... RUN! Forrest! RUN!

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Feb 11 at 2015 1:15 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:15:45 -0500

Horse Steak! Belgium, guy didn't tell us till we had eaten half of the steak and what was supposed to be hamburgers from Saudi Sams in Desert Storm. Either goat or camel don't know!

Response by Sgt James Northam made Feb 12 at 2015 4:14 PM

Sgt James Northam — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:14:38 -0500

I ate baby camel brains in Saudi Arabia at a fellowship feast after a training exercise. I ate dove in UAE in 92

Response by CPL Alfonso Alonso made Feb 12 at 2015 10:19 PM

CPL Alfonso Alonso — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 22:19:17 -0500

Frog legs with the Thai Army 2002' Cobra Gold. I would trade my MRE for a worm dish of what ever they were eating, on that day frog legs with rice were on the menu. I actually enjoyed them they were not that bad!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 4:10 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:10:25 -0500

Rump steak = Horse Rump. What would I ever do without Fish in my Lasagna, covered in Blue Cheese? When in Russia do as - MRE

Response by Sgt Jose Ortiz made Feb 13 at 2015 2:14 PM

Sgt Jose Ortiz — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 14:14:35 -0500

Pretty sure i ate dog while in south korea

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 13 at 2015 5:49 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 17:49:10 -0500

Jackfruit. I was visiting a Vietnamese village to assess their request for us to expand our pre-planned zones of artillery fire so they could farm more land. At the end of the day, they offered me a Jackfruit and watched to see if I would eat it. I must admit that the smell gave me pause, but when I tasted it (something like very sweet fried onions) I broke out in a smile and dipped in for more to their delight.

Oh, and no, the irony of the name didn't escape me...

Response by Capt Vickie Adams made Jun 30 at 2015 9:57 AM

Capt Vickie Adams — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 09:57:15 -0400

Well, I accidentally ate dog tacos in Okinawa. I also had a water buffalo steak in the PI. I've also had rattlesnake in chili. All tasted pretty good.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 21 at 2015 11:57 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 23:57:59 -0500

Balut - Duck (or Chicken) egg containing partially formed embryo, chewy bones, beak, in the PI. Along with Monkey, dog at a fiesta.

Cooked grasshoppers and crickets in Thailand. Kinda salty, crickets were crunchy, grasshoppers more chewy.

In Panama, went to a chicken place in Colon. Bought a 5 piece meal, one of the pieces had a tail. Tasted pretty good.

Various animal testicles CONUS and OCONUS.

Galley/Chow hall Mystery Meat

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 8:26 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 08:26:27 -0500

Rattlesnake
Camel Mountain oysters, tongue, heart
Ox tail soup
Steak tartare

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Nov 22 at 2015 9:06 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 09:06:26 -0500

Horse

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Nov 23 at 2015 11:37 AM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:37:38 -0500

In the 1970's we had S.O.S., I am sure it has a new name now.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 12:03 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:03:10 -0500

wheat bread ... never like them ... but somehow ... we all go for it at the chow hall ...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 23 at 2015 10:58 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:58:29 -0500

Probably the Weirdest thing I tried and developed a taste for was Dried Squid. I love it to this day. The Korean Lady that ran the Pizza Joint/Beer Joint under the Barracks at Ft Meyers always used to bring in a Brown Paper Bag Full and would split it with me. Yummy Yummy Yummy.

Response by MSG Kevin Elliott made Nov 29 at 2015 8:06 PM

MSG Kevin Elliott — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 20:06:03 -0500

Dried squid and cuttle fish in Korea, and whatever the Korean Augmentees To the US Army (KATUSA) brought me from home once they found out I liked spicy food and would try anything once!

Response by 1SG Nick Baker made Nov 29 at 2015 8:48 PM

1SG Nick Baker — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 20:48:27 -0500

I would say the first MREs. We held on to c-rations as long as possible. Dehydrated pork patty.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2016 4:26 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 16:26:58 -0500

I ate this guy in Darwin, Aus during Talisman Sabre 15.

Response by SCPO Mikel Krause made Jan 11 at 2016 4:37 PM

SCPO Mikel Krause — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 16:37:29 -0500

Dried squid in Korea. Tasted just like a burnt tire, but looked like jerky.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Jan 11 at 2016 5:19 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 17:19:01 -0500

Mmmm Goat head, I love me some goat head!

Response by Lt Col Stephen Petzold made Jan 11 at 2016 5:58 PM

Lt Col Stephen Petzold — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 17:58:41 -0500

Part of a cooked whole sheep's head in rural Kazakhstan. Luckily someone else got the eyes!

