However, the lighters aren’t the only connection between Zippo and the U.S. military.
-Alemaster
Friday, July 28, 2023
M67 Flamethrower Tank: Vietnam's Zippo
Since March 7, 1994, the United States Department of Defense has prohibited smoking worldwide in all workplaces and vehicles owned by the Pentagon. Moreover, smoking is even prohibited during basic training. Yet, there was a time when smoking and the U.S. military went hand in hand. During the Second World War, Zippo ceased production of lighters for the consumer market and dedicated all production to the U.S. military. Even today, Zippo produces a line of military-themed commemorative lighters.
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I was a US Marine M-67A2 Flame-thrower tank section leader (and tank commander) from Jan. 1968 to Feb. 1969 in-country Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteMy tank ("Crispy Critters) was involved in the Tet '68 insanity in Hue City. We got off one load of napalm before the "brass hats" at MAC-V in Saigon told us that we could not destroy the city in order to save it. PHOOEY!!!!
John, God Bless ya. Welcome home and all that, but you know comms fail? I guess unless throwing flags like Navy guys.
ReplyDeleteJayinOKC
Yep, still got my Zippo 1943 Mark-7 Hun-Torcher pocket flamethrower displayed proudly on the credenza in the home office/command center.
ReplyDelete*Hitches up pants, snaps suspenders and readjusts onion affixed to belt.*
Still fires up a cheap Garcia y Vega from across the room with a simple flick of the wrist. Wife doesn't approve, which is good enough for me, by gum.
*Spits copiously into wastebasket.*
I have 3 Zippos. One is a JCSE Zippo. Two is a 224th JCSS GAANG Zippo. And 3 is the 283rd CBCS GAANG Zippo. All three are in my retirement shadow box.
ReplyDeleteBought my Zippo at the Fort Monmouth PX in '64. After some years, the hinge was wore slap out (as we say in Georgia) and I fixed it with a paper clip. I quit smoking many years ago but a couple of years back I decided to try out the "Lifetime Warranty". It works. It came back with a new hinge and a new burner. I had quit smoking when I went on active duty but I started back up when I found out that on KP smokers got a break. Others, not necessarily.
ReplyDelete"smoking is even prohibited during basic training"
ReplyDeleteGood. "A little suffering is good for the soul" I was told.
As a non-smoker, I copped quite the nauseous nicotine buzz while "volunteer" fire watching during smoke breaks in the smoking compartment. I understand the addiction; detest the drug.