The War Hero And The Tootsie Pop
I'm no fan of smoking, to say the least, or the costs it imposes on nonsmokers like me, but I don't think you send men and women off to war and go all nannyish on them. But, that's exactly what the military is about to do. They want to ban smoking for soldiers. Because smoking causes health problems and could even...kill them! Hmmm...perhaps they could also ban roadside bombs, enemies with sniper rifles, and Muslim ladies in burkas with bomb belts on underneath.
If the ban does get put in place, war photography will never be the same (picture Marines sucking popsickles and counting the licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop). And I'm guessing soldiers aren't exactly thrilled about being in close quarters with somebody jonesing like mad for a cigarette.
My feeling? War is no candy store, and if people we send off to fight for this country want to smoke, well, let 'em. Here's a picture of one of them -- that iconic shot by photographer Luis Sinco of soldier James Blake Miller with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Sinco writes for the LA Times:
I was embedded with Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, as it entered Fallouja, an insurgent stronghold in Iraq's Sunni Triangle, on Nov. 8, 2004. We encountered heavy fire almost immediately. We were pinned down all night at a traffic circle, where a 6-inch curb offered the only protection.I hunkered down in the gutter that endless night, praying for daylight, trying hard to make myself small. A cold rain came down. I cursed the Marines' illumination flares that wafted slowly earthward, making us wait an eternity for darkness to return.
At dawn, the gunfire and explosions subsided. A white phosphorus artillery round burst overhead, showering blazing-hot tendrils. We came across three insurgents lying in the street, two of them dead, their blood mixing with rainwater.
The third, a wiry Arab youth, tried to mouth a few words. All I could think was: "Buddy, you're already dead."
We rounded a corner and again came under heavy fire, forcing us to scramble for cover. I ran behind a Marine as we crossed the street, the bullets ricocheting at our feet.
Gunfire poured down, and it seemed incredible that no one was hit. A pair of tanks rumbled down the road to shield us. The Marines kicked open the door of a house, and we all piled in.
Miller and other Marines took positions on the rooftop; I set up my satellite phone to transmit photos. But as I worked downstairs in the kitchen, a deep rumble almost blew the room apart.
Two cannon rounds had slammed into a nearby house. Miller, the platoon's radioman, had called in the tanks, pinpointed the targets and shouted "Fire!"
I ran to the roof and saw smoldering ruins across a large vacant lot. Beneath a heap of bricks, men lay dead or dying. I sat down and collected my wits. Miller propped himself against a wall and lighted his cigarette. I transmitted the picture that night. Power in Fallouja had been cut in advance of the assault, forcing me to be judicious with my batteries. I considered not even sending Miller's picture, thinking my editors would prefer images of fierce combat.
The photo of Miller was the last of 11 that I sent that day.
Let me guess... The Veteran office noted a spike of lung cancer lately and they want to curb the cost of their health coverage.
This left me with this dreaded thought on my mind; the next Marine to snap and start firing in a crowd might just be over-stressed due to his attempt to stop smoking. What will cost more, then?
Toubrouk at July 16, 2009 4:52 AM
The way I see it -- make it punishable offense to be smoking in military and guys will finally have a way to get out without going to Leavenworth.
It will generally still be an honorable discharge.
Jim P. at July 16, 2009 5:45 AM
We have an all voluntary Army, so you can choose to go to war for your country and get shot at but you can't have a cigarette?
Nanny state anyone!
David M. at July 16, 2009 6:12 AM
I read on CNN that the Pentagon announced that they will not be banning smoking in combat zones. Apparently cigarettes will be banned on bases and stateside, but by some miracle cartons will be dropped like relief packages after engaging in heavy artillery fire?
Kristen at July 16, 2009 6:22 AM
Amy, you're thinking exactly the same thing I thought when I heard about this. It's bad enough that young guys who are getting shot at can't even legally buy a drink when they come back Stateside. I say that if you're old enough to die for your country, you're old enough to drink a frickin' beer.
Cousin Dave at July 16, 2009 6:36 AM
And Kristen: AFAIK, all military bases in the U.S. banned smoking years ago. I know that's true at the base where I live.
Cousin Dave at July 16, 2009 6:37 AM
There go the Democrats again, social-engineering the military. As a soldier you can get killed at 18, but can't drink a beer or soon, smoke a cigarette. You can vote, but Democrats will do their best to make sure your absentee ballots aren't counted, since you probably voted for a Republican...
Robert at July 16, 2009 7:02 AM
Very moving story about the marine in the photo at the link. What these young men go through in war is unimaginable, and for many the nightmare only continues when they get home. Alcohol and cigarettes are the very, very least we can allow them...
Debra at July 16, 2009 7:59 AM
What do they do about the dangers of second-hand smoke from grenades and shells?
Andrew_M_Garland at July 16, 2009 8:03 AM
more evidence of "change" run amok. Isn't it bad enough we are spending our great great great granchildren's money? My god, when will this silliness in social engineering stop and government shrink back to doing the bare minimum in invading our freedoms. Let the f'ing kids who volunteer to do this country's dirty work have a smoke, a hooker, and a beer whenever they want
ron at July 16, 2009 8:12 AM
Amen, brother.
