Courtesy Photo | The P-38 was included in the C- and K-Rations meal packs starting in World War II. It...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. (May 4, 2017) -- It’s not uncommon for old Soldiers to look back and reexamine the practicality of clothing and equipment items we've used over the years. For us, it’s akin to a hobby, an armchair quarterback approach to product validation and a way to determine whether something merits special mention in our war stories.
Vietnam-era Soldiers often and fondly remember the old M-14 rifle for its ruggedness and power. The Vietnam-era steel pot, forerunner of the Kevlar helmet, was cherished for its multi-functionality. And let's not forget the field pile cap of the 1960-90s, prized for its warm, furry inner lining and snug fit.
All of them have earned badges of esteem.
Somewhere within the ranks of their utility lies a key-holed utensil that rivals the paperclip in function; something designed with such dead-on purposefulness that it not only gets a badge of esteem, it should be enshrined in a museum. Fathers and grandfathers of current military members may remember the P-38 can opener.
Called the “U.S. Army Pocket Can Opener” or “Opener, Can, Hand, Folding Type,” it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Making its debut during World War II, the P-38 was used to open canned food goods included in K and later C-Rations. Over the next 40 years or so, “The John Wayne” – as it was sometimes called by Soldiers and Marines – earned a reputation as possibly the most cost-effective piece of equipment the Army has ever issued. No clunky, manual can opener could match its portability and cost. In short, it delivered a lot of punch for a few pennies.
The origin of the P-38 name unknown, but the tool is about 38mm in length. Since it was included in ration packages, it was almost exclusively used in field environments. That's where it earned stripes. C- and K-Ration cans didn't have the easy-pull tabs featured on today's canned goods, so without the handy P-38, a can of beef was merely an inanimate object; as useful as a rock. Having a P-38 at one's disposal was like having the key to a locked refrigerator.
It was practically indestructible, too. The P-38 was rugged like the M-14; one could last an entire career. Breaking one was rare. Its multi-functional capabilities were nil, however, except perhaps serving as a fingernail cleaner.
All said, the P-38 (with a bit of upper body strength) did one thing and did it wonderfully well – carve out the top of a tin can by the most expedient means possible. For all it was worth, it was made obsolete when the C-rations were replaced by the can-less meal packages like Meals, Ready-to-Eat. It's now obsolete but enjoys an existence in military surplus stores, cyberspace and on the shelves of collectors.
Even more so, many military members have held on to their P-38s as keepsakes that rival their affection for dog tags and duffel bags. The old-Soldier types attach them to their dog tags and carry them on their key chains.
My P-38 transports me to the time my basic training unit endured its first day in the field. I especially remember the lunchtime chow, how we all sat, awash in our achievements, sharing brotherly camaraderie and really feeling like Soldiers for the first time.
It was a moment of magic that generates an affectionate smile.
Occasionally, I’m inclined to pull out that little doohickey, show it off and offer a few war stories to boot – ones that feature sleepless nights, bad weather and angry first sergeants – all the stuff that makes soldiering such a special job; all to recapture the feeling of being there.
For that reason alone, the P-38 is a throwback in a class all by itself.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2017 12:39 |
| Story ID: | 232574 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Recollection: the rusty, trusty P-38 and its powerful link to yesteryear, by Terrance Bell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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