Raise your cup to Veterans---coffee-fueled heroism has always been a ‘thing’
In honor of Veteran’s Day, many coffee chains, including
Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, have been giving free coffee and coffee drinks to
Veterans. This is just one way to show respect to these hard-working
individuals, who have served our country faithfully. It may seem like a small
gesture, but ask any military man or woman about coffee, and they will tell you
that coffee is a HUGE deal when it comes being in the service---whether you’re on the battlefield, or in a supportive role.
Coffee is the lifeblood for most demanding professions, from
doctors, to traders, teachers, and construction crews---the day cannot start
properly without a strong infusion of coffee.
Add to this list, soldiers and other military professionals, who drink
coffee, frequently, in large amounts.
Coffee-obsessed Soldiers
NPR aired a segment in 2016, which revealed that coffee was an obsession during the Civil
War. In fact, according to Smithsonian curator, Jim Grinspin, during the Civil
War, letters from soldiers mentioned coffee more than slavery, guns, or President Lincoln. They droned on and on about the
coffee they would have for breakfast. Union
men depended on it for every aspect of combat.
Confederate soldiers weren’t as lucky. When the war started,
Union soldiers closed southern ports, meaning nothing could come in---not even
coffee. Indeed, coffee was a major
competitive advantage for Union soldiers.
From one century to the next, coffee is front and center
Fast forward to the major wars of the 20th
century---WW1 and WW2---and reliance on coffee only increased. During WW1 each
soldier got 36 pounds of coffee, which they brewed with any water they could
get---fresh water ideally, as well as brackish water, rain run-off, and even water
from puddles.
And how about the 21st century? Coffee has been elevated even more in military life. In June, the U.S. Army did an analysis involving
soldiers and coffee-drinking (caffeinated coffee), with the goal of determining
the optimal amount of caffeine for a soldier. The article was published in the
Journal of Sleep Research. The upshot: Researchers found that consuming an optimal amount of
coffee/caffeine can increase soldiers’ level of alertness by 64%.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were no more wars, where
there would be soldiers craving coffee. That vision, however, is not grounded
in reality. War is a persistent part of the human experience, unfortunately. So given that reality, let’s hope that
soldiers are getting the coffee they need, and enjoying every drop of it.
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