"𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗚𝗢𝗧 '𝗘𝗠, 𝗦𝗠𝗢𝗞𝗘 '𝗘𝗠!". . . 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝗠𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗪𝗔𝗥 𝗜

 submitted by Rene Torres

 "LIGHT THEM UP!" SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE WITHOUT A SMOKE!

Smoking in the United States military has been observed through other wars, but close association with the U.S military started in WW I as tobacco companies began to target military personnel through the distribution of cigarettes in rations.

It was during that first world conflict that the local newspaper started the “Brownsville Herald Tobacco Fund,” a project supported by the U.S. government with arrangements to partner with the American Tobacco Company, a relationship that allowed companies to sell 45 cents worth of tobacco for 25 cents.

Donations in Brownsville were dropped off at the following businesses: Eagle Pharmacy, Harry’s Cigar Store, the Merchant Bank, Dreamland Theater, Rutledge Jewelry Store, Putegnat Pharmacy, Lawrence Olmstead, Willman Pharmacy, Jno. E. Putegnat, Texas Confectionery, Bollack Department Store and Olympia Confectionery.

A final declaration by the Herald read as follows:

“Do you know what it means to a soldier, at the end of a hard day’s work, to be without a smoke? Remember how often at home you were stranded, but think of your soldier friend at the front and what a “smoke” means to him. Thousands of our boys are

somewhere in France without their favorite smoke. Won’t you contribute 25 cents to your provide your soldier friend a week’s supply of tobacco?”

A returned post card was enclosed in each package so that every contributor would receive a personal acknowledgement of his gift. A last reminder by the daily newspaper: “Contribute! Organize your clubs, your church, your town, your office, your factory and give the boys a little comfort, their favorite smoke!"