One of Millions (Polyglot Press War)

Too often military stories focus solely on combat, and not the numerous other aspects of military life. This is ironic as many servicemen never see the front line. They see the non-combat aspects of military life, and one thing all service people know is the bureaucratic and confusing world of the armed forces. Before the all-volunteer army there was another form of induction—the draft. An ominous word that conjures up the idea of being pulled from the life you know into a different, confusing, potentially dangerous world. This is what happened to Gilbert Tucker. Lifted from his home streets of Philadelphia, Tucker tells the story of becoming a soldier. After finishing art school, Tucker is served with a draft notice. He describes the multitude of emotions he faces when realizing that his whole life is about to change. Yet he does his duty and reports for induction. Through a string of mishaps, luck, and military need, Tucker found himself not on the front line, but instead doing his civilian trained job as an illustrator. He tells his Korean War story through this perspective. One of Millions gives the details of what the US Army of the Korean War era was like. He tells of his journey from basic training to deployment behind the lines of a war zone. Of demanding officers, tireless chores, R&R in Japan, and barracks hi-jinks. Tucker gives the many details of life in the Army with insight and candor.