Freddy #33

A young recruit reports for military induction with hopes of avoiding the infantry, but every aptitude test and assignment he attempts—from piloting an aircraft to operating a tank—ends in spectacular disaster. As the Army systematically eliminates every other option, Freddy learns a humbling lesson about military efficiency and following orders in this lighthearted five-page romp from 1962.

Freddy is thrilled to show off his new military uniform as proof of his importance to national defense—until everyone he encounters mistakes it for something else entirely: a movie usher's outfit, a scoutmaster's uniform, a garage worker's getup. When he finally gets the chance to explain his true role as a soldier and guardian of American freedom, his friends' reaction sends them scrambling for the bomb shelter instructions they'd dismissed earlier. A sharp-edged teen humor piece that deflates Freddy's sense of self-importance with perfectly timed misunderstandings.

Freddy and his buddy Stuff join the Army Reserves and head to camp, where they're put through their paces with rifle training and a battle-practice game to capture a bridge. These two disaster-prone recruits somehow manage to stumble their way to victory, only to discover what kind of "reward" the Sergeant has in mind for their unexpected success.

Nick the Beat gets hired to play bongo drums at a farm dance to earn money for a night out, but discovers the real problem facing the Wimpelmeyer farm is a crow infestation threatening their corn crop. With a chance to impress the farmer's daughter Florabelle, Nick might find himself dealing with more than just keeping rhythm.