Grinning From Ear to Ear tells the story of a young soldier away from home for the first time. He turned twenty a few weeks after he was sworn into the Army. He was sent to Europe in WWII. This story is true. The characters are real people. They have different names and perhaps were in different places; the stories are true but may not be in exact chronological order but historically it it true; it all happened to Irving Strawder.

This is a lighthearted story of a young south Georgia solder's experiences in the Army during World War II. Anyone who has been in a war or had a son in a war or had a brother in a war or had a husband in war can identify with the young Irving as he experiences more life in two-and-one-half years than many people do in fifty years.