I was in Korea (US Army) (1984-1985) stationed at Camp Casey (2 ID 1/72 BN) about 10 miles South of the DMZ.
Upon first arriving in Korea we were immediately instructed that what we purchased in the PX and Commissary were limited. I forget the numbers now, but it was something like only 2 bottles of hard liquor per month and 4 cans of canned meat. The reason we were limited was to prevent the reselling on the black market. I forget now how they did it, but somehow, every purchase was tracked, and when the limit was reached, you could not buy any more for all the tea in China.
Except, on post were these Korea run eateries. They were sponsored by the US, and their goods and wares were supported by the US, but things in there were not tracked. This is where I first was introduced to Ramon Noodles. They fixed them, we ate them!
Now, on Camp Casey everyone ate in the Mess Hall. Everyone lived in barracks. No spouses, no kids, just soldiers and indigenous Korean employees contracted by the Army.
Well, food in the Mess Hall was NEVER enough. I was always hungry. So I visited the little eateries quite often, and that's when I learned they sold these little cans of Spam and it was not counted against your numbers. There was no tracking at all. If you bought Spam in the PX it was counted as 1 can, even though they are small. But in the eateries, they were not. Soooo.... being the meat eater I am, I probably consumed 5 cans a week. I developed quite a taste for it!
Funny, I like it then ... I still like it! However, every time I eat Spam I'm reminded of Korea, yet Spam has been around longer than I have been. I'm now (almost) 60!, funny it took me 30 years to discover it!
