MN90: The Keys of K-Rations

In 1941, the U.S. Military had an assignment for Ancel Keys, University of Minnesota physiologist: Create a combat ration that packs a caloric punch yet fits in a pocket. Britt Aamodt has the story behind World War II’s K-ration.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Transcript

Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.

1941 - Europe was entering its second year of world war. Yet even under increasing pressure, the United States remained neutral. Still the US military was preparing that year. The army tapped University of Minnesota physiologist Ancel Keys for special projects. The brass wanted Keys to design a new combat ration that was small enough to fit in a pocket, yet packed a caloric punch. So Ancel Keys went grocery shopping in Minneapolis, picking up of little this and a little of that, and bringing it all back to his lab, where he could tinker with recipes and count calories. When he was finally ready, soldiers stationed at Fort Snelling were brought in to taste test their verdict. Yuck. December 1941, America entered World War Two after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. And two and a half years later, June 1944, when American paratroopers leaped into the air over Normandy for D-Day, they had Ancel Keys rations in their pockets, but by now, the rations had taken on their official name, K-Rations.

MN90 is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at MN90.org.