You can tell how old a C ration is by the design of the Lucky Strikes in the accessory pack, Dr. Dyrc Sibrans of Decatur, a Vietnam veteran, told Catherine Godbey.

C-rations were the infamous canned meals that fueled many American troops during the Vietnam War. The proper name for the meals is ‘Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI),’ but C-rat’ is how most guys ...