Naval chow in Korean waters in 1900s Posted : 2021-07-04 11:19 By Robert Neff "An army marches on its stomach," is an old saying that has been attributed to Napoleon ― or, depending on your source, Frederick the Great ― emphasizing how important food is to the military. Anyone who has served in the military is more than aware of the impact the quality of food has on morale and discipline. For the American sailors and marines serving in the Far East in the early 20th century, military chow tended to be less than desirable. On Oct. 23, 1901, Paul Weston, a sailor aboard the U.S.S. Helena gunboat, as it cruised along the Korean Peninsula, described the joy of having his first "sea pie" (a layered meat pie popular with British and American sailors) after several months at sea: