SPAM

May 3, 2018, 3:27 PM

No, this is not the spam we often find on our computers, it's the kind we find in grocery stores all around the world with the Hormel Foods label. Since it first found its way to grocery store shelves in 1937, the number of tins sold since that date, if placed end to end, would circle the globe several times. Way back in 2012 the eighth billion can of SPAM was sold.

During World War 2, I do believe the Military purchased every can of SPAM Hormel produced. After a few meals with SPAM, even the old "K" ration was a welcome relief. I was convinced that one-half of the recipes in the Army cook book were different recipes to disguise SPAM so that we would think it was really something entirely different. We were very fortunate because we had some excellent cooks in the 3125th Signal Service Company, but, bless there hearts, they tried with all their skills to find a recipe that would elicit requests from our company members for a second helping. It never happened.

We had plain SPAM. We had fried SPAM. We had SPAM glazed with all sorts of sauces. WE had SPAM with unknown spices. Even when it was camouflaged with every conceivable food element known to mankind, it was still SPAM. Surely, there must have been someone who had convinced those in food procurement that, if given often enough and long enough, they would come to the conclusion we would like it.

Now, to be honest and give credit where credit is due, I was never aware of anyone dying or even going bald after eating SPAM, so, from that standpoint, it appeared to be safe for consumption. When someone remarked they were so hungry they could eat SPAM, we knew they were on the verge of starvation. Very much to our surprise, once in while we heard someone say SPAM wasn't so bad. That confession alone, led us to believe he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, or he had developed some rare disease, definitely a valid reason to avoid close contact. When we were preparing to come home after the war one comment was on the lips of 99.9% of the men. "when I get home, I'm never ever going to let a can of SPAM enter my home".

On Sept. 3, 1947, I married the girl of my dreams. I asked the officiating Ministerif he would add one question in our vows. "Mary Lynn will you honor the request of your soon to be husband, Joe21, that you will never serve him SPAM"? And her tresponse was "I will". And to the best of my knowledge I have never had one bite of SPAM since my Army days.