Support Our Troops With Cigars
Tuesday April 24, 2007
Many of America's Finest who are serving overseas in places like
Afghanistan and Iraq greatly appreciate being able to enjoy at least a few small luxuries, such as fine cigars. I have exchanged emails with cigar smoking members of the military, including those who have served multiple tours of duty, and even some older officers who were redeployed because of their special skills. One such officer is Major Mitchell E. Fadem, Ph.D. (age 56), who is a frequent visitor to this website. Mitch was recently deployed to Afghanistan, and would like to be able to distribute cigars to the troops stationed there. Here is a portion of one of Mitch's email messages:
"There is a group here that has cigar night and we all sit around and talk cigars, smoke, and trade. The work is good and the group I work with is good. It just takes a while to get used to going to work wearing 120 lbs of body armor, a helmet and a loaded weapon. Other than that it is fine."
Calling All Cigar Manufacturers and Retailers
If you would like to donate cigars to our troops serving in Afghanistan and/or Iraq, here is the most recent contact information:
Cyle Geertz
CSTC-A, CJ1
APO AE 09356
Click to Email Major Mitch Fadem
We intend to report back on the progress of this effort, and acknowledge all those cigar companies who have contributed. If you are an individual, you can also contribute cigars to the troops. The USPS has special boxes that they will give people to ship items to the deployed military, and the charge will only be $7.00, regardless of weight. Here is more from Major Mitch Fadem:
"Before I left, Larry Monte, owner of Montes Pueblo Pipe Shop presented me with a box of Partagas 160s to share with my new family, a lot of hard working, dedicated, patriotic members of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. We are all working together in Afghanistan to help the people of this country make a better life for themselves. Our mission is a good one and the Afghan people very much appreciate what we are doing here. There are more than 30 different countries represented here working under the International Security Assistance Forces side by side with the Afghan's. Larry Monte's shop, Monte's Pueblo Pipe Shop is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been providing tobacco products to his customers and supporting the troops for more than 30 years. All of us hear send a big thank you to Larry and to you for remembering us and honoring us in this small way."
Click here for updates and more acknowledgements
"There is a group here that has cigar night and we all sit around and talk cigars, smoke, and trade. The work is good and the group I work with is good. It just takes a while to get used to going to work wearing 120 lbs of body armor, a helmet and a loaded weapon. Other than that it is fine."
Calling All Cigar Manufacturers and Retailers
If you would like to donate cigars to our troops serving in Afghanistan and/or Iraq, here is the most recent contact information:
Cyle Geertz
CSTC-A, CJ1
APO AE 09356
Click to Email Major Mitch Fadem
We intend to report back on the progress of this effort, and acknowledge all those cigar companies who have contributed. If you are an individual, you can also contribute cigars to the troops. The USPS has special boxes that they will give people to ship items to the deployed military, and the charge will only be $7.00, regardless of weight. Here is more from Major Mitch Fadem:
"Before I left, Larry Monte, owner of Montes Pueblo Pipe Shop presented me with a box of Partagas 160s to share with my new family, a lot of hard working, dedicated, patriotic members of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. We are all working together in Afghanistan to help the people of this country make a better life for themselves. Our mission is a good one and the Afghan people very much appreciate what we are doing here. There are more than 30 different countries represented here working under the International Security Assistance Forces side by side with the Afghan's. Larry Monte's shop, Monte's Pueblo Pipe Shop is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been providing tobacco products to his customers and supporting the troops for more than 30 years. All of us hear send a big thank you to Larry and to you for remembering us and honoring us in this small way."
Click here for updates and more acknowledgements
Comments
Kudos to you Gary, and Maj. Fadem for posting this story about the often tense and sometimes lonely existence our troops have to contend with in both Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s a tough grind, and unless you’ve been there, it’s hard to relate. To be able to relax with good cigars at the end of the day is one of the few real pleasures they get. Our company has received similar letters over the years, and we have been doing our part by sending cigars to the troops and posting pictures of soldiers smoking cigars on our website. I hope others will pass the baton by contacting Maj. Fadem and doing same.
I was in a cigar shop when on older woman came in with a letter from a
soldier. He was asking her to supply
cigars that were the top of the line.
She was hard pressed to buy those cigars
with her fixed retirment.
Soldiers are all professional. They were not drafted but have collected pay
for their skills that are now being applied.
Gone are the days of getting a K-rations
with free cigarettes. Doctors and hospitals are all pushing for no smoking.
That “FREE CIGAR” could lead to COPD.
