Biloxy Blues

Biloxi Blues follows 18‑year‑old Eugene Morris Jerome, a Jewish teenager from Brooklyn who is drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II and sent to basic training at Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi. Determined to document every detail for his future writing career, Eugene keeps a tongue‑in‑cheek journal of the camp’s hardships—from endless drills and latrine duty to the mess hall’s infamous chipped beef.

Under the command of Sergeant Merwin J. Toomey—a hard‑drinking veteran whose brutal discipline tests the men’s endurance—Eugene befriends a diverse platoon, including the principled Arnold Epstein, who famously forces Toomey to do two hundred push‑ups rather than buckle to unfair treatment. Amid these challenges, Eugene pursues three goals: lose his virginity, survive the war, and become a writer, all while navigating fleeting romances with local girls Daisy Hannigan and Rowena.

As training concludes, the recruits emerge tighter in camaraderie and tempered by adversity. Eugene closes his memoir with a wry reflection on how the lessons learned—and the friendships formed—are the true victories of his boot camp odyssey.