I don’t get how the incoming storm is going to make things any better. It’ll dilute the soup in the big pot, stretching how many it will feed? It will scare away the less hardy soldiers, so our guys will move up in line right away?

Or could he mean, Relax, we’re not going to even get close?

I suspect the 1965 audience was expected to read-in a gender-based insult; but probably a mild one?

P.S. This one above appeared for an Arnold Zwicky analysis shortly after its GoComics reprint.

I was almost going to say the casual acceptance of violence is actually a bit shocking. But on second thought, Beetle’s reaction is not fully accepting. (Yes, we regularly see Sarge beating on Beetle, but that’s mostly about raising a ball of dust, while Rocky’s “blackjack” or “sap” strikes a more sinister air, something like underworld associations.)

Did the chaplain walk into a pole, and is cursing? Those look more like pain symbols. Or is he known for complaining, and the moment of uplift (hah!) was an interruption of a usually dismal demeanor? But that’s not my impression of him. Still, is there any other good interpretation of the ‘parentheses’ remark?

Okay, what are they all grasping?
Is this the line for going into the mess tent? So the info on what is being served gets passed back — that makes sense. But why would the warning about the maple syrup get passed forward?
And finally, what exactly is that warning all about?