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To: PJ-Comix
As I expressed - I was disappointed to discover the EXTENT of the attitude toward women. It may be reality but none the less discouraging.

Interesting that he would make Slade an over enthusiastic and naive sounding soljier, when he is doing a self portrait.
18 posted on 01/12/2003 4:26:35 PM PST by WHATNEXT?
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To: WHATNEXT?
I was disappointed to discover the EXTENT of the attitude toward women. It may be reality but none the less discouraging.

Nothing much different than locker room type talk there.

Interesting that he would make Slade an over enthusiastic and naive sounding soljier, when he is doing a self portrait.

Most likely having a little fun there. However, Jones was originally in the Air Corps in Hawaii and hated it which is reflected by what Slade was saying on the same topic. Also, Jones became friends with several friends in the Infantry and became enthusiastic about that unit...just like Slade. BTW, there are characters based on Jones in his other novels. In Go To The Widowmaker the main character was DIRECTLY based on him.

21 posted on 01/12/2003 4:41:39 PM PST by PJ-Comix ((Moderator of the LARGEST Internet Reading Club))
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To: WHATNEXT?
I was not particularly alarmed at the attitude towards women in the book. In fact, I think the women characters in the book held their own pretty well.

The wife of Captain Holmes (Karen) definitely gave as good as she got. Apparently she chewed up a lot of men and spit them out way before SSgt Warden came on the scene. BTW, the notion of an enlisted man having an affair with his CO's wife is preposterous in today's military. I just see no way that this could happen (obviously conditions were different in 1941). The separation between officers and enlisted are obviously much greater today than it was back then. When I was in the service in the early 1980s, there were very strict rules about fraternization not just between officers and enlisted, but also between NCO's and "non-rates." When I made Sergeant, it was made quite clear to me that I was not to hang out with privates and lance corporals after duty.

Lorene, the prostitute girlfriend of Prewitt, was another strong character. She had a plan to make as much money as she could in the whorehouse and then she was to go back to the United States (remember, Hawaii hadn't yet achieved statehood at that time) and take care of her family.

Mrs. Kipfer, the "owner" of the whorehouse is another strong character who doesn't seem to put up with much. (The "Mrs." in her name does make me curious and it is never explained in the book.)

28 posted on 01/12/2003 5:40:25 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: WHATNEXT?
I was disappointed to discover the EXTENT of the attitude toward women


Did you ever read about Mamie Stover and her famous bull pen?
29 posted on 01/12/2003 5:49:44 PM PST by OBone
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