Yank, the Army Weekly: World War II from the Guys Who Brought You Victory

Written by enlisted men for enlisted men (contributors included William Saroyan, Irwin Shaw, Merle Miller), weekly Yank magazine offered a freewheeling kaleidescopic view of WW II in operational theaters, reserve areas and training camps. The combat reports offer few surprises after nearly half a century. Typical of the noncombat articles is one explaining to bewildered GIs the ``Most Unfathomable'' home-front craze: Frank Sinatra. Screenwriter Kluger's compilation includes samples of fine doggerel and verse from ``The Poets Cornered'' section; the submissions in the ``What's Your Problem?'' feature will be appreciated by veterans of all wars, for the gripes are timeless. Most interesting are the letters to the editor, especially one from a black soldier stationed in Arizona asking why he had to eat in a restaurant's kitchen while German POWs enjoyed their meals in the dining room. This richly illustrated collection captures the fears, hopes and dreams of the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who served in the Big One. (Nov.)