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Jan 11 at 2016 8:40 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 20:40:48 -0500

an MRE. LOL

Response by PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr. made May 19 at 2016 5:03 PM

PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr. — Thu, 19 May 2016 17:03:12 -0400

Bow-wow in the Philippines. Only happened once. Out in the province I was invited to the "neighborhood eatery"(only one in town) and sat down to an oval platter of whole rice w/ meat,gravy, local spices, and sea salt. The smiling bastards began to gather round and pile up behind the counter chattering and giggling. First fork, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THIS WAS(WOOF!)! I realized they had taken bets on how fast I would turn as green as my tiger-stripe trousers and hauke up my liver in the street(street? you ever seen this damn place?). I REFUSED TO GIVE THESE M..........F............s THE SATISFACTION!! Not ONE penny was going to be made off of my ass!!! I finished off the tray, got another half-tray, finished it, ordered a fifth of 65proof Viejo Rum, downed 1/4 of it--slid the bottle into the side pocket on my trousers, nailed 2 fist-bottles of SanMiguel, stood up, walked out and was handed 910.00 Pesos($123.00). Earned a little street cred--I was no longer a visiting anomaly.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Sep 29 at 2016 9:47 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 21:47:18 -0400

Live eels and street rat in Korea, The pepper whiskey made it all good.

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 29 at 2016 11:53 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 23:53:40 -0400

good looking chow... here... and Through out the world I have eaten a lot of strange things... Blood pudding in Thailand and Balute' in the PI...

Response by SSG Richard Hackwith made Sep 30 at 2016 6:45 PM

SSG Richard Hackwith — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 18:45:46 -0400

Not really a weird thing, but a weird method. This was back in 1968 at Baumholder Germany. Our CO was a special forces wannabe. During one overnight field problem in the local training area, he issued each tank crew one each LIVE chicken. We had to kill it, pluck it, clean it and cook it. The cooking part was the hardest, we used the "tanker's stove" from the OVM kit. Without an pot or skillet it was hard to roast a whole chicken. And that scrawny bird was not enough to feed four guys.

Response by SGM Harvey Boone made Sep 30 at 2016 9:03 PM

SGM Harvey Boone — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 21:03:20 -0400

God only known we made do with what ever we could find and we found a lot of things.

Response by SSG Gerald King made Oct 6 at 2016 2:54 PM

SSG Gerald King — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 14:54:04 -0400

Fried Rat Sandwiches in Vietnam. We used to joke about them being fried rat until one day, we actually saw the vendor cutting little strips of meat from some dead rats hanging behind his stand. Actually they didn't taste that bad if chased down with a ba mươi ba beer

Response by PO2 Chuck Dufresne made Oct 11 at 2016 6:34 AM

PO2 Chuck Dufresne — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 06:34:16 -0400

I always hated the green corn beef served on the ship. I'm still leary of corn beef to this day.

Response by PO1 Robert Johnson made Oct 11 at 2016 7:16 AM

PO1 Robert Johnson — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 07:16:50 -0400

While on a tour of duty in Viet Nam I was assigned to the Military Provincial Health Assistance Program, a team of 2 MDs, an Admin officer and 16 Navy Hospital Corpsmen. Our job was to work with the Public Health Service to improve health faciling fish and saltties, develop new ones and train personnel in the use of modern medicines and techniques of providing medical care to their communities. In my District, Kien Tan, they held a magnificent celebration to mark the opening of a new clinic. Dignitaries from all over the country were there along with a couple members of my team and myself. The menu included the usual pork, chicken, duck and beef (Water buffalo) and fish. Other delicacies included dog, monkey and snake. I ate some of everything that was put on my plate and found it all very good. Dessert was another story. They brought out little tiny bowl with what appeared to be like a bright red custard with fresh mint leaves and peanuts garnishing the bowls. I asked my host what it was and he laughed and showed me how to put the bowl to my lips, use the mint leaves to push the gelatin into my mouth and swallow. It had a salty, minty taste but a sort of slimy texture that I didn't care for. I found out then that it was congealed duck blood. The other weird thing that I ate and learned to love there was a fish sauce called Nuoc Mam, made by layering fish and salt into big earthen jars, sealing the tops and then burying them at the beginning of the dry season and then digging them up at the beginning of the wet season and pressing out the juice with a cider press like contraption. Muoc Mam had a very powerful aroma so when putting it on the dinner table, they would serve in in a very shallow dish with sliced red Thai peppers.

