A Cigar Salute to a Fallen Comrade

It is with great sadness that I share this message from Major Mitch Fadem:

"I have a sad note to pass on to you. One of our cigar smoking service members, MSgt Randy Guillespe was killed this week in Herat, Afghanistan. I cannot give you any details for security reasons but I will say that he lost his life in the line of duty along with two Afghan National Army soldiers that he was mentoring. This was to be his last tour of duty before he retired. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. All of us are deeply saddened by this. TSgt Santos wrote to me that he will he and the rest of the group will be 'lighting up one' in his memory and smoking in silence while we remember his ultimate sacrifice for his country. It was an honor to have served with him."

For those of you who have been following the updates and acknowledgements received from Major Mitch Fadem in our Cigars For Troops Program, you will know that Thursday night is cigar night at Camp Eggers in Afghanistan. In addition to the troops at Camp Eggers, I invite all cigar smokers everywhere to light one up tonight in memory of MSgt Randy Guillespe.