The Armed Forces Recipes Service Cards Collection contains three materials related to the Armed Forces Recipes Service Cards. There are around 1000 cards, and each card contains a recipe to feed 100 people. The cards provide insight into food preparation and nutrition for the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War era. Prior to 1969, the four main military branches published their own editions of recipe cards. In 1969, they consolidated the recipe cards into the Armed Forces Recipes Cards, which serviced all four branches at once.

The collection contains three editions of recipe cards. The first edition is from 1963 for the Navy-Marine Corps Recipe Service. The second is a 1972 index of recipe of cards, but it does not contain recipes. All three editions are incomplete and do not contain all cards.The third is the 1972 edition of recipe cards for the Armed Forces Recipes Service. The editions are categorized by the types of recipes, and each category includes a cartoon drawing on the first page and then an index of the recipes in the category. After the category's index, the recipes are found in order. Recipe categories include: General Information, Meat, Fish, Poultry, Cheese and Eggs, Potatoes and Potato Substitutes, Sauces, Gravies, and Dressings, Vegetables, Salads, Salad Dressings and Relishes, Cakes, Fillings and Frostings, Cookies, Pastry and Pies, Puddings and Other Desserts, Desserts (Sauces and Toppings), Breads and Sweet Doughs, Glazes, Toppings, Sandwiches, Soups, Cereals and Paste Products, Appetizers, and Beverages.

The recipe cards were owned by Robert "Bob" G. Huerta of the U.S. Navy. On the back of the information page for the 1969 edition, Huerta's business card is taped on the card and includes writing on the back. The card explains that he "served aboard five navy ships -- Naval Destroyer Base San Diego 1946-1966. Enjoy these receipe's. Don't be scared to add your touch. Good luck. Bob G. Huerta."

The information card for the 1963 edition explains that the cards have "been reviewed and approved and ... issued for the purpose of standardizing and improving food prepared for and served in the Navy and Marine Corps genderal messes." The recipes service tested and approved recipes to meet the nutritional values and amounts of people to feed. The 1972 edition included information that the "recipe service marks another industry-military joint cooperative efforts to provide military food service personnel with the most advanced concepts and techniques in food prepartion and service."

Folder 1 contains the recipe cards for the 1963 edition of the Navy-Marine Corps Recipe Service. Folder 2 contains the index of recipes booklet for the 1972 Armed Forces Recipes Cards. Folder 3 contains the recipe cards for the 1972 Armed Forces Recipes.