Seventy-five years ago today, the Milwaukee Journal and its subscribers were doing their part to win the war by sending cigarettes to the fighting men overseas. The October 19, 1943, issue of the paper carried this announcement that the following day’s paper would include an envelope taking up a collection.  Readers were to put some money in the envelope, and give it to their paper boy along with the normal collection.

The newspaper would buy cigarettes for the fighting men at a nickel a pack, and send them overseas in cooperation with the War Department.  A sticker on each pack would establish that the generosity of well-wishing Milwaukeeans made the gift of smokes possible.