Need some help in Afghanistan

[gene]

Visited Edwin in Kabul, Afghanistan at the Tiki Hut several days ago and he turned me to Club Stogie for help. We're desperate and have a few remaining smokes left for our group of Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers here in Paktika province (on the Pakistan border) and need a fresh supply of everything from cigars to humidors to cutters. Using a 50 cal ammo can for a humidor right now and, although it does hold in the humidity, the aroma of 50 cal rounds doesn't enhance the flavor at all. We're not looking for great cigars, just something to keep us billowing smoke til we come home. There are 20 dedicated smokers in the group and another 20 half timers that brave the mud and mortars and meet 2-3 times a week around the burn pit to enjoy the aroma of whatever is left on-hand. Hopefully this will help in any estimation of our needs. If someone could help it would be greatly appreciated.
Reply for further shipping info.

[SirGreenface]

there is a cigars for our troops thread at the top.

maybe you should bring this up there?

Hope that the morale is still high over there. Even though all of these democrats are going crazy, i think this war has potential to massivly change the world for the positive. We gotta stick to it! and thanks to the troops for stickin to it!

[Wang Lung]

Are you on anysoldier.com?

[RJT]

Hmmm

[MeNimbus]

Originally Posted by SirGreenface

there is a cigars for our troops thread at the top.

Please visit the the thread Cigars for the Troops Come home safe!

[mtb996]

I second the "cigars for the troops" thread recommendation. There are a lot of us here who can help keep you smoking!

Thanks for all your hard work and come home safe!

[pistol]

I'm all about helping out the troops (seeing as I am one); I still send lots of stuff over to my old Battalion in Iraq, and please don't take this the wrong way. However, this is starting to verge on poor form in my opinion, coming to a forum and asking for something with your first post isn't right. I was there 3 years ago now and we ordered our own cigars from Thompsons and JR all the time. No one sent us CHIT, and we still smoked at least 3 times a week. Again, I'm all about helping out the boys, but if you guys are so desperate, order some yourselves until people from the forum can send some your way. I don't buy the "unless you send us some, noone will smoke" plea though... That being said, stay safe and keep up the fire...
*edit- That may have come off too harsh. Instead of asking for stuff with your first post, introduce yourself and join in on the goings ons of Clubstogie. Trust me, when people find out you are a soldier in Afghaniland, they will send you more chit than you can handle... I'm just seeing a lot of guys hop on the forum saying, "hey, I'm deployed, send me chit." BTW, let's be honest here (and I'm not talking about you, I don't know you), but there are lots of guys over there that are living large in LOG-i-land, or are FOBettes (guys that never leave the Forward Operating Base)- their biggest threat is getting a hangnail or developing carpal tunnel from all the paper they are pushing... I want to know something about the guys that I send stuff too because I want the bullet sponges to get my cigars, not the staff officers... Tell us more about yourself, who you are, what your job is, make friends!

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by gene

Visited Edwin in Kabul, Afghanistan at the Tiki Hut several days ago and he turned me to Club Stogie for help. We're desperate and have a few remaining smokes left for our group of Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers here in Paktika province (on the Pakistan border) and need a fresh supply of everything from cigars to humidors to cutters. Using a 50 cal ammo can for a humidor right now and, although it does hold in the humidity, the aroma of 50 cal rounds doesn't enhance the flavor at all. We're not looking for great cigars, just something to keep us billowing smoke til we come home. There are 20 dedicated smokers in the group and another 20 half timers that brave the mud and mortars and meet 2-3 times a week around the burn pit to enjoy the aroma of whatever is left on-hand. Hopefully this will help in any estimation of our needs. If someone could help it would be greatly appreciated.
Reply for further shipping info.

Please post your APO address.

[Miami]

Originally Posted by RJT

Hmmm

Me too.

I'm wondering if this would be a send-out that would be better handled by Edwin, with CS members sending to Edwin, and letting him divide out some for needy troops as he determines. Especially since he is on-site, and would be a better judge of who and where to distribute to (assuming Edwin would have the time, and assuming he has enough cigars and supplies (that would be our part!) to handle the requests he sees that are needed. This might be the best way to handle gene's request to insure the cigars go where they should be going.

[Boston_Dude05]

Thanks for the guidance Pistol. Good to hear from a vet on this one.

[Edwin]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

I'm wondering if this would be a send-out that would be better handled by Edwin, with CS members sending to Edwin, and letting him divide out some for needy troops as he determines. Especially since he is on-site, and would be a better judge of who and where to distribute to (assuming Edwin would have the time, and assuming he has enough cigars and supplies (that would be our part!) to handle the requests he sees that are needed. This might be the best way to handle gene's request to insure the cigars go where they should be going.

I met Gene at the tiki hut on his way out to the outer limits of this country. I told him of the generosity of the CS gang and let him know where the cigars I gave him came from. These guys are out in the middle of nowhere in harms way every day. I have done my best the last 10 months distrubuting cigars from CS to all the regional corps around this country, hell, I have hand delivered most of them. That being said, I will continue to 'push' the generosiity of the CS members to as many of our warriors I can. I will continue to supply Gene and his gang as much as I can, and as often as I can, just as we have to all the troops down range. I want to thank everyone again for supporting the troops and supporting this task force and the tiki hut. The cigars are a break that can never truly be understood. Thank you!!!

mike (edwin)

[n3uka]

Edwin, thanks for the info. There is never a problem sending
to our beloved troops. Maybe in future you could let us know
some deserving botl to send to and help everyone out.
It might save some confusion from who needs to who just wants.

I have some packages going out this week. If someone pms
his addy I can get one to him too.

[kansashat]

Gene seems like a very straightforward guy........he keeps it short & to the point, with an economy of words......probably an indicator of his situation.

Here is the addie:

PRT Sharana
Gene Chupp
FOB Rushmore #2/203 ETT
APO AE 09354

[papajohn67]

Sort of late input but one of the problems is as word spreads and requests from individuals or small units come in this thing has started to snowball. Support among CS members has been great but their is a limit and also a breaking point when the pot starts to run on empty and the last thing I would want to see is for those of us who have been providing cigars, gathering donations, shipping stuff to end up wearing out our welcome on Club Stogie. If Edwin can handle the parceling out of sticks to different units then it seems IMHO to be the best way to handle it. Afterall he's on the scene.

Until recently I've only sent stuff to the 101st and left it up to the Division Command Sgt Major to see that they go to the right people. The other day I sent stuff off to a specific individual and since I made that commitment I will continue to send sticks to him and his buddies if requested. but situations like the Tiki Hut as well as a reliable contact with the 101st or other outfits seem to be the best way to go unless the sender really knows for sure where they and who they are sending sticks too.

I'm not waving my crying towel here or looking for either help or sympathy but this thing is a labor of love, easy to burn yourself out on, damn expensive and very time consuming and we owe it to the BOTL's who have donated sticks for the troops to do our damnest to see that they go to the right people. I may sound jaded but while in Vietnam I saw to much stuff that was intended for the guys humping their rucks out in the bush being cherry-picked by REMF's and the left-overs being sent our way.

Just my opinion, so much for my .