On the rugged border, the 1979 counter-attack operation against Vietnam was in full swing. In the shadow of war, an unknown battlefield trivia quietly takes place. Canned pork, which was supposed to be the main force of supply for officers and soldiers at the front, unexpectedly became a problem for them. According to one veteran who lived through that war, the smell of the canned food was unbearable, and the greasy feeling made the tongue slip.
As the war progressed, the troops penetrated deep into Vietnam, and logistical supplies became more and more difficult. As one of the important food sources, canned pork was supposed to provide the necessary energy and nutrition for officers and soldiers. However, these heavy tin cans became a burden during the long journey, and the officers and soldiers loved and hated them. Although the pork in the cans is abundant, because it cannot be heated, the white lard that covers the top layer looks particularly greasy and disgusting when eaten cold.
Logistical support in counter-attack operations against Vietnam
In 1979, during China's counter-attack campaign against Vietnam, logistical support became an important part of the war. Before the troops crossed the border, the officers and men lived a relatively stable life, and the cooking squad was able to use the simple stoves set up on the site and use local firewood and coal to cook hot meals. Officers and men sat around the canteen or in makeshift tents, enjoying the rice, stews, and soups carefully prepared by the cooking class, and could feel a touch of home warmth, and their morale was relatively stable.
However, the situation changed dramatically with the entry of troops into the territory of Vietnam. After entering Vietnam, the troops needed to maneuver quickly, often with long marches and sudden battles, which made it difficult for the cooking squad to set up fixed cooking points in front-line conditions. The continuous marches and battles exhausted the officers and soldiers, and hot food turned into a luxury. The troops had to rely on the compressed dry rations and canned food they carried to replenish their strength and nutrition.
The importance of compressed dry food
In the 1979 counterattack against Vietnam, the 761 compressed dry food became an important source of food for the officers and soldiers under difficult conditions. This special dry food is developed and produced by relevant research institutions in Shanghai, and is designed to take into account the nutritional value and portability. Compared with ordinary cakes or biscuits, 761 compressed dry food is smaller in size, tighter in texture, thicker in shape, but lightweight, and easy for officers and soldiers to carry during long journeys or emergency maneuvers.
This compressed dry food is designed with the special needs of military operations in mind. Its formula contains a large amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates, as well as essential vitamins and minerals, which can quickly replenish the energy and nutrition of officers and soldiers on the battlefield. The packaging design of dry food is also considered practical, and moisture-proof and pressure-resistant packaging materials are used to ensure the safety and stability of food in the complex and changeable battlefield environment.
On the battlefield, officers and soldiers usually carry with them several days' worth of compressed dry rations. Due to the demands of marching and fighting, they may not be able to replenish immediately or find a suitable resting place for a proper meal, at which point compressed dry food becomes their main source of energy. Officers and soldiers would quickly consume dry rations during rest, which could be swallowed quickly with only a small amount of water, thus maintaining physical strength and alertness.
Due to its easy-to-carry and efficient energy replenishment properties, compressed dry food is especially important in emergency marches and sudden battles. It can be quickly consumed at any time and place, providing continuous energy support for officers and soldiers. In addition, compressed dry rations have a long shelf life and remain stable even in humid or extreme temperature conditions, which is especially critical in unpredictable battlefield conditions.
In long-term military operations, while compressed dry food cannot completely replace traditional hot food, its importance is self-evident when it is impossible to set up a cooking point or when rapid maneuvering is required. Compressed dry rations ensured that officers and men could maintain basic combat effectiveness and survivability even in the most difficult conditions. Its existence not only relieves the pressure of logistical supply, but also provides a reliable source of food for officers and soldiers on the battlefield.
Use of canned food
In addition to relying on compressed dry food, the PLA officers and soldiers also included a variety of canned foods, among which canned braised pork in 1 to 2 kilograms was the most common. Due to its rich protein and fat, this kind of canned food has become an important source of energy supply for officers and soldiers on the front line. Whenever supply trucks or supply beasts arrived, officers and soldiers would quickly distribute these cans to ensure that everyone had enough energy to support them.
The appearance of the braised pork canned food is simple, and the iron tank is thick and well-sealed to keep the food inside fresh and prevent the invasion of the outside environment. When you open the can, the first thing that catches your eye is a thick layer of lard, white grease that solidifies at low temperatures, similar to the texture of ice cream, and this layer of fat preserves the flavor and moistness of the pork to a certain extent. Although this layer of lard is helpful for providing extra calories, because it is so greasy, officers and soldiers usually scrape off a portion of it when eating it to reduce the greasy feeling.
The main part of the canned food is braised pork, and large pieces of meat are soaked in a paste-like marinade. Most of these pork are fatty, the meat is crispy and soft, and combined with the rich flavor of the marinade, although it is not as delicious as the freshly made braised pork, it is still a rare delicacy for officers and soldiers in the tense and tired battlefield life. However, this design of canned food also has its drawbacks, even if it is not opened, the meat inside the canned food will have a bad taste after a long period of storage due to the limitations of storage conditions.
Due to the relatively large size and weight of these cans, it was extremely inconvenient for officers and soldiers to carry such cans on the march. As a result, these cans are usually distributed and eaten at stationary camps or temporary resting spots. In the actual use process, because it could not be heated, officers and soldiers could usually only eat these cans at room temperature, which made the braised pork, which was supposed to be hot and shiny, greasy and tasteless.
Limitations of canned food
Although canned braised pork has high nutritional value, it has encountered many problems in practical use. Since it was impossible to light a fire during the march, the officers and soldiers could only eat unheated canned pork, which greatly affected the taste and flavor of the can. Canned pork served coldly has a pronounced greasy feel and lacks the aroma and flavor of hot food, which makes many fighters shy away from it. Coupled with the large size and weight of these cans, they have become an additional burden for troops who need to move quickly for a long time.
In contrast, compressed canned vegetables are favored by front-line officers and soldiers because of their lightness, good taste and nutritional value. These canned vegetables usually contain a variety of pickled vegetables, such as cucumbers, pickled cabbage, radish, cabbage, and green beans, which have been specially processed and pickled, which not only retain the nutrients of the vegetables, but also add a variety of flavors such as sour and spicy, which can meet the needs of officers and soldiers for food taste. These cans are usually small in size and weight, making them easy to carry and distribute, making them a good choice for officers and soldiers to replenish vitamins and minerals in harsh environments.
Because these canned vegetables are easy to open and do not need to be heated to eat, officers and men can quickly replenish food and nutrients during short breaks or between marches. After the cans were opened, the brightly colored vegetables and attractive aroma brought the officers and men a double enjoyment of sight and taste. At the same time, sour and spicy flavors can stimulate the taste buds and increase the appetite, which is especially important in the dull and boring military operations. More importantly, this canned food can provide necessary nutritional support for officers and soldiers who engage in high-intensity activities for a long time, helping them maintain their physical strength and health.
In actual battles and marches, the combination of compressed canned vegetables and compressed dry food became a practical and quick way to replenish supplies. Officers and soldiers usually eat these two foods together, which can not only quickly replenish energy, but also meet the nutritional needs of the body through a variety of vitamins and minerals in canned vegetables. Especially in the environment of continuous combat and long marching, this combination provides officers and soldiers with a convenient and nutritious food choice, which greatly reduces the pressure of survival in battle and marching.
The special significance of front-line food
There was also a special supply in the counter-attack against Vietnam - canned fruit in glass jars. This can is prized due to its fragile packaging and difficulty in transporting. The nature of glass cans makes them extremely vulnerable to breakage during transportation, especially in rugged mountainous and jungle terrain, where some canned fruit can be damaged by bumps every time supplies reach the front line.
Despite this, canned fruits in glass jars are still very popular among officers and soldiers because of their fresh taste and rich vitamins. In a battlefield environment where supplies are scarce, these canned fruits not only provide nutritional supplies, but also bring psychological comfort. They usually contain a variety of fruits such as oranges, yellow peaches, pears, etc., which are lightly processed and soaked in sugar water to maintain their freshness and flavor for a longer period of time.
Since such canned fruits are very rare at the front, they are often seen as a special reward or holiday gift for officers and soldiers. On special occasions, such as important holidays or after a battle victory, commanders may distribute these canned fruits as a way to boost morale and recognize the performance of officers and soldiers. Although the portion per person is not much, this rare delicacy is undoubtedly a great psychological comfort for officers and soldiers who have been in a difficult environment for a long time.
During transportation and distribution, the logistics department takes extra care with these fragile glass cans of canned fruit. They are usually placed in special shockproof packaging materials and labelled as "fragile" to ensure that they reach the front line as intact as possible. Even so, damage and waste are difficult to avoid completely due to the constraints of field transport conditions.
Among the officers and soldiers on the front line, these canned fruits are not only food, but also symbolize the longing for their hometown and the desire for an ordinary life. In the difficult environment, when the officers and soldiers enjoyed these canned fruits, they were able to temporarily forget the hardships of the war and feel the care and warmth from afar. Although it is difficult to fully express this psychological comforting effect in words, it has a non-negligible impact on improving the morale and cohesion of officers and men.
Pan Kaien.Return to the Historical Scene——The 35th Anniversary of the Self-Defense Counterattack War against Vietnam[J].Social Observation,2014(3):75-77