c/o Postmaster

by Thomas R. St. George

This book is wonderful. It reveals everything about our army in Australia. You don't even have to read between the lines. Corporal St. George (who has been out there a year), discloses every detail from his glamorous departure...to life in the steaming jungle...

No maps, no appendix, no index, and just enough figures to confuse the author...

Where else could you find firsthand word-and-picture information on the climate...the fauna...and the world of little insects?

Where else could you find out what the men are doing to their environment...and vice versa?

We certainly don't know. This book is wonderful.

ASIN: B0007HXWP6

Genres: History, Humor

194 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1943

Reviews

[Liberty · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the exception of some colorful soldier language, it proves to be a most hilarious read. The author writes in a very dry humor from start to finish of his day to day life as an American GI draftee stationed in Australia (the book was written in 1943 so he does not use names of locations specifically). Though rather disparaging (regretfully) of the GI's, he paints a very interesting picture of what happens when two entirely different cultures clash on a friendly basis during times of war (GI's vs Diggers). On the whole a very hilarious read.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 2.75 stars. Humorous but inconsequential memoir of an infantry soldier's experience from the time he left basic training in early 1942 until he boarded a transport plane for deployment, probably to New Guinea (probably a period of 9 months or so). Relates train trip from basic training to port of embarkation, ship voyage across the Pacific to Australia, initial camp somewhere damp and cold in Australia, trip to the north of Australia, roughing it to prepare for combat conditions, and sudden departure to the front. Lots of comic illustrations, lots of comments on Australians, and plenty of comments on the chaotic life in the Army. Enjoyable but not much more. Will donate this to a vacation cabin we use on an old army base . . . seems to fit the situation.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the amusing anecdotes about life in the army, drawings are also well done. Found this book while going through shelves at my grandmother's house. The narrative follows a group of American GIs from the end of boot camp until they first start to see action in the Pacific theater in WWII. Mostly of the humor material comes from talking about living in the "foreign land" of Australia.

Book is a collection of stories and drawings the author sent to the San Francisco Chronicle over the course of several months in 1942. The same were reprinted in LIFE magazine.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fit in really well with some other recent reads/views, including the HBO series The Pacific and Southwest Passage: The Yanks in the Pacific. Man, service in Australia sounds bleak, even when not actively fighting! (The humor helped.)

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat engaging journal with cartoon illustrations of one WWII soldier's experiences in the months leading up to actual combat. This particular GI was sent to Australia to take part in the Pacific theater of the war. Some of it comes off as a kid writing home from summer camp, who is more often than not a little bit whiny about how America is better than Australia in almost every way. The rest of it consists of humorous anecdotes of how the lowly troops survive and make the best of being helpless pawns in the impossibly difficult logistics of wartime. It is lighthearted throughout, until the last few pages when the men are gathered up and are apparently deployed for actual combat, and the reader is left with the uncertainty everyone with a loved one heading to war faces: the knowledge that this person may not come home.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly repetitious and sanitized humor, on the level of readers digest, but fascinating for the concurrent and unintended reporting of life during wartime for an American stationed in Australia at the opening of the Pacific theater of WWII. It understandably lack all places names or anything of military interest since, you know, WAR, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abrupt ending.

[untitled lullaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first a hundred. It was funny and the art was cute. The second hundred I got tired of it and bored. Felt a bit repetitive

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. The Yank soldiers view of getting out of basic, having to sit and wait, then finally being shipped out on a boat, not told where, arrives in Australia and the fun views of how different the world can be.

[Donna]

Book sale find. (1943)