Response by SGT Rik Thibodeau made Oct 11 at 2016 7:22 AM

SGT Rik Thibodeau — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 07:22:11 -0400

Not sure how weird it was but one time in the field, a bunch of us pooled our MREs and made an MRE pizza. We crumbled up the crackers, mixed in a little water for the crust, collected tomato sauce from the various meals that had some, used several packets of cheese (including the jalapeno cheese!), then cut up whatever vegetables and meat we had as toppings and cooked it over a pot bellied stove. I wish I could say it came out good but I'd be lying...

Response by SGM Thomas Adderley made Oct 11 at 2016 7:25 AM

SGM Thomas Adderley — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 07:25:37 -0400

!962 while PFC in an Armored Cav Scout Plt at Ft Hood TX. During a TNG EX we were issued C-Rations for lunch. I had Spaghetti and Meatballs with a box date of 1942. I was hungry, heated the can on our AUX Engine and ate away only to end up with food poisoning.

Response by SFC David Wojta made Oct 11 at 2016 8:17 AM

SFC David Wojta — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:17:11 -0400

Early vintage MREs with the hockey puck pork patty. I have traveled a lot and eaten food in various countries, but never have experienced anything quite like that pork patty.

Response by MCPO Bruce Ormsby made Oct 11 at 2016 8:24 AM

MCPO Bruce Ormsby — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:24:47 -0400

Balut while stationed in the Philippines

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Oct 11 at 2016 8:36 AM

Sgt John Koliha — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:36:16 -0400

With the ROK Marines outsideof Chu Lai in '67.

Tired of the steady diet of C-Rats. Took out my messkit and joined them for dinner. Kimchi and DOG.

YUM-O

Response by PO1 Roger Waddle made Oct 11 at 2016 9:14 AM

PO1 Roger Waddle — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:14:17 -0400

Crow/ pride

Response by Sgt Greg Cope made Oct 11 at 2016 9:24 AM

Sgt Greg Cope — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:24:52 -0400

At OCS Quantico, weird food is the rule. Once as a special reward, we were served steaks boiled in water. That story is here: http://www.eatgregeat.com/2012/06/damn-you-anticipation.html
And the night before graduation, one of my fellow candidates ate a live frog: http://www.eatgregeat.com/2014/07/did-you-just-eat-frog.html

Raising the Steaks!

I love looking forward to upcoming events. I hate looking back and being disappointed, and then regret the looking forward. Obviously I'm...

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 9:30 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:30:49 -0400

Chopped Ham & Eggs in the C-Rations. I could only eat it in the dark. Tasted OK but looked like someone else had already eaten it.

Response by SFC Daniel McIntire made Oct 11 at 2016 9:47 AM

SFC Daniel McIntire — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:47:52 -0400

Green eggs and ham from a C-ration can, 1982!

Response by SGT Arno Paul Schumann made Oct 11 at 2016 9:59 AM

SGT Arno Paul Schumann — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:59:35 -0400

Spring of 1978 I found out what "kae-goki" meant in Korea. Dog meat.

Response by SFC John Bingham made Oct 11 at 2016 10:51 AM

SFC John Bingham — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:51:57 -0400

Monkey on a stick, Jungle warfare school, Panama

Response by SGT Stanley Bass made Oct 11 at 2016 11:31 AM

SGT Stanley Bass — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 11:31:39 -0400

My very first Duty assignment. Sinop Turkey, before Desert storm broke out. Everybody in my office was from California, My NCOIC was from Apple Valley, The two other lower enlisted were from Santa Rosa and LA. Myself Chico. They took me out to a restaurant and told me I should order the chicken soup. They said they had explained to the cook how to make it a while back. Being fresh out of AIT I did not know. Although they never fessed up and kept insisting. I know I had Tripe Soup. Glad I did not know then what it was LOL.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 11:34 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 11:34:08 -0400

Fried dog on a stick, pickled squid tip in Japan, fried monkey brain, Nước mắm pha, chicken fried Water buffalo steak, in Vietnam. I could have warmed up my boot and it would have been more tender than the water buffalo.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Oct 11 at 2016 12:00 PM

SSgt Michael Cox — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:00:48 -0400

Kimchi Burgers while stationed at Osan AB, Gator and Shark while stationed at Hulburt Fld.

Response by SGT Tim Fridley made Oct 11 at 2016 12:21 PM

SGT Tim Fridley — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:21:52 -0400

2 things in my opinion the C-RAT ham and eggs (looked like dog food) and after the end of Combat Ops in Desert Storm they catered in meals at KKMC they had a sausage that I am still not sure what was in it but we all called it camel dick it was the most nasty thing I ever ate

Response by SSgt Michael Hacker made Oct 11 at 2016 1:00 PM

SSgt Michael Hacker — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:00:50 -0400

納豆 (natto). Nasty, nasty stuff.

