When you hear the word “Tootsie Roll,” you most likely think of the small, chewy, log-shaped piece of chocolate-flavored sweetness wrapped in wax paper. It’s the candy that's always hiding at the bottom of your kids’ Halloween bag, and the one that makes an annual appearance at every summer parade. Today, the Tootsie Roll is so iconic that February 23rd has been named National Tootsie Roll Day.

However, if you jump back in time to the Korean War, you’ll find that this little chocolate treat did something no one could have ever predicted — it saved countless lives on the battlefield.

It All Began In the Icy Mountains of North Korea

In November of 1950, the 15,000-man First Marine Division was trapped in an area called the Chosin Reservoir, a part of the icy mountains of North Korea.

They were surrounded by 120,000 Chinese soldiers who had joined the war unexpectedly, and they launched a surprise attack. The Marines were caught off guard.

The land was rough, and the cold was almost impossible to bear. They were trapped in temperatures dropping to -30°F, with weapons jammed, engines frozen, and no food to eat.

The U.S. Marines were also running low on supplies, so everything was in short supply. Their only chance for survival was to call for supplies through an airdrop.

So, they sent out a radio message asking for mortar shells, which are explosives fired from small launchers. They couldn’t actually say “mortar shells,” so they used the code word: Tootsie Rolls.

As strange and funny as it may seem, this incident became known as one of the most remarkable survival stories in American military history.

The Tootsie Roll Airdrop Saved the Lives of Marines

Back at the supply base, the people who received the radio message didn’t think that “Tootsie Rolls” was a code. They actually took the word literally. So, they ended up packing a lot of Tootsie Roll candies into supply boxes, and loaded them onto planes.

Instead of the badly needed ammunition, parachutes attached to boxes of candy rained down over the snowy battlefield. At first, the Marines were confused because when they went to open the boxes, they found thousands of Tootsie Rolls.

Of course, they would be confused. After all, why would Tootsie Rolls be sent to a battlefield?

As luck would have it, the Tootsie Roll airdrop actually was a blessing. You see, in freezing weather, most food becomes impossible to eat. But not Tootsie Rolls.

The Marines found that the longer they kept the candy in their mouths and chewed them, the softer they became. They quickly learned that they could use warmed Tootsie Rolls for more than just food, they were actually a repair tool.

They found that if they pressed one Tootsie Roll against a leaking pipe, molded it into the shape of a hole, and let it freeze with the icy air, it would harden like glue.

So, they started using the candies to patch vehicles, block fuel leaks, and repair equipment that would most likely be left behind. While it was not perfect, the candies were a lifesaver.

In addition to the candy’s magical sealing ability, the Tootsie Rolls provided Marines with a small burst of calories and sugar, which when you're freezing, tired, and starving, can make a big difference.

The Marines also found that they could carry them in their pockets and eat them while hiding. Thus, the chocolate-flavored candy became extremely valuable.

Tootsie Rolls

Once the Marines were able to mostly repair what they needed, they began one of the most heroic marches in American military history.

For over 17 days, they walked through the freezing mountains, completing a mission known as the “Chosin Breakout.”

Over two weeks of ongoing fighting, the 15,000-man division, known as "The Chosin Few," had 3,000 killed in action, 6,000 wounded, and thousands who experienced severe frostbite.

The Marines eventually fought their way out of the "Frozen Chosin," leaving behind a trail of Tootsie Roll wrappers. These wrappers became such a significant symbol of their survival that today, a Tootsie Roll wrapper is featured in the Korean War "Chosin Few" display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

The Tootsie Rolls Were More Than Just a Candy, They Were a Lifeline

After the war, the story of the Tootsie Roll airdrop spread widely. It was shared at reunions and even passed down to subsequent generations of military families.

It’s really nice to know that a candy can mean something more, as Tootsie Rolls quickly became a symbol of hope for the U.S. Marine troops during the war.

The Tootsie Roll airdrop is a powerful reminder that survival isn’t always about having the strongest weapon. Sometimes, it’s also about using what you have, even if it’s just a piece of chocolate-flavored candy. So, the next time you see a Tootsie Roll, we hope that you remember the hope of the Marines at Chosin Reservoir.

Read next:

• Vanilla or Chocolate? The WWII Ice Cream Ship Delivered Sweets at Sea
• The Major Richard Star Act Could Help 50,000 Vets Receive Full Pay & Disability Benefits
• Combat Confections: Chocolate Bars, M&M's, and More

Sources:

• How Tootsie Rolls Saved the Troops
• Tootsie Rolls Saved the Marines in Korea
• Tootsie Rolls Saved American Marines During Korean War?