How did Americans tolerate such a comical portrayal of the US military

[Sterling Holobyte]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Gomer in Vietnam could have been a bit like Forrest Gump, maybe having a best friend and then being out on patrols and whatever, but the guys got shot at, could Gomer react to that?

Hard to say. Gomer could get feisty and get into the swing of things at times. One example, he was pretty good at bayonet practice against that bully episode. Of course, that was just practice, but still....

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

What I would have loved seeing was Gomer because of his singing abilities be in the USO and entertaining troops and even visiting hospitals of wounded G.I.s.

That ws have been a perfect job for Gomer. In fact, didn't he almost join the base entertainment department(or whatever it is called), not once but a few times. Once when he was practicing all of those instruments for it, and on another it was a singing gig, and there was another time - I think it was Carol Burnett's second visit to the base - when he almost joined the musical dept. Of course, he never wanted to leave his friends or Sgt. Carter in his platoon so he always ultimately went back.

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Then by the time of the movie Return to Mayberry, Gomer is rich from being a famous singer. He is back in Mayberry in a big house with LouAnn Poovie as his wife and they have a daughter who is beautiful but just like Gomer.

That was kind of disappointing that LouAnn and Gomer didn't get hitched. I think she would've fit right in in Mayberry.