Response by CPO Bill Penrod made Oct 11 at 2016 1:44 PM

CPO Bill Penrod — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:44:41 -0400

An ice cold San Miguel and a several baluets with a hot Filipina near by. Yeah I ate oh never mind. Now that's good liberty...........

Response by SSgt Terence Crooks made Oct 11 at 2016 1:57 PM

SSgt Terence Crooks — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:57:33 -0400

Some kind of meat in the Philippines

Response by MCPO Kurt Stauff made Oct 11 at 2016 3:05 PM

MCPO Kurt Stauff — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:05:25 -0400

I am sure I ate some dog meat in ROK; my Korean friends only wanted me to be more virile, I guess. The spicy bean curd sauce made it more palatable, as well as the multiple glasses of soju.

Response by SFC David Pope, MBA made Oct 11 at 2016 3:46 PM

SFC David Pope, MBA — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:46:46 -0400

Cockroaches in combat survival course, but the worst thing was T-Rats! Those things would knock a buzzard of a gut wagon!

Response by PO1 Gregg Mundy made Oct 11 at 2016 4:45 PM

PO1 Gregg Mundy — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:45:37 -0400

We were in Toulon, France for an upkeep period with other ships. We went out on the town and ordered Pizza. That Pizza came with everything on it including OCTOPUS, No way, that is the grosses stuff I've ever eaten!!

Response by SSgt Robert Rowland made Oct 11 at 2016 5:25 PM

SSgt Robert Rowland — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 17:25:38 -0400

Donkey meat (roasted) in southern Italy. The old defunct San Vito Air Station at Brindisi..... Ants frogs snake weeds in USAF survival training ( aircrew SERE at Fairchild AFB, Spokane WA). .....Octopus and squid and RETSINA and OUZO, Athens Greece, 6916th Electronic Security Squadron/SAC Airborne Recon aka "Little Beirut" 1983-1986.

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Oct 11 at 2016 5:51 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 17:51:45 -0400

Dried squid in Thailand. Stationed at Utapao on the gulf of Siam. Tasted great if you like a real fishy taste.

Response by PO2 Paul W. made Oct 11 at 2016 6:14 PM

PO2 Paul W. — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:14:18 -0400

Slug Paste during Jungle Survival School in Panama.

Response by MSgt Wayne Morris made Oct 11 at 2016 7:06 PM

MSgt Wayne Morris — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:06:57 -0400

C rats that were older than I was.

Response by PO1 Kevin Arnold made Oct 11 at 2016 9:09 PM

PO1 Kevin Arnold — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 21:09:36 -0400

Loading stores onboard a submarine I seen meat that said it was rejected by the prison system. So I guess we had it for midrats.

Response by SMSgt Patrick Sampson made Oct 11 at 2016 10:34 PM

SMSgt Patrick Sampson — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 22:34:51 -0400

cactus (taste like unripe water melon mixed with unripe banana). We also had lizard soup, and road kill .
Hint, when you go into a night op. cut open a chemlight and pour around the road kills. When you come back (within 3 hrs) anything that doesn't have an oily glow is fresh meat- bon apitite

Response by SGT Lloyd Burge made Oct 11 at 2016 10:35 PM

SGT Lloyd Burge — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 22:35:52 -0400

Kae go gi, dog stew, in Korea.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Oct 11 at 2016 11:59 PM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 23:59:50 -0400

That would be seal blubber ... definitely an acquired taste.

Response by MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan made Oct 12 at 2016 1:22 AM

MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 01:22:42 -0400

In Nakhon Phanom, Thailand it was whatever the street vendors were selling..they were called monkey balls, but who knows? While stationed in Germany my wife and I went to Romania to adopt our son; for the celebratory meal after the adoption was final we're fairly certain our interpreter served us a meatloaf type dish made from pig brains..a real delicacy in that part of the world.

Response by MCPO Katrina Hutcherson made Oct 12 at 2016 5:01 AM

MCPO Katrina Hutcherson — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 05:01:44 -0400

I ate a can of octopus, it was part of the Portuguese marines field rations. I also drank/ate truth serum at my Chiefs initiation...

Response by SPC Steven Depuy made Oct 12 at 2016 7:15 AM

SPC Steven Depuy — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 07:15:10 -0400

When in West Germany during Reforger 78, we ended up getting C rations for our meals, complete with Lucky Stripe and Camel filter less cigarettes in them. Not sure when they stopped making them with smokes, but we were pretty sure it was early Nam. Someone didn't rotate stock real well somewhere.

