What Troops Ate On D-Day - World War 2 Meals & Rations

For more on recipes from the World Wars and other military cuisine, I got a whole playlist right here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkaZtzr9JDkzso7Ip6ShAy…

My grandfather was crew member of a landing craft during WWII. He said before his first invasion, at North Africa, they were given a huge breakfast. Which he happily ate up. It was not long after the invasion started, that his breakfast come back up. After that, he did not eat much for breakfast before invasions.

My grandfather was a paratrooper in the 101st airborne, got dropped in a very wealthy couples back garden and was treated to beef stew, potatoes and bread within 10 minutes of landing and was found in the morning having wine, eggs french bread ham and cheese. He gave them a pack of candy he had brought to give children. His fellow paratroopers would send him forward to farm houses as he knew French and often could score hams and anything else the grateful French, Belgians or Dutch could spare. He said once "it wasn't strange to enter a French village and be shot and while you're in cover for some crazy old lady or young girl to run across the street from where you took fire from to hand you a bottle of wine"

My father served in the US Navy in WW2. He took part in the Normandy invasion. He was badly injured when a nearby shell's impact threw him through the air, feet first into a pile of sandbags. Both his legs were fractured. This I learned from my Mom, as he would never talk to us kids about any of his battle experiences. How long he laid on that beach in pain before he was found and taken to a hospital, no one will ever know now (he died in 1967 when I was not quite 16). But he would talk about his time in London before being deployed across the Channel. He said he liked Londoners and admired their spirit. He appreciated the way they all sang together in the pubs. He had a beautiful singing voice, so he would have been popular. He had eyes of a peculiar light yellowish green, which he said spooked a London barmaid so much she wouldn't serve him. "'E's got cat's eyes, 'e does!" He also told us how intensely green and beautiful the coast of Scotland was, where his overseas transport landed. He said it was the most beautiful place he'd ever seen. Bless them all, those who made it and those who didn't.

I really appreciate the way you describe things! My brother is blind and he likes this sort of stuff but it's hard for him to enjoy videos since he lost his vision because most people don't do a good job with their descriptions of food or color and that sort of thing. You do! So thank you from the both of us!

"I decided I was unlikely to outlive my rations, so I saw no point in going hungry" Christ, that's dark. Glad he got the opportunity to write about it.

I knew a Marine who made several combat landings in the Pacific. They were usually fed steak and eggs and fried potatoes for breakfast on an assault day. He told me that the first time he ate like a horse, and lost it all halfway in over the side of the Higgins Boat. He said that later he ate the eggs and kept the steak in a waterproof bag for later on. He said that steak was like a reward for surviving the landing.

Thank you for this, Max. My dad was in WWI and Korea. He wouldn't talk much about it, but finally, in his 70s, he started telling the grandkids some stories. He didn't give cover the toughest stuff, but what he did share explained a lot about him that was hurtful and frustrating when I was growing up We owe our veterans so much better treatment that most of them have received, and at least as much as we have promised. Thank you for your service, veterans and for the sacrifices of you and your families.

Had a moment of panic in the split second between "the last episode of Tasting History..." and "...that will be filmed in this kitchen"

At 15:50 the picture shown is of a man who was a great friend of mine in the later years of his life. That is Richard L. Barber originally from Worcester, MA and passed away in Oviedo, FL. Center of picture. A true hero who eventually rose to Sergeant and won 2 Purple Hearts in WWII and a 3rd in Korea where he lost a leg. Walked on a prosthetic leg for 65 years. RIP Richard

Respect to all , especially the cooks that kept the soldiers fed

I've been reading through the comments of people sharing stories of their family members serving in the War, and im overwhelmed with gratitude of what these brave men accomplished. Thank you for sharing a part of our history ❤️

My grandfather was a radio man in the Canadian army, he was among those thousands of brave men that landed on those beaches. He never spoke of that day. He had other war stories he would tell, but never that day in particular. I can’t even imagine what he must have seen that he wouldn’t even talk about it. I have his full uniform now, it’s my most prized possession. I miss you grandpa John. Great episode Max 👌

My grandfather was in paratrooper school training for D-Day. He had a massive asthma attack and was held from deployment. His whole company did not make landfall on D-Day. Shortly after he was medically discharged. He always felt guilty about it. I see it as a blessing because he met my grandmother a few months later.

Years ago I saw a parody of Doctor Suess that starts: I do not like powdered eggs and ham. I do not like them Uncle Sam.

On D day my grandfather and a few guy's took lemonade and sterno mixed it together for a drink before getting on the LCT to take them to the Hiddens boats.

My dad was on a USCG patrol frigate doing convoy duty in the Atlantic. He was in the engine room and they had a space under the decking that they could hide stuff in and when the ship was provisioning, it was not uncommon for an extra case or three of peaches or anything else to be whisked down below decks.

My uncle was part of the Canadian forces that landed on Juno beach. I don’t know what he had for breakfast, but he did survive. Thank you for posting this in time for Memorial Day, so we can honor and remember those who gave everything for us.

I wasn't prepared for my unexpectedly emotional response to today's episode that hit me amid the stories and images of the troops participating in the D-Day landing. As I watched and listened, I suddenly found myself struck by memories of wartime stories and photos of my late father, a sergeant with the U.S. Army who served in WWII in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. There, in the midst of the stories you shared of powdered eggs, K rations, and the anecdotes of the troops' personal experiences amid this momentous battle, I could catch fleeting glimpses of my Dad and his stories of the war. He would have loved this episode! Thank you, Max ...

Now this is hilarious. I remember when I was around 6 or so, we visited my Aunt in Geneva - the french speaking part of Switzerland. We were in a Bed and Breakfast and my dad wanted an egg for breakfast. Needless to say, none of us spoke french. So I remember my dad doing exactly what that soldier did: doing all the kickeriki, wing flap and laying egg mimic until the lady running the B&B got the message that he was looking for a boiled egg. She told us it's called "oef" and ventured off to provide said egg (actually several of them). My mother was very embarrassed, my dad didn't care - he had what he wanted - and us kids were quietly smiling at each other...