Book excerpt: Yank is the fascinating weekly newspaper that was dedicated to the GI Joe of World War II. The best of Yank is history, current events, social commentary, sports history entertainment, sex, and homespun advice all rolled into one. It captures both the spirit of the World War II GI and the grim reality of the violence he encountered. Here are: in-depth war news, articles and reports from all of the fronts; honest evaluations of America's allies and their military efforts; realistic estimations of the enemy's strong and weak points; helpful hints on how to clean a rifle (with some suggestions from the Germans); advicde on how to prepare income tax returns or make certain that remittance checks reach family and loved ones; predictions about what to expect after discharge --and luscious Hollywood pinups of Jean Parker, Betty Grable, Esther Williams, and Lena Horne. Each issue contains irreverent "Sad Sack" cartoons, magnificent and moving photographic coverage of great battles, lethal skirmishes and front-line living conditions, and even crossword puzzles and other games of skill.