As to this: when will this silliness in social engineering stop and government shrink back to doing the bare minimum in invading our freedoms, your guess is as good as anyone else's. My guess is, it's gone too far, and until we get someone like you or me into a higher office, it's likely to continue. Perish the thought.
Flynne at July 16, 2009 8:26 AM
WoooWoooo All aboard the Freedom Train!!!
Let's legalize the pot too
*shreech*
"That's different."
Beer & cigarettes are a personal freedom. Pot is, you know, a drug & stuff.
~~~~
Great article at the link with the photo. Poor guy!
"He started to realize he wasn't the only one traumatized by war.
"There's a word for it around here," Jessica said. "It's called 'vets.' "
MeganNJ at July 16, 2009 11:20 AM
Is it just me, or does the cigarette in the photo completely look like it was Photoshopped in?
tekende at July 16, 2009 11:40 AM
"There go the Democrats again, social-engineering the military. "
It wasn't the Democrats that decided anything even the least bit racy couldn't be sold in the PX. I don't know who they thought might be offended, or why that woudl matter.
It wasn't the Democrats that hiked the prices in the package stroes on post/base.
The Democrats and the Republicans have nothing to do with this. Thi is bureaucrats in DOD who want to "maximize sharehodler value" and hold down costs, and who wnat a PR-friendly force.
COL Hackworth had the right idea when he opened a whorehouse in theatre, where he could control the madical care for the women. His guys were getting the clap and worse all the time.
Jim at July 16, 2009 12:56 PM
The military should start taking care of the soldiers that come home with PTS and brain trauma. I met a young soldier(I'm only 41 but it made me sick how he looked like a little boy) at Walter Reed who came from my area. He lost both legs and had severe injuries to his arm. God knows what emotional trauma he'll be dealing with. This poor guy came home and his parents house was not equipped for handicaps. The government did not pay for his house to be re-modelled for the things that he needs to live. It was fundraisers in the community and local contractors who made his home accessible and livable. Instead of worrying about smoking, when is the government going to worry about these young soldiers coming home to a life that needs tremendous adjustment? When will they get the care that they need? I'm not a smoker, but far be it for me to tell some man or woman who escaped a road-side bomb or who lost a member of their platoon or who may be just dealing with the stress of being in a war zone that they cannot light up. I sent many care packages to Iraq and have no problem admitting that a Hustler or Playboy may have slipped through along with some cigars and cigarettes. These soldiers were so grateful to receive anything and some seemed so lonely and desperate for someone who cared. Smoking a cigarette is the least of their problems!
Kristen at July 16, 2009 2:57 PM
Reading that whole story made me tear up. I don't know a single one of my friends that have gone over that have come back the same. One out because he took a bullet to the hip another to the head, spent almost a year just in Germany just learning how to walk again, another who got discharged because she kept waking up screaming from her nightmares. Yet the most kick ass girl I know just made second lieutenant and is going back again, because she honestly believes in her job. I had to sign her out to get off base for the 4th of July. Literally, they wouldn't let this highly trained officer out into town without me, a complete stranger to them, signing her out.
We already don’t let them sleep with who they want, or kick them out if they do sleep with someone on base (of either sex). We’re already pulling them away from their friends and family, and sticking them out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do expect be hot, bored, and occasionally, blown up. What the hell, now some we’re taking away cigarettes? I understand the health issue, but really, if you’re going to take that away at least let them have all the sex they want. Cheaper than cigarettes, and heart healthy too (I love this story about British sex ed and healthy orgasms: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/5806691/NHS-tells-school-children-of-their-right-to-an-orgasm-a-day.html).
Stacy at July 16, 2009 7:36 PM
pretty freakin pathetic.
Feebie at July 16, 2009 8:36 PM
Kristen,
Your comment ought to be made into a form letter for a letter campaign to Department of the Army. It is absolutely excellent.
"I sent many care packages to Iraq and have no problem admitting that a Hustler or Playboy may have slipped through along with some cigars and cigarettes. "
During Gulf I the wives were sending Vicotria's Secrets to their husbands. They chose that in particular because it was wrapped. The Saudis don't allow porn into the country at any time, but they also refused to tear into mail going to the Coalition troops. They knew very well what was going on and winked at it. Everybody was in on the game.
Jim at July 17, 2009 7:31 AM
For the care packages that I would send friends in basic training I'd use pages torn from mags like Hustler or Playboy to stuff and pad my boxes. I mean, it's a hard time for them, and everyone know boobies make things better.
Stacy at July 17, 2009 12:31 PM
Jim, funny thing is I'm such a nerdy rule follower that I kept waiting for the FBI to show up at my house and arrest me for sending illegal items to Iraq. In all seriousness though, I started sending them to a troop I adopted after a very close friend of mine committed suicide over there. The suicide rate at one point was higher than the death in combat rate, but they worry about smoking!
Kristen at July 17, 2009 5:03 PM
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