Response by SGT Perry St.laurent made Oct 12 at 2016 7:27 AM

SGT Perry St.laurent — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 07:27:40 -0400

In Korea, I went with a Katusa to their favorite hang out for dinner and had a spicy soup. Sounded and tasted good till they I found out it had fish stomach and who knows what else in it.

Response by GySgt James Marchinke made Oct 12 at 2016 7:39 AM

GySgt James Marchinke — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 07:39:01 -0400

Monkey brains, thought I ordered shrimp? Did taste good but could tell when presented what I really ordered, just ordered more Jim Beam to go with.

Response by FN Charlie Spivey made Oct 12 at 2016 7:46 AM

FN Charlie Spivey — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 07:46:37 -0400

Two things I guess. On the way to our Vietnam deployment and crossing the Pacific, we would sometimes end up with a flying Fish on deck that didn't make it. We would scalle it and filet ( such as much as yoy could filet one of those things ) and ate a piece raw. Wasn't bad. While on our deployment, they fed us goat ( they said Mutton ). Well that never happened again as it all ended up in the garbage. Nobody could eat it.

Response by MSG Tim Donahue, M.Ed. made Oct 12 at 2016 7:53 AM

MSG Tim Donahue, M.Ed. — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 07:53:50 -0400

Sliced monkey on a stick in Panama - washed it down with a cheap bottle of whiskey with bugs in it

Response by LTC George Morgan made Oct 12 at 2016 8:00 AM

LTC George Morgan — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 08:00:29 -0400

Worms and Maggots!

Response by SGT Josh Suchoski made Oct 12 at 2016 8:47 AM

SGT Josh Suchoski — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 08:47:01 -0400

Sheep brain falafel. GROSS!!!!

Response by SGT Robert Blair made Oct 12 at 2016 9:11 AM

SGT Robert Blair — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 09:11:46 -0400

Monkey

Response by SPC John Waisman made Oct 12 at 2016 9:20 AM

SPC John Waisman — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 09:20:59 -0400

Water buffalo and snake. Weirdest thing I drank was Thai Whiskey. The stuff gave me hallucinations. Rumor was it was laced with kerosene.

Response by Cpl George Crab made Oct 12 at 2016 10:08 AM

Cpl George Crab — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:08:36 -0400

I was on a dock in Japan. This older gent asked me if I would like to eat some taco. I said, "Sure, why not? I love tacos." He handed me a live octopus (small, luckily), and trying to be polite, when he bit off a tentacle and started to chew (off of his octopus), I followed suit.

About a half hour later, I was still trying to get through that first bite of what seemed to be rubber. I said, through my mouthful that I had to go, and I left. While leaving, I spit that nasty octopus into the water, once I was far enough that he couldn't see me doing that.

How did I know that a taco, in Japanese, meant an octopus?

Response by PO3 Christopher Tucker made Oct 12 at 2016 10:17 AM

PO3 Christopher Tucker — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:17:55 -0400

Pigeon.

Response by Cpl George Crab made Oct 12 at 2016 10:27 AM

Cpl George Crab — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:27:24 -0400

Back when Jeffrey Dahmer and I hung out together, we had some really nice...um...never mind. ;)

Response by SGT Mark Rhodes made Oct 12 at 2016 10:44 AM

SGT Mark Rhodes — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:44:32 -0400

Well as weird as the question is I have eaten bugs, rattle snack, Alligator are some of the weirdest things I ate. Every now and then they would serve rabbit and frog legs in the mess hall so I had them too.

Response by PO3 Terry Miller made Oct 12 at 2016 10:51 AM

PO3 Terry Miller — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:51:14 -0400

Monkey meat in the Philippines or boiled octopus on a stick in Japan.

Response by LCpl James Robertson made Oct 12 at 2016 11:02 AM

LCpl James Robertson — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:02:53 -0400

In Jungle Environment Survival Training, we learned to kill animals in the Jungle and to prepare the meat for cooking in bamboo shuts, which includes Agaurno lizards hind legs, and monkey shish ke bob.

Response by Capt Tf Sinclair made Oct 12 at 2016 11:03 AM

Capt Tf Sinclair — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:03:38 -0400

Maple cakes from the C-rations. I swear that if you threw one of those at the enemy, the Ceneva Convention people would get all over you.

Response by SSgt David Hennion made Oct 12 at 2016 11:45 AM

SSgt David Hennion — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:45:39 -0400

Dog burger in Venezuela==Not good

Response by MAJ Fred Rice made Oct 12 at 2016 11:51 AM

MAJ Fred Rice — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:51:51 -0400

Century egg, in Vietnam. Had to eat it during a local celebration. The only way I could get it down was to eat a small bit of egg, followed by a lot of bread, and washed down with a huge swig of "33" beer.

