Posted on Dec 7, 2014
SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
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Ration cards
Ration cards 2
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?
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Responses: 19
COL Jean (John) F. B.
3
3
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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.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
11 y
Aviano, Italy>
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TSgt Electrical Power Production Craftsman
TSgt (Join to see)
11 y
I had to use them in Germany while there
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
11 y
Oh yea Budingen, West Germany 1990, with 3/5th ADA, 3rd Armored Division.
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CW5 Desk Officer
3
3
0
I used them in Germany and in Korea. I believe cigarettes, some alcohol, gas, and probably some things I'm forgetting were rationed.
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CW5 Desk Officer
CW5 (Join to see)
11 y
Yep, coffee too.
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SFC Boots Attaway
SFC Boots Attaway
11 y
Black Pepper was a biggie in Korea LOL.
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SGT Steven Montgomery
SGT Steven Montgomery
11 y
Had one in Germany in the late 70's for liquor and cigarettes as I remember.
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LTC Stephen F.
2
2
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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.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
I did too and was asked by my landlord to swap. They liked our cigarettes.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
SSgt (Join to see), GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, my landlord was honest. He was a former Wehrmacht soldier who fought on the eastern front. I was honored when he invited me to watch D-Day, which had been translated into German by the early 1980's, with him and his wife. He warmed the beer to room temperature and it was strange to see the British and American stars of D Day speaking with German over-dubbing.
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Ration Cards. Do you remember or currently use them?
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SFC Mark Merino
2
2
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Edited 11 y ago
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).
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SFC Boots Attaway
SFC Boots Attaway
11 y
I remember a lot of young dumb privates miss using theirs in Korea 79/80 and 82/83.
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CPL Rick Stasny
CPL Rick Stasny
11 y
I don't see how there was that big of a difference between state side Copenhagen and the plastic can crap. It was like they added sticks and gravel to the overseas version. I did enjoy picking up a half gallon for 8 or 9 bucks from the Class 6 store before the PX took it over. We were considered a remote site and had a small bar on post that sold American beer for 25 cents anb German beer for 30 cents. Good times.
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SMSgt Security Forces Manager
2
2
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Used them in Germany.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
11 y
I had Germans ask to purchase them from me...lol. no way Herr Smith!!
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SMSgt Security Forces Manager
SMSgt (Join to see)
11 y
Lol! Too funny! I use to have the Jappenese folks to try and get me to buy beer for them.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
11 y
I wouldn't have been able to deny the young ladies.. hahaha a fail right there...lol
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SMSgt Security Forces Manager
SMSgt (Join to see)
11 y
Hahaa! Too funny!
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1SG Eoc Ops Coordinator / Ga Certified Emergency Manager
2
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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.
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PV2 Senior Web Designer, Web Team Lead
2
2
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Sorry but never had to use them. I guess I'm not as old as I thought I was. lol
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
11 y
They still use them in places.... but not sure where aside from perhaps Asia.
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TSgt Jackie Jones
TSgt Jackie Jones
11 y
It's not an age thing, I don't think! I had to use them in England and Iceland from 1999-2004... For alcohol, cigarettes, and gas. They didn't want us buying the tax-free American priced items and selling them on the economy for a profit!
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PO2 Corey Ferretti
2
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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.
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SPC Corie Davis
1
1
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But I do have my grandfathers unused ones 
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Now that is cool and welcome to RallyPoint!
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SSG Paul Setterholm
1
1
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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
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