Behind the Tunes: Real American Zero - The Adventures of Private Snafu

Introducing Private Snafu, the nation's worst soldier and his various versions in different branches of the armed forces. The cartoon, ironic and humorous in tone, was created during World War II and it was designed to instruct service personnel about security, proper sanitation habits, booby traps and other military subjects, and also to improve troop morale. The main character's name is a play on the military slang acronym SNAFU, "Situation Normal: All Fouled Up."

Private Snafu learns about fear

Private Snafu learns about inflation

As the Devil watches Pvt. Snafu and his unit stationed in Iran, he talks about the hazards of working in the heat.

A humourous look at the Aleutian Islands and their strategic value.

Private Snafu is stranded on a tiny island with a Japanese officer; he must depend on his wits to defend himself against his sword-wielding foe.

Private Snafu steals secret Japanese war plans, is captured and tried. He escapes and rows out to sea.

Snafu learns hard way the consequences of not protecting himself from malaria infection.

Pvt. Snafu becomes a superhero, only for him to become the world's dumbest one because he won't study his field manuals.

An armada of malaria-laden mosquitoes seeks human targets and finds Private Snafu, who fails to protect himself adequately against their onslaught.

Dissatisfied with being assigned to shoe consignment detail, Snafu learns about the true value of his responsibilities