"C" Ration Box Postcards
by Harold Thrasher
Charlie 1/5, Vietnam, March 1967/April 1968


All grunts can remember the C-Ration post cards that we would use to write home on. Because of writting paper shortage in the field and at times in the rear, we, as grunts would improvise and adapt to our conditions.

With free postage and only writting free where normally the stamp would go, these sides of the C-Ration boxes came in pretty handy many times while out in the field or even back in the rear with the gear.

This particular post card was stamped by the U. S. Navy on June 3, 1967, and mailed to my dad who passed away this year (2006). My serial number has been blocked on purpose. I had just rejoined my platoon on Hill 185 (Nui Loc Son) from having been on the USS Repose for 17 days enjoying the good time aboard ship and recovering from the intent of the North Vietnamese Army. I was writting dad to let him know that I was back with my platoon. I notice that I was only a lonely private first class when I mailed this home.

During the 13 month tour in Vietnam, I made the rank of sergeant prior to my rotation back to the states. It was a rank that scared the heck out of me because of the responsibility that came with that position and the inexperience that I had. I was in company supply when I made sergeant, which helped with the situation.

However, when Tet of 1968 came around, everybody was a rifleman first. Many times 1/5 would deploy anybody, anyplace, anytime to field the need for grunts. With a sergeant ranking, I was only lucky that I didn't have to lead rather than follow as many of my brothers had to. I did make Lance Corporal prior to going into supply but the Corporal and Sergeant rank came in supply. 

I was looking at the meaning of names in a book one day. The name of Harold was considered a leader of armies. I immediately noticed that they had it all wrong as I was not a leader but a follower. I would tease my buddies, when notified to take a hill or occupy a postion, I would tell them you guys go ahead and I be up there a little later. In Vietnam it didn't matter what your military occupational specially (MOS) was, you were placed where needed. Clerks became grunts, grunts became clerks and so on. Some grunts remained grunts for the entire tour of duty in Vietnam, I always admired their determination and their heroic deeds.  Some grunts like myself served duty in the field and back in the rear with the gear.

 

 

 

CCCC99 All grunts can remember the C-Ration post cards that we would use to write home on. Because of writting paper shortage in the field and at times in the rear , we as grunts would improvise and adapt to our conditions. With free postage and only writting free where normally the stamp would go, these sides of the C-Ration boxes came in pretty handy many times while out in the field or even back in the rear with the gear. This particular post card was stamped by the U. S. Navy on June 3, 1967, and mailed to my dad who passed away this year (2006). My serial number has been blocked on purpose. I had just rejoined my platoon on Hill 185 (Nui Loc Son) from having been on the USS Repose for 17 days enjoying the good time aboard ship and recovering from the intent of the North Vietnamese Army. I was writting dad to let him know that I was back with my platoon. I did notice that I was only a lonely private first class when I mailed this home. During the 13 month tour in Vietnam, I made the rank of sergeant prior to my rotation back to the states. It was a rank that scared the heck out of me because of the responsibility that came with that position and the inexperience that I had. I was in company supply when I made sergeant, which helped with the situation. However, when Tet of 1968 came around, anybody was a rifleman first. Many times 1/5 would deploy anybody, anyplace, anytime to field the need for grunts. With a sergeant ranking, I was only lucky that I didn't have to lead rather than follow as many of my brothers had to. I did make Lance Corporal prior to going into supply but the Corporal and Sergeant rank came in supply.  I was looking at the meaning of names in a book one day. The name of Harold was considered a leader of armies. I immediately noticed that they had it all wrong as I was not a leader but a follower. I would tease my buddies, when notified to take a hill or occupy a postion, I would tell them you guys go ahead and I be up there a little later. I did notice in Vietnam that it didn't matter what your military occupational specially (MOS) was, you were placed where needed. Clerks became grunts, grunts became clerks and so on. Some grunts remained grunts for the entire tour of duty in Vietnam, I always admired their determination and their heroic deeds.  Some grunts like myself served duty in the field and back in the rear with the gear.