IDS 402 Milestone_2.docx IDS 402 Milestone Two Tobacco Use in the United States Mili

IDS 402 Milestone_2.docx    IDS 402 “ Milestone Two  Tobacco Use in the United States Military  TOBACCO USE IN THE MILITARY THROUGH THE HISTORICAL LENS  Tobacco is part of the United States of America™s history.  Tobacco was first discovered by Europeans during the new world discoveries during the 15th century.  It is even noted that Christopher Columbus was offered dried tobacco leaves as a gift in 1492 (Boston Univeristy Medical Center, 1999).  Tobacco fields dominated Colonial America before and after the American Revolution.  Tobacco also helped finance the Revolutionary War as the colonies used tobacco as collateral for France™s assistance (Boston Univeristy Medical Center, 1999).  It would be fair to say that tobacco helped shape the United States of America.    Even as tobacco has its ties to American history, tobacco has made its fortunes abusing the bodies of the U.S. military. The use of tobacco boomed in servicemembers during WWI.  Cigarettes were labeled and marketed as œsoldier™s smoke (Boston Univeristy Medical Center, 1999).  This targeted advertising continued and intensified during WWII, as cigarettes were shipped by the millionsand offered for free to servicemembers who were deployed, and were even offered as rations along with meals (Conway, 1998).  Servicemembers found tobacco use as a coping mechanism to deal with the high and lows of stress filled battles and periods of unknowing boredom.  Cigarette rations would continue for servicemembers until 1975 when the Department of Defe