Too Fat to Fight

A plump, good‑natured fellow named Norman “Dimples” Dalrymple never imagined he’d end up at a military camp. When a ticket to Plattsburg lands in his pocket, his first thought is the station restaurant, where he indulges in corn‑starch pudding and other sweet comforts. His companion, the boisterous Shipp, teases him about his girth while both men prepare for the inevitable physical exam that will decide their fate as officers.

The story follows Dimples as he confronts the stark, business‑like atmosphere of the Plattsburg training ground, a place pulsing with eager young men and the looming shadow of war. Amid the clang of drills and the pressure to shed pounds, he wrestles with his love of food, his reluctant sense of duty, and the absurdity of being judged both for his size and his patriotism. The early chapters blend sharp humor with a vivid portrait of a nation gearing up for conflict, all seen through the eyes of an unlikely recruit.