All right, you maggots, listen up! You say you don’t know what MRE stands for? Can’t tell an RPG from a BAR? Wonder how to dig a foxhole? Well, the Gunny’s gonna tell ya, as only your ever-lovin’ Gunny can! For the straight skinny on all things military from medieval crossbows to futuristic jet fighters few books are more fun than Mail Call. Mail Call is based on the popular History Channel show of the same name, hosted by actor and retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey, “The Gunny” to his fans. The book follows the format of the show, answering viewers’ questions about military life, history and hardware in layman’s terms.
Mail Call draws on a variety of experts, including historians, engineers and military personnel and sometimes the Gunny himself. The book is a quick, fun read, with interesting sidebars, quick facts and photos from the show. Mail Call is divided into six parts Weapons, Gear, Grunts, Airplanes, Ships and Vehicles and each question and answer section is written in a conversational style that’s often quite funny. And of course, the book is peppered with the Gunny’s favorite drill-sergeant jargon, familiar to his fans (and generations of hapless recruits). Oh, and in case you didn’t know, an MRE is a “Meal Ready to Eat” (a precooked food package), an RPG is a Rocket Propelled Grenade, and a BAR is a Browning Automatic Rifle. To find out how to dig a foxhole, you’ll have to read the book!
