Marine’s Secret Weapon: Coffee

The Marine’s Secret Weapon: Coffee
New York Times
By MICHAEL HAFT AND HARRISON SUAREZ
August 16, 2013

Every American knows the story of the Boston Tea Party and its implications on the Revolutionary War. Lesser known, but perhaps of greater relevance to a nation recognized more for coffee breaks than tea time, is the fact that America’s taste for coffee is inextricably linked to the history of its military.

National Archives and Records Administration
Battle-weary Marines of the 22nd Regiment drank coffee after heavy fighting on Einwetok Atoll in the Pacific Theater in February 1944.

We weren’t aware of it until just recently. But in hindsight, it made perfect sense that we would become obsessed with coffee when we joined the Marines. As we later discovered, we were part of a long line of men whose enthusiasm for the drink was closely tied to their experiences in the service.

As Capt. Robert K. Beecham wrote in his book, “Gettysburg: The Pivotal Battle of the Civil War”: “The power of the soldiers to endure the fatigue of the march and keep their places in the ranks was greatly enhanced by an opportunity to brew a cup of coffee by the wayside.”

Coffee’s popularity grew in the years following Reconstruction. But it didn’t become a household staple until the confluence of the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the advertising age and the cultural mixing that occurred during World War I. As William Ukers explained in The Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, “the 2,000,000 soldiers who went overseas and there had their coffee three times a day…since returning to civilian life are using it more than ever before.”
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Also there is a veterans group called Coffee Strong

Coffee Strong is a veteran-operated service member and veterans rights center located next to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. We help service members with military discharges, grievances and complaints, and other GI Rights. We assist veterans with getting their benefits, including disability, healthcare and education including discharge upgrades. At Coffee Strong, we also have free coffee and snacks, access to the internet, alternative information, and referrals for legal, medical, mental health and other forms of assistance.