By DeCA Corporate Communications
NOTE: Click https://vimeo.com/685871889/ef086786e5 to see a DeCA video related to chocolate and the military.
FORT LEE, Va. – You can’t blame service members from the past for having a sweet tooth for chocolate when you consider they had to suffer through military cuisine such as hardtack.
Eventually, U.S. troops became known by children worldwide for the chocolate candy they carried in their rations. Today, military commissaries offer these sweet treats in many forms and at significant savings for eligible customers worldwide.
“Back in the day, if you ever opened your MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) in the field and found a chocolate bar, you felt like you’d struck gold,” said Marine Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, senior enlisted advisor to the Defense Commissary Agency director. “Today, I don’t have to wonder if I can get a chocolate treat; it’s there in the candy aisle in my commissary – and the cost is a lot less than in a commercial store off post.”
So how did chocolate, reportedly one of the most beloved candies in America, become a staple of military rations?
In 1940 the Hershey’s Corporation developed an emergency ration chocolate bar exclusively for inclusion in soldiers’ meal kits. The bars were first tested on troops stationed in the Philippines, Panama and along the Texas border to see if they could withstand the heat –
and they did.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, America entered World War II and the troops’ emergency ration chocolate bars were specially packaged to be protected against poison gas.
During World War II the bulk of Hershey’s chocolate was exclusively produced for the U.S. military and distributed to troops around the world. Hershey’s created the Tropical Bar in 1943 to be distributed to troops in the Pacific Theater. It weighed 4 ounces and was crafted to withstand extreme heat.
Hershey’s wasn’t alone in stocking military haversacks with chocolates. M&M’s were created in 1941 by the Mars Candy Company exclusively for the U.S. troops. The outer coating kept the chocolate from melting and made them easy to eat.
Since the late 1930s, military rations have carried some form of chocolate. Today, that tradition continues with chocolate being part of basic field rations and sundry packs.
With Easter coming up on April 17, Saucedo said it would be a perfect time to hit your commissary to sweeten the hunt for your children.
“The age-old Easter egg hunt is even nicer when a chocolate bunny is in the mix,” Saucedo said. “And remember you can save a lot of money on all of your chocolate treats at your local commissary.”
-DeCA-
About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.
FAQs
Chocolate rations served two purposes: as a morale boost, and as a high-energy, pocket-sized emergency ration.
How was chocolate used during World War II? ›
Before the war Hershey Chocolate Corporation had worked with the United States Army Quartermaster Corps to develop the formula for a survival ration bar, labeled the Ration 'D' bar. After the United States entered the war, Hershey Chocolate Corporation produced millions of the ration bars for the military.
Which sweet was sent to American soldiers in World War 2 because it wouldn t spoil? ›
M&M's were created in 1941 by the Mars Candy Company exclusively for the U.S. troops. The outer coating kept the chocolate from melting and made them easy to eat.
What was the sweet ration in WWII? ›
Sweet rationing began during the dark days of World War Two on 26 July 1942 when people had a weekly ration of just 2 ounces of sweets or chocolate. A month later the ration was doubled for eight weeks and then cut back to 3 ounces a week.
Why was chocolate included in the American soldier's rations during the Revolutionary War? ›
Because of its caffeine and high calorie content, it was a reliable source of energy for soldiers on the front. Chocolate consumption among Americans dates back to colonial times—George Washington and the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War would have consumed chocolate as a hot beverage, for example.
How did Hershey's chocolate help power allied troops during WWII? ›
A mixture of chocolate, sugar, powdered milk, oat flour, and vitamins provided 600 calories per serving and made a very effective survival food. The Ration D chocolate bar was designed to withstand extreme temperatures and provide substantial energy for troops.
What candy did soldiers eat in WWII? ›
Hershey's Field Ration D Bars: Sustaining Soldiers Since World War II. The Hershey's Field Ration D Bar holds a special place in the history of military candy. Invented during World War II, these bars were specifically designed to provide soldiers with a high-calorie, non-melting, and stable source of sustenance.
What did D-ration taste like? ›
Tasting The D Ration Bar
It's hard, crumbly and dryish - it doesn't melt in the hand (or the mouth, really). The flavour is rich and bitter-chocolatey.
What did soldiers eat during a war? ›
According to The US Dept. of Defense, at first, the meals were stews, yet more varieties were added as the war went on, including meat and spaghetti in tomato sauce, chopped ham, eggs and potatoes, meat and noodles, pork and beans; ham and lima beans, and chicken and vegetables.
Which Hershey's bar has no chocolate? ›
Hershey's Gold is a caramelized creme bar with peanut and pretzel bits. The candy bar is not made with any chocolate.
Soon, pallets of Tootsie Roll candies parachuted from the sky to the First Marine Division! While they were not ammunition, this candy from the sky provided well needed nourishment for the troops. They also learned they could use warmed Tootsie Rolls to plug bullet holes, sealing them as they refroze.
What candy was popular during WWII? ›
Bruce and Forrest created one of the most popular, and loved candies of all times! M&M's were given to the soldiers of WWII as they would not melt, and give them some much-needed fuel. The US Army was M&M's very first big customer.
Why was there no sugar during WWII? ›
Supplies such as gasoline, butter, sugar and canned milk were rationed because they needed to be diverted to the war effort. War also disrupted trade, limiting the availability of some goods.
Was corn syrup rationed in WWII? ›
Other sources of sweetener were not rationed during World War II. Instead of sugar, people used corn syrup, molasses, maple syrup, and prepared foods.
Was ice cream rationed in WWII? ›
Narrator: For special foods, you might go to extreme lengths to get hold of them. Graham: Ice cream wasn't rationed but what was made was awful. It was powdery and not worth buying. But there was one shopor tea room in the whole area, that made their own ice cream in a machine at the back of the shop.
Why is chocolate used in the military? ›
Since the D ration bar, chocolate has been part of the US military. Chocolate served its purpose of providing a morale boost as well as a high-energy, compact emergency ration.
What candy bar was given to soldiers in ww2? ›
The Hershey's Field Ration D Bar holds a special place in the history of military candy. Invented during World War II, these bars were specifically designed to provide soldiers with a high-calorie, non-melting, and stable source of sustenance.
What does the chocolate soldier symbolize? ›
Chocolate Soldier is an expression referring to a good-looking but useless warrior, popularised by George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play Arms and the Man. The term originates as a derogatory label for a soldier who would not fight but would look good in a uniform, shortened from 'Chocolate Cream Soldier'.
What is the chocolate death in ww2? ›
Giving a new meaning to the dessert name “death by chocolate”, Adolf Hitler's bomb makers coated explosive devices with a thin layer of rich dark chocolate, then packaged it in expensive-looking black and gold paper.
