The Nation: UPDATING WILLIE AND JOE

Dear Mom,

I promised I'd write, so I'm writing.

And Mom, the main thing is you've got to tell Dad to stop telling those World War II stories of his, that Willie and Joe stuff from the old cartoons. I mean, it's so out of date you wouldn't believe, I mean, ancient. Like, let me explain.

I made E/4 today—in Dad's time they called it corporal—and perhaps to help me celebrate, they issued us new helmets, made of one of the latest fibers —"Kevlar." It's very light and is supposed to be strong enough to turn...