And More Chocolate

Buckteeth
Vampires

There is so much more to the history of chocolate. We just know one thing: we love chocolate.

During WWII: The U.S. government recognized chocolate's benefits to the men and women in the field. It allocated valuable shipping space for the importation of cocoa beans which would give many weary soldiers the strength to carry on.

Estimates are that between 1940 and 1945, over 3 billion of the D ration and Tropical Bars were produced and distributed to soldiers throughout the world.

In 1939, the Hershey plant was capable of producing 100,000 ration bars a day. By the end of World War II, the entire Hershey plant was producing ration bars at a rate of 24 million a week. For their service throughout World War II, the Hershey Chocolate Company was issued the Army-Navy ‘E’ Award for Excellence for exceeding expectations for quality and quantity in the production of the D ration and the Tropical Bar. Their continued efforts resulted in 4 stars being added to their pennant signifying the 5 times they received this distinction. Go Hershey's!

Chocolate has even been taken into space as part of the diet of U.S. astronauts to keep the astronauts happy and energetic.

In the late 1980s, the US Army's Natick Labs created a new high-temperature chocolate (dubbed the "Congo Bar" by researchers) that could withstand heat in excess of 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit).

During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Hershey's Chocolate was the major manufacturer, shipping 144,000 bars to American troops in the southwest Asia theater. Yes, chocolate is so good, it goes with the troops! I want some chocolate right now!