Interestingly this writer explicitly dates the song to Keesler Army Air Field, Ill., in 1942 ("Pie Dufour's A la mode," N.O. States, Aug. 25, 1955):


"There was the many-versed one about the things that they say are mighty fine, as for instance:

Oh, the doughnuts that they give you,
   They say are mighty fine,
But one rolled off the table,
   and crippled a pal o' mine.

I don't want no more army life,
Gee Mom, I wanna go,
Gee Mom, I wanna go,
Gee Mom, I wanna go home.

"One of the verses concerned the coffee, which was 'good for cuts and bruises, and tastes like iodine.'

"Another verse was about the shoes - 'You ask for size 11, they give you No. 9.

"Still another concerned the sleepability of your mattress:

Oh, the mattress that they give you,
    They say is mighty fine,
It's stuffed with broken rocks
    And quills of a porcupine.

"There were many other verses, many improvisations, but they elude my memory."