Response by MSgt Ronnie Kelly made Oct 12 at 2016 12:21 PM

MSgt Ronnie Kelly — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 12:21:40 -0400

Where do I begin, let's see, there was monkey on a stick in Thailand, Dog in Korea, a weird plate of sea food in Singapore that had both good and bad, the worst thing was sea slug. Sheep's head in Souda Bay,rabbit eye balls in survival school. While worked in Saudi Arabia I was a guest at goat roast was again offered the eyeballs and accepted. But the all time strangest was Bull Fries ( sliced, breaded and fried Bull Balls)

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 12:25 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 12:25:39 -0400

I don't know what is was. Part of my job in RVN in 1968 was a contracting officer with the Vietnamese. I had to attend a dinner at the Vietnam Ambassador's home. The Vietnamese representative was settled beside me. He asked me if I wanted him to tell me what I was eating. I said, "NO" - Ivan get it down, if I don't know what it is.

Now comes the old question about "CATS" and eating in a Vietnamese restaurant:
> Is it better to eat Vietnamese restaurant with cats tied up outside
-or-
> one with no cats tie duo outside.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 12:30 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 12:30:54 -0400

Some of the absolutely WEIRDEST food I've ever heard of was in Korea. Of course, as strange as Kim Chee us, Americans are starting to get into it. Or that d*** duck egg in the Philippines. Or C Rats dated in the 1950's and being issued in the late 1970's.

I think the best I ever are was when I was in the Marine Corp and ate at Torii Station. Good food, plenty of it, good cooks, they were friendly and respectful. And Okinawan civilians.

Response by SGT Matthew Schenkenfelder made Oct 12 at 2016 12:54 PM

SGT Matthew Schenkenfelder — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 12:54:37 -0400

Country Captain Chicken MRE and tray rations. Who in the hell came up with that abomination and thought it would be a good idea to give it to the guys waiste deep in the suck?

Response by Sgt William Straub Jr. made Oct 12 at 2016 2:14 PM

Sgt William Straub Jr. — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:14:25 -0400

Water Buffalo and rice bug
Worst things were CRats. Scrambled eggs, Pork Slices. The best one was beans and franks. Opened a box one time it was dated 1943 with a 4pack of Lucky Green

Response by MAJ Judd Clemens made Oct 12 at 2016 2:34 PM

MAJ Judd Clemens — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:34:15 -0400

After one successful operation in Vietnam, we had a major celebration with our counterparts , a meal consisting of chicken cooked with the guts still in it. It looked disgusting but there really was no taste to it. However, just the thought of eating it was making me ill so I washed it down with some alcoholic drink that reminded me of a mixture of caramel and gasoline.

Response by MCPO Tom Miller made Oct 12 at 2016 2:49 PM

MCPO Tom Miller — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:49:59 -0400

Breakfast was great! SOS, chip beef on toast and others were the best!

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Oct 12 at 2016 4:59 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:59:14 -0400

Well, just one? Dog sigsig in Philippines. Crocodile Jerky in Australia.

Response by SSG James Dennis made Oct 12 at 2016 5:10 PM

SSG James Dennis — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:10:30 -0400

Monkey in Panama, Dog in Korea.

Response by SSgt Nathan Vinson made Oct 12 at 2016 6:54 PM

SSgt Nathan Vinson — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:54:11 -0400

Sheep brains in Qatar. I thought it was ground beef. Not bad.

Response by SSgt Nathan Vinson made Oct 12 at 2016 6:54 PM

SSgt Nathan Vinson — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:54:36 -0400

Sheep brains in Qatar. Yum.

Response by SGT Joe Sabedra made Oct 12 at 2016 6:57 PM

SGT Joe Sabedra — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:57:39 -0400

Worms, dog,cat, wild pig, squirrel

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 8:31 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:31:54 -0400

Live octopus while in Korea

Response by LTC Leonard M. Manning, Sr made Oct 13 at 2016 12:12 AM

LTC Leonard M. Manning, Sr — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 00:12:28 -0400

I was stationed in Panama in the 1970s and would go downtown during the weekends for a few beers; after drinking for awhile I could go outside and buy "Monkey on a Stick" from a sidewalk vendor.

Response by SPC Chuck Pulliam made Oct 13 at 2016 6:14 AM

SPC Chuck Pulliam — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 06:14:00 -0400

When I was in RVN I ate at the local places and off the road side carts. Did not think anything of it at the time but when I got state side and told one of the guys I really enjoyed the food on the carts he explained to me what a bad idea that was.

