When people hear the word “military,” images of war and chaos almost automatically come up.
However, the military isn’t always that serious. Behind the scenes and beyond battles, the military, especially the cadets, also have fun. Paul H. D’Anna’s comical historical military book about stealing a trophy captures this comedic side of the military for people to enjoy.
The Book in Focus: The Commander in Chief’s Trophy
Paul H. D’Anna came up with his historical military book about stealing a trophy after reading an article about West Point cadets stealing the Navy’s mascot.
He found the idea of two cadet troops playfully indulging in this affair cool, Paul mentions in his book, which prompted him to write his story. But instead of stealing the mascot, he incorporates a twist in his—the cadets steal a trophy, a more prized and honored memento.
The Unusual Mission and Absurd Objective
The Commander in Chief’s Trophy is among those comedic battle tales. It follows a group of West Point cadets who organize a mischievous scheme of stealing the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy from their counterpart, the Naval Academy.
Readers can expect a rather exciting adventure. They’ll follow as the cadets meticulously plan their operations, showcasing outstanding skills in technology and out-of-the-box strategies.
However, beyond the planning to execute an impressive heist, Paul H. D’Anna doesn’t bore his readers with the technical. Instead, he masterfully blends and incorporates military humor and images in his book. The author blends thrill, action, suspense, and humor to highlight the stakes involved in the endeavors. He culminates a mixture of successes and failures throughout the cadets’ attempts, putting readers on the edge of their seats.
A Real Event or Inspired Fiction?
As mentioned, Paul H. D’Anna based his book on real-life events, particularly the tradition of pranks and rivalry in the service academies. He drew upon these scenarios to craft one of the most humorous storytelling in history. Blending fictional narrative and historical rivalry, The Commander in Chief’s Trophy is armed with military action and an impressive heist plot.
The realistic points of the story make readers even more interested in executing the plan alongside the cadets. These make the story more exciting, if not relatable to the audience. It draws readers closer to the characters and roots for their success, although the objective is partly questionable.
Inside the Storyline: Plotting the Madness
The story is filled with numerous interesting characters. From Paul Toscano, leader of the cadet group and the person heading the scheme, to Reginald Wadsworth, a junior cadet, readers will never run out of characters to root for and laugh with throughout the book. These characters drive the narrative’s comedic timing through their funny antics and well-crafted profiles.
The Heist Plan
At the heart of the story is the heist, the fundamental objective of why the book came to be. The initial attempt already sealed the narrative’s comical nature when the cadets stole the wrong Navy goat.
“Bill 34, the goat that was kidnapped, is a 14-year-old retiree with one horn.”
Learning from their mistakes, the West Point cadets returned to camp and sharpened their plan. They started to look closer at the other’s security and leveraged their technological skills to bring their heist to fruition. The plan involved advanced technological devices and equally advanced competencies and knowledge from the cadets.
But with the trophy lowered into a 20-foot-deep cylinder, many things were to be considered.
The Comedic-Gold Disasters
While the characters were profiled as honorable men, a lot still went wrong throughout the process. Paul H. D’Anna balanced the good and the bad throughout the story, ensuring readers felt the operation’s highs and lows. The author injected many humorous elements, such as playful descriptions and images, into the story.
A little spoiler: There is even a robot goat dressed as an admiral in one of the scenarios.
Ultimately, the added mystery and suspense elevated the story, apart from the entertaining quarrels and dialogues. After thorough planning and the cadets’ attempts, the trophy went missing—where could it be?
Why the Book Works: The Art of Making Serious Funny
Not everybody is a fan of military stories. But everybody is fond of good comedy, satire, and slapstick. Paul H. D’Anna found the perfect in-between and combined both elements into one comical historical military book. He used characters who people would least expect to be funny and comical and made them extremely funny—this is the book’s charm.
Undoubtedly, an enduring charm in ridiculous situations makes readers keep coming back for such stories. Paul H. D’Anna’s The Commander in Chief’s Trophy is the perfect material reflecting this appeal, finding the perfect balance between seriousness, satire, and comedy.
If you’re interested in reading something clever, absurd, and everything in between, Paul H. D’Anna’s masterpiece is available! Grab a copy of The Commander in Chief’s Trophy today!
