The U.S. military and Coca-Cola go way back

Hayley Hershman and Kai Ryssdal Oct 3, 2024
Heard on:
HTML EMBED:
COPY
Senior archeologist Susan Underbrink shows "Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal her collection of Coca-Cola bottles uncovered around Kwajalein. Hayley Hershman/Marketplace

The U.S. military and Coca-Cola go way back

Hayley Hershman and Kai Ryssdal Oct 3, 2024
Heard on:
Senior archeologist Susan Underbrink shows "Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal her collection of Coca-Cola bottles uncovered around Kwajalein. Hayley Hershman/Marketplace
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Far out in the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and Australia, is the Kwajalein atoll. Part of the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein is home to an important U.S. military base where missiles are tested.

For the latest season of Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast, “How We Survive,” host Kai Ryssdal trekked across the Pacific to understand how climate change is impacting this vulnerable part of the world as well as U.S. national security.

In their reporting, the team visited with Susan Underbrink, senior archeologist on Kwajalein. Underbrink has uncovered everything from human remains from World War II to hundreds of Coca-Cola bottles.

“The president or CEO of Coca-Cola, he was a smart man,” Underbrink said. “He made a deal with [President Franklin Roosevelt], said if you don’t ration my sugar, I will guarantee that soldiers anywhere in the world can get a Coke for 5 cents.”

Underbrink said that during construction on a pier two years ago, more Coke bottles were uncovered. “I found 150 Coke bottles and one Pepsi,” she said. “That just shows you how Coke got to be so popular.”

Use the media player above to hear this story. And listen and subscribe to “How We Survive” wherever you get your podcasts.

Ryssdal seems to be putting a question to Bob the skeleton during a visit to Kwajalein’s archeology office. (Caitlin Esch/Marketplace)

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.