Response by SSG Robert Benson made Oct 13 at 2016 8:26 AM

SSG Robert Benson — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 08:26:55 -0400

Goat milk cheese in Iraq.
What I refused to eat: In Korea, an airman with a Korean wife offered me some kind of chocolate covered bugs. I had to refuse.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2016 9:23 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 09:23:25 -0400

Bugs, plant roots, boiled rabbit heart. #SERESurvivor haha

Response by PO1 Lee Conway made Oct 13 at 2016 9:29 AM

PO1 Lee Conway — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 09:29:00 -0400

Elephant at MINSY 1975.

Response by SPC Patrick McNamara made Oct 13 at 2016 10:18 AM

SPC Patrick McNamara — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 10:18:14 -0400

During tactical training in the semi-dry riverbeds of the Veneto Region in Northern Italy, lingering hunger was apparently part of the good training. Once, the smell of a fish fry came wafting over our position late in the evening, and a few members of my squad and I decided a tactical night patrol was called for to the nearby farmhouse/trattoria responsible for this aroma. We stealthily slipped out the perimeter and knocked on the door of the trattoria with our Italian Lire in hand, asking for a big bag of "fries" and some house-made wine. The deal was done, and back we went past the perimeter sentries (we knew the password combo) to share our prize with the rest of the squad. Of course, we had to eat and drink in the dark. We were still tactical. The crispy deep fried pond minnows hit the spot, as did the slightly sweet house-made red wine. When we were down to the last 5% of the food in the paper bag, one of the boys took a look at the "crumbs" with a red filter on his flashlight, and discovered we had been eating a 50-50 combo of fried minnows and crickets. Truth be told, we were ready to go back for more. Coulda been the wine.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Oct 13 at 2016 10:45 AM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 10:45:52 -0400

Living with the 'Yards in RVN, you learned not to ask. Suffice it to say they used very part of their animals.

Response by SGT Randall Smith made Oct 13 at 2016 10:51 AM

SGT Randall Smith — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 10:51:04 -0400

If you didn't watch them prep it , monkey was not bad. Water Buffalo was like eating your boots.
Lots of hot sauce and eat fast. Even C-rations were better.

Response by CSM Louis Rothenstein made Oct 13 at 2016 11:51 AM

CSM Louis Rothenstein — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 11:51:21 -0400

Humorous stuff and brought back memories. Ate some of the things mentioned. Believe the Marines hold top spot for odd mess hall food. Ate in one for a week. None of the cooks were cooks. They were infantry recouping from combat duty. Worst thing was washing down some unknown things with Duck's Blood and Brandy in Vietnam. Had to drink until drunk (for improving relations) had to fly 0500 next morning. Don't know all that I ate but it all ended up inside a little O-1 I had to clean up.....

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made Oct 13 at 2016 12:12 PM

SPC Douglas Bolton — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:12:32 -0400

While in Korea I had Kimchi. It wasn't all that bad until they told they bury it until it is rotten and then serve it.

Response by LTC Gregory Davis made Oct 13 at 2016 5:56 PM

LTC Gregory Davis — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 17:56:50 -0400

Dog

Response by PO2 Ralph Patschureck made Oct 13 at 2016 9:58 PM

PO2 Ralph Patschureck — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 21:58:31 -0400

While in the MidEast I ate a wrap made with monkey meat. Tasted pretty good.

Response by SSG Timothy McCoy made Oct 14 at 2016 9:30 AM

SSG Timothy McCoy — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 09:30:02 -0400

Iguana and Howler Monkey they both tasted like cilantro,

Response by SPC Stephen McCleary made Oct 15 at 2016 4:36 PM

SPC Stephen McCleary — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 16:36:44 -0400

In Korea i had Kegogi

Response by SGM Joel Cook made Oct 16 at 2016 6:01 PM

SGM Joel Cook — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 18:01:33 -0400

While on a short support mission with 9th Spec Ops BN in Costa Rica on the Nicaragua border. We got only MREs every meal unless you could catch or buy something else. We figured out how to lasso iguana lizards out of the rain forest trees. The local natives showed us the best way to roast them over a camp fire. They also sold us some primo chilli pepper dipping hot sauce for lizard and snake. It was really good eats.

Response by LTC Donald Sipe made Oct 16 at 2016 10:56 PM

LTC Donald Sipe — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 22:56:25 -0400

I enlisted in June 1959, during Basic we were required to eat "C's" one day each week. One of the boxes issued to me cantained a can of Ham and Lima Beans, dated 1945. Still good. As for weird, I spent a year in Saudi Arabia. As the honored guest at a goat (grab) roast, I was given the eye balls. Lots of salt and pepper and swollow quick. The ARVN Bn I advised had a party when I returned from the hospital.Honors included boiled duck eggs, with the baby duck inside. Again swollow quick.

Response by SSG(P) D. Wright Downs made Oct 19 at 2016 11:17 AM

SSG(P) D. Wright Downs — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 11:17:37 -0400

I was public affairs and prided myself that I did whatever I could to stories on my soldiers. The infantry support was doing a survival training so I went out on it for a few days and followed their rules. I ate the bugs and grass and other delicacies the men showed me to dig up. One of the most interesting times in the field and fun stories. They did a week I did 3 days and hit a gasthaus immediately after.

Response by SGT Randall Smith made Oct 20 at 2016 4:16 PM

SGT Randall Smith — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 16:16:21 -0400

My brother and I got together in Vung Tau for an in country R&R in 1968. We went into a mess hall and I heard someone griping that there was steak again that night. It was not in a can but fresh from Japan. And there was no Kool aid on the tables. There was real milk and ice tea. No rice but real french fries from real potatoes. And for breakfast the next morning there were real eggs, not powdered. It was heaven. The only problem we had was a Sgt came to our table after we sat down and told us we could not have our weapons in the mess hall. We both explained we went no where with out them. We were told to hurry up and eat and get out of there.

Response by SPC Anna Larson made Oct 21 at 2016 10:12 AM

SPC Anna Larson — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 10:12:58 -0400

I've eaten more "weird" things out of the military than when I was in. By the time I enlisted, I'd already eaten squirrel, Gator, and wildebeast. During one Trip with B-Troop 4th Cavalry in FT Huachuca, we had rattlesnake and rocky mountain oysters, but that was tame stuff compared to Cajun cooking when I went to college in Louisiana.

Response by SMSgt Patrick Sampson made Oct 23 at 2016 11:14 PM

SMSgt Patrick Sampson — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:14:49 -0400

vissualize this. eveans seat on a C141 to Korea with jeeps down the middle. Refueling over Japan. (lots of uppppssss and ddooowwwnnsss) to my left is a sgt, to his left is another sgt, to my right is a Col, to his right is a LT, to his right is a CPL. in each of my fellow NCOs mouth there is a small bag with chicken al king, beef stew, and beens. during the refuel and on cue the sgt to my left reached for the puke bag and forced the contents out of his smaller bag from his mouth into the puke bag. next the puke bag went to his left, next it went to the CPL lastly I get it with a spoon looked at the lt...
At this time it seamed in slow motion the Col looked at me and said don't you dare do it.. At the same time the Lt turned green as I started to eat the puke bag. the Lt turned to the Col and added cammo to his BDUs. I smiled and offered the spoon to the Col.
end of story

Response by SPC George Long made Oct 27 at 2016 12:38 PM

SPC George Long — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 12:38:28 -0400

Ate the beating heart of a cobra and drank its blood.

Response by PO1 Gregg Mundy made Oct 27 at 2016 1:42 PM

PO1 Gregg Mundy — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 13:42:02 -0400

Escargot (snails) in Toulon, France. Nasty

Response by SCPO Tom Niemiec made Nov 2 at 2016 6:33 PM

SCPO Tom Niemiec — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 18:33:49 -0400

Hmmmm, travelled a bunch, but two things in Korea. Street burgers(with mystery meat). And a silkworm larva.

Response by Sgt Keith Ried made Nov 3 at 2016 1:16 PM

Sgt Keith Ried — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:16:28 -0400

Burro burgers while deployed TDY to Soto Cano AB, Honduras

Response by SSgt David Hennion made Nov 10 at 2016 12:00 PM

SSgt David Hennion — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 12:00:58 -0500

Dog burger in Caracas

Response by SSgt David Hennion made Nov 10 at 2016 12:02 PM

SSgt David Hennion — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 12:02:42 -0500

Nasty hamburger in Gitmo at the club that some Jamaican cooked while barefoot and dirty as hell

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 10 at 2016 10:03 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 22:03:41 -0500

Deep Fried Mouse. Still better than Broccoli, Okra, or Brussel Sprouts.

Response by FN Charlie Spivey made Dec 15 at 2016 11:42 AM

FN Charlie Spivey — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 11:42:53 -0500

Goat / Mutton When we were in Nam, somebody thought it was a good idea to feed us Mutton or Goat ( don't know precisely what is was ). It was noon chow and the meat was so strong nobody could eat it and it went into the can. Needles to say, the Head Storekeeper was checking the can to see what was being thrown away. Never had it again.