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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Cigarette Smoking
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The governments recent drive to discourage cigarette smoking reminds me of how easy Uncle Sam provided cigarettes during the war. When we were operating in the forward bases they were distributed free. and after the base was developed and had a "greasy spoon" cigarettes were only 5 or 10 cents per pack. There was one brand "Chelsa" which came vaccum packed in Planters peanut cans with the key twist off lid issued free. Nearly everyone on my boat smoked but me. I never developed the habit. It seemed I was always too busy doing other thing with my hands to find time to hold a cigarette. On patrol at night the only place to smoke was in the charthouse since we were not allowed below deck and of course no lights on deck. Smoke was so thick you could almost cut it with a knife. I don't know how the quartermaster and radioman stood it in there. It is no wonder the Veterans hospitals are today filled with respiratory patients. My brother and one of my best friends both died from lung cancer. Both developed the smoking habit in the service.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Mar 19, 2012 - 3:01pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

The government pretends to do all it can to stop people from smoking, yet it takes in billions of dollars each year in inflated taxes, knowing full well that those who are hooked will continue to pay the high prices. I lost my Father at age 60 from lung Cancer, and my Mother In law. I quit smoking 23 years ago today. During WWII it was common to find ads that claimed smoking menthol brand helped with soar throats. I shudder at the thought of how many of our WWII Vets died from lung cancer............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 19, 2012 - 4:15pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

HERE HERE B.J.

B.J.

Posted By: pappy bj | Posted on: Mar 19, 2012 - 7:20pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ed Bondarchuk posted this Thanksgiving 1945 menu from PT base 17 Samar. It surprised me to see cigarettes on it:

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ed%20Bondarchuk/PTBase17MenuBottom.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Mar 20, 2012 - 3:11pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

hi cj i trmrmbrt ehrn we ran outt off cig,s aty treasury and sugar was ratiomerd to one spoon per meal at treasury
my best earl

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Mar 23, 2012 - 8:31pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

Move ahead a few years. Cigarettes were in all C Rations in Vietnam!

Posted By: Robert Orrell | Posted on: Mar 24, 2012 - 1:29am
Total Posts: 80 | Joined: Jul 2, 2008 - 6:18am

Hi Earl: Sure glad to hear from you. Been missing your comments. At Vella La Vella in November ' 43 we had weevilly pancakes for about 30 days straight with no syrup just orange marmalade (I am still not too fond of marmalade) but cigarettes were issued to the guys that wanted them. We did have a great Thanksgiving Dinner though with fresh frozen turkeys brought in by a PC the day before. The cooks prepared a great meal. The Squadron Doctor Mr Bahnson brought out medical alcohol in gallon jugs and poured in with grapefruit juice in the big cooking pots.. We could dip all we wanted with our canteen cups. Captain Smith ordered no patrols for Thanksgiving night. We celebrated! November had been a rough month patroling.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Mar 24, 2012 - 1:30pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

C.J. Thanks so much for sharing your stories with us. I really enjoy hearing them, and I am sure the powers to be tried to make your thanksgiving as best they could. The Holidays without the family must have been a tough thing, so what they gave you guys must have been a wonderful feeling if only for a short time.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 24, 2012 - 5:13pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

I second that, C.J. Always glad when you share a story with us.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Mar 24, 2012 - 10:26pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Frank and Will: On page 57 of Frank's book "PT Boats Behind the Scenes" is a picture of where the Thanksgiving dinner was held. Note that there were no tables we ate wherever we could find a place to sit. Mostly on coconut logs. Not shown in the picture was a chalkboard nailed to a coconut tree where Capt. Smith posted the boat numbers to go on patrol each day. Thanksgiving- "NO PATROLS TONIGHT-HOLIDAY". On Page 73 is a picture of Dr. Bahnson and the Ron 19 Corpsmen. Just reminiscing!

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Mar 25, 2012 - 9:14am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm