# For Mel Brooks fans, a fun article about his WWII experiences **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes\ **Created:** [May 18, 2022, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594 "2022-05-18T04:38:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/1 "2022-05-18T04:38:53Z")
He wrote it himself. > **[When Mel Brooks Learned Not to 'Shortcut' the Jam](https://www.historynet.com/mel-brooks-goes-to-war/)** > > The legendary funnyman recounts the funny and not-so-funny sides of his U.S. Army service during World War II. And this picture is at the very end of the article: [![](https://www.historynet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mel-brooks-fort-dix-stars-and-stripes-768x1175.jpg) ](https://www.historynet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mel-brooks-fort-dix-stars-and-stripes-768x1175.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/2 "2022-05-18T12:04:07Z")
This is excerpted from his recently released autobiography. A fantastic read, and one of the best audio narrations I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/3 "2022-05-18T16:46:04Z")
Thanks, I did not know he had released his autobiography. Does he do the audiobook narration himself? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/4 "2022-05-18T16:47:16Z")
He does, and it is stupendous. It feels like he’s sitting in the room with you and chatting over coffee. [Audible link.](https://www.audible.com/pd/All-About-Me-Audiobook/0593290747) ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/5 "2022-05-18T18:27:55Z")
Thanks! It turns out that my local library has both ebook and audiobook versions. I just listened to a few minutes of the audio version and it’s a lot of fun! And great to see that he’s still going strong at 95. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2022, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/6 "2022-05-23T22:09:46Z")
I was in the library in the next town and they had 2 hardcover copies; I borrowed one for my husband to read during his train commute. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/7 "2022-05-24T00:35:48Z")
“I was a combat engineer. Isn’t that ridiculous? The two things I hate most in the world are combat and engineering“ ~ Mel Brooks ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-mel-brooks-fans-a-fun-article-about-his-wwii-experiences/964594/8 "2022-05-24T00:42:00Z")
I actually laughed out loud at this one. > Fort Sill is in the southwest corner of Oklahoma. It’s cold, it’s flat, and it’s windy. If you ever have a chance, don’t go there. I can completely hear that in Mel’s voice just reading it.