The soldier would become disabled; unable to fight and dependent on Disability Retirement that comes from Public Funds…either VA or Social Security.
Should we consider paying for
prostitutes…to keep “the boys” happy?
Bill,
Yes, cigar smoking is just a small respit from the war and no, we are not asking for ‘top-of-the-line” stoggies. Most of what we smoke here is under a buck a stick. As you can imagine, all of our days are 12 to 16 hrs and sometimes more. We do risk our lives everyday to protect the freedoms that you and the older women you wrote about are enjoying. This program is just a suggestion and nothing more. We are not asking anyong to support the political policy that keeps us here. You comment about ‘k-rations’ and ‘prostitutes’ is also a very poor and short-sighted statement. Have you ever eaten an MRE? It is just a ‘k-ration’ in a plastic pouch. Also we have here a large percentage of our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen that are women and many of them are also sitting with the men and enjoying a cigar for that few moments of relaxation and personal pleasure that can be derived from this very simple act. We only trying to take a few moments out of our week to forget about what we are in the middle of.
Bill,
So did you do the right thing and help the old lady out with a donation towards the cigars or did you just stand there and bitch about it? That old lady is more of a man than you will ever be.
I am constantly impressed by how the majority of Americans support their troops despite the increasing unpopularity of the conflict they are involved in. Your attitude, on the other hand, stinks.
If a soldier risks his life day in and day out he more than deserves a decent smoke. What did you do to earn yours today?
A British Army Officer – Iraq
Geff,
I like your comments. As the official US representative for the Cigars for Troops program I would like to get a bunch cigar to you. If you send me your address at my personal email (doctoxin@msn.com) I will make sure you get some nice ones. Thank you for serving along side us.
How do soldiers that would like to receive cigars sign up? We got 5 or 6 people in my platoon that are regular cigar smokers who would really appreciate this sorta thing.
Major Fadem,
I was glad to read that you are able to find some time to relax and recuperate while serving in the war in Iraq. I was especially pleased to know that my Father in Albuquerque is one of your cigar contributors. Thank you for your service and keep up the good work over there.
-Matthew Monte
Hello,
I wanted to say I think cigars for the troops is a great idea. I think people who support the troops “unlike that communist Bill” would like to know what the troops are craving, I hear it all the time “what is it you and your friends would like”. I have a bunch of enlisted crew chiefs here in COB Speicher Tikrit Iraq who would love to have some stogies. People ask all the time, so I think we should let them know what we are craving. Bill is absolutely right, we are all professionals. However; none of us ask for handouts, but unlike bill there are still true patriotic Americans and supporters of freedom and human rights from all over the world who like to show their appreciation to the troops who volunteered to fight for everyones freedom from tyranny and oppressors for little more than the average burger flipper. I would personally like to thank all of my brethren who risk their lives each and everyday for their fellow man!
Mike
You know Bill Arnold has a good name for guys like you (GIRLY MEN),and not only that my son called me 2am from kape town and he is on the MONTEREY for lone from NITZE,and when he fond out that i am sending him 100 cigars for Xmas he was werry happy.So MAJOR Faden whats you guys mailing address ALL BE BACK
Support Our Troops by whatever means necessary. If cigars are asked for then cigars shall be received!
So how do you get into this program. I am currently serving in Iraq on a Transition Team and would love to get some of these Cigars. There are 4 of us on my 11 man team that would really appreciate it! Thanks!
All donations are sent to Camp Eggers at this address:
Cyle Geertz
CSTC-A, CJ1
APO AE 09356
Cigar donations are then distributed to FOB’s from Camp Eggers. Troops can contact Cyle Geertz at Cyle.r.geertz@afghan.swa.army.mil to get on the distribution list.
How do cigars get passed around to troops deployed to Iraq. I’m on a Marine military transition team in Diyala Province, near the Iranian border. We spend some long days with our Iraqi Army brothers, but usually end those days with a good smoke and chai. Is there a sign up location? Thank you all for the support you give. If we receive some smokes out here, we’ll definitely take some pics and send them along with a note to the company.
Anyone in Iraq or Afghanistan looking for stogies should contact Cyle Geertz (Cyle.r.geertz@afghan.swa.army.mil) at Camp Eggers in Kabul. He will get you on his distribution list. I might be headed back that way after the first of the year and if I can, most of my packs will be filled with stogies.
Please visit CigarsForHeroes.com
Cigars for Heroes sends premium, quality cigars to our heroes in uniform serving in Iraq and Afghanistan across all branches.
You will be assigned a unit, rifle company or squadron.