Tin Overseas Servicemen/Women Shipping Container

[Shart]

Found this today while out and about. It was marked WW2 but i’m not sold seems like a later item based on graphics. In any case thought it intriguing so it came home. 

[pvttab]

I was always under the impression it was a WWII mailer.  Based on the victory "V", I am unaware if that identifier was used during the Korea War.

[Shart]

Very cool! It seemed a little more ornate than others i have seen. Fun piece for sure. 

[pvttab]

There is a similar can that was in blue/white.

[Quartermaster]

I agree that these metal containers are WW2 items.  Here's a red & green one plus a cylinder type with order form to purchase additional ones for overseas shipment.

 

 

[doyler]

Nice metal Mailers. Agree WW2 period.

Have a red one and a blue one

[Quartermaster]

The support of the troops by the "home front" through shipments of what we now call "Care Packages" is a interesting niche in WW2 history and collecting both in what was sent and how it was sent.  The various food items were always welcomed treats along with other bits of home treasured by the personnel overseas.  The lack of knowledge as to what the troops were issued or had available to them led to odd things arriving.  Cigarettes are one example.  The government and other support agencies supplied tobacco material in copious quantities although the lowly dog face GI often complained that the officers and Quartermasters grabbed the favorite brands (like Lucky Strikes and Camels) while they got lesser brands (like Fleetwood and Wings).  Another example is the memories of an ETO soldier who relayed that his family sent him a rather colorful necktie.  Not to despair, he said he wore that tie everyday until the end of the war as a good luck charm.  Apparently it worked!

 

Below is a odd overseas metal shipper - a tin containing 100 Camel cigarettes with mailing label on top.  On the label is the statement "6¢ Postage Here  Delivers this package to any man in America's Armed Forces anywhere."

 

Following are various cardboard "care package" shipping boxes some with patriotic motif.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shart]

Interesting niche indeed. Thank you for adding those fantastic photos. Truly interesting to think of how the whole economy back then redirected for the war effort. 

[sgtdorango]

I just saw one sell

on ebay i think but was much more plain than these👍🏻....mike

[sgtdorango]

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