This Ain't Hell... But You Can See It From Here! A Gulf War Sketchbook [Paperback]

Barry McWilliams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1992

During Operation Desert Storm hundreds of journalists reported from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, covering every troop movement and missile attack. Barry McWilliams was there also, but as the only professional cartoonist to tour the Gulf War theater, his approach was a bit different. Here is his collection of tall tales and humorous stories, illustrated with 115 witty drawings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hilarious hell...put Bill Mauldin 50 years forward in time from WWII to the Persian Gulf and you have Barry McWilliams." -- Ian Thompson Daily Republic, Fairfield CN, March 23, 1992

"'This Ain't Hell...' will be welcomed by anyone with an appetite for the humorous details...the real picture of the Gulf War." -- Rhett B. White North Carolina State Magazine, August 1992

"A personal look at the men and women whose lives were on the line...stories in McWilliams' book range from the ridiculous and raunchy to patriotic tearjerkers." -- Chris Kidder,Virginia Pilot, Norfolk VA, February 24, 1992

"A wonderful job of touching almost every aspect of life during Desert Storm." -- Lt. Gen. W.E. Boomer, U.S.M.C. Quantico VA, February 10, 1992

"Funny, though sometimes irreverent, narrative. Interservice rivalry, Saddam-bashing, and satirical views on life as a GI in Saudi Arabia are some of the elements of this entertaining and painlessly informative book." -- Proceedings June, 1992

"I laughed and I cried as I read and remembered." -- SSgt Susan Mustatia, U.S. Army National Guard Grand Marais MI, May 21, 1992

"Real-life, humorous, poignant tales of camaraderie and accomplishment, the numerous jokes and pranks that made desert life bearable." -- Andrew Kersey Navy Times, Alexandria VA, February 17, 1992

"Some absolutely scathing cartoons and a host of uproarious stories...will strike a responsive chord with anyone who has sweated in fatigues." -- Harry Crumpacker Tampa Tribune, April 26, 1992

"Sure lines, strategically placed halftones, and skilled layouts make each drawing a pleasure to behold...superb." -- Eric Capital-Gazette Newspapers, Annapolis MD, October, 1992

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From "On Military Humor," page 5 "You run the gamut of emotions, up and down, during wartime. The pressures are unique to this pursuit. I mean, the board member that's got the million dollar deal? Sure he's got his pressures, but bring him out here! It's child's play next to a night carrier landing after you've just been out and had a dozen missiles fired at you--and know you're going again three hours after you land, even though you've had only two hours of sleep in the last thirty-six. I could walk you around the ship and introduce you to a hundred guys that have done that in the last month.

"The pressure relief valve, if you perfectly define it, is irreverent humor. This encompasses all black humor and foul humor. The dirtier, the fouler, the more irreverent, the better. Nothing is sacred. We make the running gag: 'Geez, how's your wife doing?' 'Oh, she's okay.' 'Is she having any problems getting the tank tracks out of the yard?' That's the tank tracks from the marines who are in there while you're away on cruise. Then there's the old comeback, "No, it's okay, I left my boots out"--meaning they'd rather shine boots than screw, so that keeps your wife from getting laid by all the marines. And, as aviators, our big gag is the Harrier marks--you know, the bump marks from the Harriers doing vertical take-offs in your backyard.

"This is the black humor that, if you mentioned it to your neighbor, he'd probably deck you. But to us it's a form of gallows humor which is unique to the military. The same guy who cusses at you one second is crying on your shoulder the next--and, three minutes later, both of you are in the wardroom having lunch and laughing your asses off." Comdr. John "Bug" Roach, Senior Air Wing Landing Signal Officer, USS Ranger

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Pr; 1st edition (January 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891414436
• ISBN-13: 978-0891414438
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,560,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This aint Hell, but you can see it from here!, March 29, 2000

By 

Eric J Burton (Grand Forks ND) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Ain't Hell... But You Can See It From Here! A Gulf War Sketchbook (Paperback)

This was an awesome book and I have read it numerous times. Being a Gulf War Veteran I read just about every book that came out right after the Gulf War to see what the various authors had to say about a war that affected millions of us and that 500,000 plus American attended/participated in. I no longer read books on the Gulf war because most of it is political dribble trying to explain what did not happen, Now it seems that it is more convient for some to write lies then the truth, no such thing as Gulf War Syndrome right. Enough of politics that is why I like this book, because it put everything in perspective using humor.

If you are not a veterans it will still be funny to most of you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! Brought back more than a couple memories., October 15, 1999

By 

James Crabtree ([e-mail]) (El Paso, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Ain't Hell... But You Can See It From Here! A Gulf War Sketchbook (Paperback)

This will always be one of my favorite books on the Gulf War. I especially liked the chapter on the Red Rope Ranger. I laugh out loud every time I think about it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's all true!, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: This Ain't Hell... But You Can See It From Here! A Gulf War Sketchbook (Paperback)

I met Barry at King Fahd International Airport when he interviewed me and several folks in my unit, the 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron. My story didn't make the final cut but you've got to read about our Flight Surgeon, Major Smith, and his war trophy! <g>