Radio Host Donates Smokes for Soldiers

fox ^ | 12-10-04

[LouAvul]

SKOKIE, ILL. — Radio host Mike North (search) took his show on the road for what he believed was a good cause: Collecting cigarettes for soldiers overseas.

North urged his listeners in Skokie, Ill., to donate cigarettes to be sent to the troops. He called the campaign “Smokes for Soldiers” (search) and said he got the idea from the picture of James Miller (search), the 20-year-old Marine in combat in Iraq photographed with a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth.

“His picture was plastered all over the newspapers and I started reading … and he says, ‘I’m just doing what’s supposed to be done, but guess what? There’s a shortage of cigarettes out here,’” North said.

The American Lung Association (search) opposes the “Smokes for Soldiers” drive, saying troops should be sent care packages that don’t kill, and distributed a memo from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (search) in which he advised that tobacco should be avoided because it impacts troop readiness.

“Tobacco use presents an immediate and real danger for our soldiers who are on the lines today,” said Joel Africk of the American Lung Association. More than 400,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related illnesses.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Now that's multi-tasking!

[Gabz]

Damn liberals--trying to run everybody ELSE'S lives!

They ain't gonna run mine - and I seriously don't think those men in Iraq give a rat's behind what they have to say - as they are busting their butts to protect the rights of those saying it.

[annyokie]

LOL! Don't you love it!

[benjaminjjones]

My response to the pukes that were protesting the sending of ciggies would be for them to donate nicotine patches and gum.

I'm back on the ciggies (want to quit again, just so I can take up running again), so I know it's great to take a break and relax with a ciggie, but in a prolonged combat situation you can do that.

A nic patch or chewing the gum both helps with the jitters and can help with alertness.

[SheLion]

[steveo]

When I was a teen steveo I remember being able to buy surplus rations that contained a four pack of smokes. I agree that it's probably best that they wouldn't smoke but I'd never deny them if they wanted to.

[annyokie]

Right on!

I have to cook supper, bbl!

[vpintheak]

Then they would have a rebellion on their hands! :)

[Gabz]

I agree that it's probably best that they wouldn't smoke but I'd never deny them if they wanted to.

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!

[albee]

Caption to picture in post #9:

If I hear you say one more time how cigarette smoke offends you, I'LL BLOW YOUR DAMNED HEAD OFF YOUR SHOULDERS!!!"

[benjaminjjones]

combat situation you can do that

can=can't

[SF Republican]

I am proud to be a smokie from skokie

[SheLion]

 

[geopyg]

"A nic patch or chewing the gum both helps with the jitters and can help with alertness."

The smokes keeping you alert are what came to my mind.

[exnavychick]

You'd better believe it.


The smoking lamp is LIT, ladies and gents!

[noutopia]

There were no MREs in the 70s they were C-rats back then and they had smokes.

[SheLion]

I have hundreds of pictures of hubs in VN smoking with his mates. That and the cans of beer they got at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The horror!

You would think this article would wake the non smoking general public up. Our troops over there fighting for their lives, yet they still can't smoke? These anti's are insane.

[jimfree]

As a recovering smoker I would never buy or sell cigarettes to anyone. For James Miller and his kind I would make an exception.

[SheLion]

It struck me about the same, Miss Lion.

Hi there, Argh!! How are you?

Well, it's pretty asinine that the ALA speaks out against our soldiers aren't supposed to have a cigarette in the fighting hell hole of war.

They have really reached another low point IMHO.

[jwalsh07]

We used to get'em in our C-Rats.

I've sent Marlboros and boxes of Black and Mild cigars in the packages we've sent over there. No complaints yet. :-}