Customer Reviews

NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read this book while serving in the Air Force and while serving a temporary duty assignment in Saudi Arabia. On more than one occasion I was amused to see an NCO's reaction to the book I was reading.

Having been a member of the only military fighting force in the world that isn't too proud to make fun of itself, this book is easily one of the most memorable pieces of literature I had the pleasure of coming across during my enlistment. Will Stockdale, backwoods redneck/draftee, is the Huckleberry Finn (with a bit of Forrest Gump mixed in) of modern military fiction. One of the funniest dialogue exchanges occurs when Will and his pal Ben - a short bespectacled gent whose chief ambition (initially) is to bust into infantry - are talking about how horrible it would be if they got selected to go into the Air Force.

"...Will, do you know what they call men in the Air Force?"
"No, I don't think I heered say."
"They call 'em...airmen. By dog, Will, don't you see? How'd you like to be called an airman?"
"By God, I just don't think I'd stand for it..."

But Will and Ben's ambitions later tend to change when considering (among other things) the many decorations one may receive in the Air Force and how easily they can be acquired. It's especially humorous when Ben points out,

"I believe you stand just about as good a chance of getting [medals] in the Air Force as any place...Why, today, you can get a medal by just not doing anything wrong..."

It was at this point that I began to wonder in the other American military branches - or those of our allies - award their brave men and women the Good Conduct Medal (the recipient earns this by not getting demoted); the Longevity Medal (serve for a minimum of four years); and other awards and honors just for showing up. NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS - written by a former officer of the U.S. Army Air Corps - made it clear that some things in our military are just downright hilarious if you can look at them from the right perspective.

Even if you don't have the military experience, this short, lighthearted, and reader-friendly book is sure to please as it brings to mind reminders of FORREST GUMP, GOMER PYLE, and...oh yeah...NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS (starring Andy Griffith as Will Stockdale).

I don't remember when I first read this book, but I do remember laughing out loud during certain parts (something I rarely ever do!) If you've seen the movie starring Andy Griffith you have the basic idea as to what it's about, but the book adds a lot of little things which I found immensely amusing. Needless to say, it's not complimentary to the military, but it's more of an attack on the bureaucracy surrounding the armed forces than it is on anything else. A very funny book!

You WILL laugh out loud. Will Stockdale vs. the U.S. Army. Not a fair fight in this hilarious book. Naive hillbilly, reduces military to shambles. Drafted into the army and meets up with foreign-to-him culture, this story chronicles the military's efforts to round him up, put him through boot camp, test him psychologically, send him on suicide mission, etc. He lives through hazing, bureaucratic bungling, bombs and many other riotous adventures. Much, much funnier than the movie.

I first read the book because I had seen a play based on it, and it (the play) had made no sense. However, the topic of the book sounded good, so I wanted to find out more. So I picked up one of the FUNNIEST books I have ever read. If anyone is interested in WWII, or any aspect of war, and want some comedy, this is the book for you.

When I first read this book in 1955 I laughed so hard I cried. It is still a wonderful and wonderfully crazy story. The movie was good, but as is so often the case, did not do the book justice.

I thought this was the book but it wasnt it was the script from the play. So if that is what you want then order this but dont expect a nice long book to read. This has what to do on stage and when to dim the lights and curtain and tells you about how to do the stage. It also has the play itself with instructions to the actors.

I thought it was the book I have heard about but it isnt. I wish I knew ahead of time and just waited for the movie since it will be word for word. I guess you could use this book to talk with the movie. But this isnt the original book!