Army Laughs, 1973

Army Laughs was one of many cheap humor publications that now aptly represent the “golden age of low-to-mid-level magazine cartooning.” Army Laughs typically featured art by noteworthy cartoonists; the cover of this issue is by Don Orehek, whose work one can find in Cracked, Playboy, and Saturday Evening Post. The quality was not always at the level found in more well-known publications; these second-rate humor mags often served as a dumping ground for hastily done work –  a quick way to make a buck. The magazine contains as assortment of bawdy comics (the women all have enormous knockers), cornball jokes, and the occasional titillating nudie pin-up photo.

Sgt. Wienke, 1939-45

Happy Veteran’s Day.

My grandfather was a platoon sergeant in the Army during World War II, and was a combat veteran. He served in the Pacific Theater, and used to regale me with tales of his travels in Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, and other small islands.

A Private’s Affair, 1958

G.I. Report from Iran: It’s Cold and Expensive and Strange

Published in The Best from Yank: The Army Weekly, (Armed Services Edition), 1945. Click the pages to enlarge.

SOMEWHERE IN IRAN—It there’s any truth to the old proverb, “Early to bed, early to rise,” Gls in Iran (Persia to you) are going to be mighty healthy, wealthy, and wise. Reason: there’s an 8 o’clock curfew that sends the sidewalks scurrying out of sight, closes the bistros and cabarets, and drives the doglaces to bed.