NPR: Beetle Bailey on the Mess at Fort Bragg (Sort of)

Beetle Bailey on the Mess at Fort Bragg (Sort of)

Filed under: News

As we reported in today's Ramble the father of an Army sergeant has documented the dirt, mold and general decrepitude of the army barracks at Fort Bragg. Well, just as LBJ knew he had lost Vietnam when he lost Cronkite, there are signs that a once stalwart supporter of the U.S. military is cracking.

Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey, an estimable document of the life of the U.S. service man, has never wavered in its support of military doctrine. Until now. In what can scarcely be seen as a coincidence, today's strip slyly comments on the deplorable conditions at Fort Bragg. In the first panel, or "set up," Corporal Yo informs Sarge that there is dirt on his door, desk and Jeep. In the second panel, or "pay off," Sarge wonders how this could be? Who could hate Sarge so much?

Now, we all know that Mort Walker is FAR too subtle to draw a tear running down Sarge's cheek, Indian chief in a junkyard style, but that is the implication. Like all Beetle Bailey strips, today's is hilarious, but the undercurrent of ennui and strain is hard to miss. Mort Walker's message is unmistakable -- that in a way, by allowing these conditions to persist, ALL OF US hate Sarge that much. And FYI: a tipster informs us that Boner's Ark will soon be beset by gulls, in a storyline that closely mimics the issue of Somali pirates. You may never look at Cupcake the same way again.

--Mike Pesca

Win Rosenfeld

12:20 PM ET | 04-29-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

While this may well be a comment on Fort Bragg, your elaboration of the comic completely reversed the punchline -- the joke in the strip is that Sarge *doesn't* realize that someone is upset with him.

Sent by David Newberry | 4:06 AM ET | 05-01-2008

oh crap, you're right. You know what, just cancel the show. just cancel it, this is ridiculous.

Sent by mike pesca | 3:38 PM ET | 07-16-2008

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