1943 Life Raft Rations Army Air Force Survival MRE Tasting Test Vintage Radio & K Meal Unit Review

An in depth review of three generations of the AAF Life Raft Ration of WW2 from 1943-1945, a 1942 K Ration Breakfast Unit, their history, correlations, nutritional comparison, and testing. Also featuring a Vintage survival radio nicknamed the "Gibson Girl" for it's curvy appearance - used by downed Army Air Force crewman for sending out a Morse code signal for rescue on land or at sea.

Modern Charms are now owned and produced by Tootsie Roll Industries, and can still be purchased to this day. Who knows, maybe they'll bring back the old formula on a limited run. I still say modern Charms are worth trying out.
Wrigley's gum can still be bought, and also Adam's Chiclets (American Chicle Company). Neither have chicle gum base like the old days, though.

To send a Military Ration for review, my exact mailing information is:
Steve1989
3616 Harden Blvd
360
Lakeland, FL 33803

[mattt]

I used to describe Steve as this crazy guy on Youtube that eats old food. But now I've come to realize, Steve is a historian. Possibly one of the most prolific historians of military rations of our time. I think future students will go back and watch these videos to learn about military rations once you and I are long gone.

[panbinnyladen]

Holy moly he’s too generous giving us so many content in one month

[izackscally]

Steve is the only guy I’d believe when I hear him say “I’ve chewed like 95 year old gum that’s been Better than this, it’s all dry”

[hunterprowsemrereviews]

I guarantee that radio kit has never been filmed even partially anywhere on YouTube before, and Steve was able to get the whole kit on film! What a documented Time Capsule!

[NatiSaednejad]

A whole HOUR of Steve? We have been BLESSED 🙌🏽 Nice.

[sonrykon]

I lost a close friend only a few days ago. He adored your channel and was equally into MREs and similar things. I used to watch a few years ago but I forgot your channel name. I miss him dearly and MREs along with your videos were his favorite things. Thank you for making his life all that more enjoyable, he was the closest thing I had to a father, and I miss him dearly.

[JP-jqdc]

I sincerely love that Steve hasn't changed his style in all these years. It's almost comforting with how crazy the times can be.

[MerchantMarineGuy]

The glucose and sucrose in the candy also combats shock and hypothermia and reduces shivering. The act of chewing will help keep you awake, which is good for people on watch at night in a raft and it helps keep your mouth wet with saliva which is beneficial for comfort. It’s a shame that they are no longer carried in liferaft/boat survival rations. I pack a bag of individually wrapped candies (jolly ranchers or lifesavers) in every lifeboat I work with and in my personal survival kit.

[Orzorn]

15:30
This is what makes me keep coming back over and over to your videos. Taking time to actually explain the food science behind rations is a MASSIVE part of your appeal. I don't want to speak ill of others, but I'll just say your main draw is how much more detail, history, and food science you discuss in your videos over simply opening a ration and going "wow so cool" over every thing inside. This extra detail helps us understand the history, reason for the rations development, and how it might be used. We even get a human connection when we see all the little comfort items, or messages of encouragement a ration sometimes provides (like emergency rations).
As always, NICE!

[millejosh]

I was dying laughing when Steve said “it’s two months later and I ate all the candy” sweet content as always!

[katj]

I’m a nurse where I work it’s pretty hectic and fast paced, I watch these on my break to bring my stress levels down and help me feel grounded. It really helps, I love hearing about the history of the rations, how they are used and how the environment they are used in effects how it is used. I’m from the UK and a lot of these components I’ve never even heard of before. Compressed food bars, sounds like something from a sci-fi movie. I worked in a nursing home for a short while and looked after an airforce lad from world war 2, it was quite the privilege to hear his story and I can tell he needed to tell it. It’s sad not many people are willing to listen, it’s all very well watching a documentary but when you have someone who was actually there, wow gold dust! Anyhow Tks Steve, your a one of a kind gem thank you for all your hard work!

[evinduggins]

Let’s just appreciate the fact that Steve managed to find a 1940’s radio pack. My grandpa, if he was still alive would adore this. He was stationed in Okinawa in 1945.

[matthewspry]

The in depth technical analysis of why they chose charms was amazing

[programmer]

Steve is the only Youtube channel where I can go back and watch a five year old video and it feels 100% consistent with new content.

[simplepixel]

In 2017 I was suffering from insomnia and somewhat of a mild depression. Every day and night I was frantically searching and hoping to find the song or the video that will get me to sleep or calm my thoughts down enough just to get a 5 minute blackout, but to no effect. Until I found Steve with his voice and amazing content. First night I blacked in and out multiple times during a couple of videos until I fell asleep for a couple of hours. The rest of the days and nights, well I dont need to say it because I watched since then almost all his videos and remained a loyal subscriber and hardcore fan. In the past week I had trouble sleeping again, and as always Steve's videos came in handy! Tx Steve !!

[TheMultiverseTraveller]

Steve's the only person that can make me crave for 70 year old candies.

[allfields]

Great lesson on cellular respiration on this video, super fascinating and I've never seen any war/MRE historians break it down like that.

[scar]

This man could review a 2x4 for 3 hours and I’d still watch every second of it.

[GabrielWB]

Man, not only a whole hour of MRE goodness, but even a free lesson in biology. Amazing!

[buckbell]

Just wanted to say that I’m going through a lot right now (as I’m sure many of us are) and I appreciate these videos deeply. Thanks for doing what you do, man!