Entry of the United States into World War II brought an order from former Coca-Cola President Robert Woodruff in 1941 'to see that every man in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for 5 cents, wherever he is and whatever it costs the Company.'

The effort to supply the armed forces with Coke was underway when an urgent cablegram arrived from General Dwight D. Eisenhower's Allied Headquarters in North Africa. Dated June 29, 1943, it requested shipment of materials and equipment for 10 bottling plants, prefaced by the directive that the shipments were not to replace other military cargo. The cablegram also requested a shipment of 3 million bottles filled with Coca-Cola, along with supplies for producing the same

quantity twice monthly.

Within six months, a Company engineer flew to Algiers and opened  the first plant, the forerunner of 64 bottling plants built abroad during  World War II. The plants were set up as close as possible to combat  areas in Europe and the Pacific. More than 5 billion bottles of Coca-Cola  were consumed by military service personnel during WWII, in addition  to countless servings through dispensers and mobile, self-contained  units in battle areas.

Coca-Cola is honoring our armed forces with special patriotic cans and savings. You can also receive a FREE Historic Coca-Cola WWII Reusable Bag. See details below and at your local Commissary, while supplies last.