Ration Cards. Do you remember or currently use them?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 20:18:24 -0500

For a very long time, Ration Stamps and Gas Coupons have been a staple of OCONUS assignments. And the VAT that you could receive by going to the Base Finance Office.

Did you use them?

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 7 at 2014 8:33 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 20:33:19 -0500

We were given a beer ration card when I was in Spain it was hilarious. Who knew you could ration beer to Seabees. Well they tried.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 8:56 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 20:56:24 -0500

Sorry but never had to use them. I guess I'm not as old as I thought I was. lol

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 9:36 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 21:36:28 -0500

Being stationed in Germany 74-77 and 79-82, cigarettes, liquor, sugar, and coffee were the major rationed items. We were able to purchase a certain amount of coupons in order to purchase gas cheaper on the German economy than the Germans paid.

Those four items were the major black market items that the Germans would pay big money for any of these items.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 9:36 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 21:36:35 -0500

I used them in Germany and in Korea. I believe cigarettes, some alcohol, gas, and probably some things I'm forgetting were rationed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 10:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 22:17:24 -0500

Never heard of them...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 10:33 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 22:33:59 -0500

80s here Ramstein only

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 11:57 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 23:57:21 -0500

Used them in Germany.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 8 at 2014 12:22 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 00:22:55 -0500

Oh yeah! 1990-1992 Germany. Inprocessing 101..."Hey kid, do you smoke?" "Are you a beer drinker or the good stuff?" If the answer was no......BEG the PSG to put him in your room! Rationing 101...If you returned from stateside leave you better had brought back "stateside Copenhagen" in the cardboard containers. The plastic overseas ones wasn't as good (from what I was told).

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Dec 8 at 2014 2:03 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 14:03:32 -0500

Yes... Used Ration Cards in Germany in the Commissary; for gas in Italy; and, although did not have a card, items in Korea were rationed.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2014 3:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 15:42:32 -0500

They're still issued for cigarettes, alcohol and (thankfully) gas in Italy. Without them it would cost more than 100€ to fill the tank.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Dec 8 at 2014 6:51 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:51:53 -0500

Absolutely.. I only had need for the gas ones though ..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2014 10:27 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:27:42 -0500

Gas rations in Germany are on a Esso Card today much like a gas station's loyalty program card, just swipe it at the counter, the clerk verifies license plates and you sign.

Coffee, hard alcohol, cigarettes and some other items are rationed but the Germans have better and cheaper coffee so why even bother?

Heading to Korea next week and hear they have the ration too...yay

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 28 at 2015 5:05 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Thu, 28 May 2015 17:05:32 -0400

I used them when I was stationed in Germany during the early 1980s. I used the gas ration cards when I was traveling around Germany and the surrounding countries. Cigarettes were also rationed along with alcohol.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made May 28 at 2015 6:07 PM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Thu, 28 May 2015 18:07:58 -0400

Panama and more

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 28 at 2015 6:13 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Thu, 28 May 2015 18:13:26 -0400

The ration card was a must have in Korea. Without them you couldn't buy the "luxury" items that made home feel not so far away. 30 packs of cigarettes per month, 3 bottles of liquor, 2 six packs of beer not to mention the big ticket items like televisions. Had to have one to buy any of these items.

Response by SSG Paul Setterholm made May 28 at 2015 7:32 PM

SSG Paul Setterholm — Thu, 28 May 2015 19:32:36 -0400

My friend paid his rent with liquor. I let him use mine. I use to buy my girlfriend cigarettes with the tobacco card. 4.70 a carton. She paid 25 on German economy

Response by SPC Corie Davis made May 29 at 2015 11:14 AM

SPC Corie Davis — Fri, 29 May 2015 11:14:22 -0400

But I do have my grandfathers unused ones

Response by TSgt Clarence T Montgomery made Jun 4 at 2015 7:59 PM

TSgt Clarence T Montgomery — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 19:59:27 -0400

Great program, as my wife and I were both military and did not drink or smoke ~ The black market was live and well!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 2:12 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:12:33 -0400

Always traded my cigarette ones for alcohol ones.