Tootsie Rolls: Wartime Snack
I was emptying the remaining candy from our Halloween bowl a few days ago, intending to fill the community bowl at work with it. At the bottom of the bowl, there were quite a few Tootsie Rolls left over – more than any other candy. Perhaps the kids just don’t care for Tootsie Rolls.
In fact, I made a sour face myself. I don’t fancy them either. To me, they are too sweet, hard to chew, and just…. boring. Lord knows, I have eaten so many of them in my life. Often, during my service, I opened Meals-Ready-To Eat, or MREs, and found Tootsie Rolls as part of the contents.
Despite my dislike, I never threw them away. As a Marine, I know their value.
Although the candy may not seem exciting, its wartime history is anything but boring. During World War II, the company that produced the “Tootsie Roll” was one of the few candy companies to thrive during the war. They were a recipient of an early form of what we call “government contracting” today.
Tootsie Roll was already popular as the first candy to be wrapped individually. That, combined with its resistance to melting, made it the perfect snack for troops in the field. Tootsie Roll was hired by the government to provide the candies for military rations. The Tootsie Rolls sugar helped give troops a quick boost of energy while the calories helped supplement food supplies. They also served as effective treats for children, a “thank you” to a civilian ally or as a trade for information or other necessities.
However, Tootsie Rolls’ greatest contribution to combat troops came during the Korean War. In November 1950, the 1st Marine Division had pushed into North Korean territory and was moving north through the Chosin Reservoir. While navigating the mountains, they were attacked by Chinese forces who had recently entered the war to support their North Korean ally. Ordered to return south, the Marines quickly found themselves cut off and surrounded by an estimated eight Chinese Divisions. The freezing temperatures affected bodies, vehicles, and weapons. The constant fighting depleted ammunition, infected wounds combined with frostbite and hypothermia made survival seemed slim.
Desperate for ammunition, the Marines radioed back to the Air Force and requested “Tootsie Rolls,” the Marine code name for 60mm Mortar Rounds. The Air Force Radio Operater did not understand the code, and instead put through a request for the candy. Soon, boxes of Tootsie Rolls rained from the sky to the embattled Marines. Although less lethal than a mortar round, the candy gave the Marines a fighting edge. Near starvation, the frozen candy was a blessing. Marines would put the frozen rolls in their cheek and let it soften. The sugar and calories provided a means to keep them going. The pliable nature of the Tootsie Roll and its resistance to melting meant the troops could use them to patch bullet holes and repair leaking radiators on vehicles, providing transportation for the wounded and preventing the vehicles from being left behind.
As the Marines fought their way out of what is referred to as the “Frozen Chosin,” they left a trail of Tootsie Roll wrappers behind them. So significant to the survival of the 1st Marine Division, a Tootsie Roll wrapper is featured in the Korean War “Chosin Few” display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Tootsie Rolls continue to come in MREs and feed troops all over the world. Never underestimate the power of a piece of candy. The “Chosin Few” certainly didn’t.
