THEJWSTORIES

It is hard to define a Junior Woodchucks (JW) story featuring the nephews, because they come in so many variations covering the subject in highly different degrees. Carl Barks made 1. stories in which the nephews acted in their uniforms, 2. stories in which they acted in plain clothes, 3. stories in which the JWs role was primarily carried by the troop hound, and 4. stories in which the JWs as an organisation was hardly even mentioned but some of their skills (examples: Judo training and Track laying) or equipment (examples: Guidebook and Animal Call Whistles) were in use. To top it all, Barks continued into his golden years to write numerous stories starring the Junior Woodchucks...

Depending on how one defines a JW story Barks managed to make between 50 and 70, in which some JW 'ingredients' (apart from the nephews) such as troop members, leaders, troop hounds, skills, or equipment were present. This page will confine itself to presenting a few examples - in chronological order - of the most relevant stories from the first-mentioned variation, namely stories in which Huey, Dewey, and Louie played important parts while also wearing their uniforms.

WDCS125 'Operation Saint Bernard' - 1951

Synopsis:
The cold-sensitive family dog Bornworthy is to be used as a rescue dog in a JW test. Regrettably, it is in the middle of winter...

Comments:
The JW Colonels Huey, Dewey and Louie are taking a test in lifesaving in order to become Brigadier Generals. For that they have to train a dog to go out in the snow and look for lost travellers. They succeed to such an extent that they wind up as Five Star Generals instead.

WDCS132 'Millpond Incidents' - 1951

Synopsis:
The nephews try for separate merit badges in the JW organisation but unfortunately Donald decides to help them!

Comments:
The nephews' tasks are as follows: General Huey must make a bow and arrow for his badge in archery, General Dewey must make a canoe for his badge in Indian crafts, and General Louie must train for his badge in lifesaving. They succeed and end up as Ten Star Generals.

WDCS136 'Turkey Raffle' - 1951

Synopsis:
Donald is irritated by Gladstone's unbelievable luck and he decides to hold a raffle to turn things around. He keeps all the tickets except for one. Gladstone gets it...

Comments:
The nephews and all the other JWs are all over Duckburg selling tickets for a turkey raffle. Lieutenant-General Holsworthy Hog will draw the winning ticket.

WDCS150 'Dummy Duty' - 1953

Synopsis:
Donald is a mailman during a winter blizzard and the nephews are training for JW merit badges. They also rescue Donald from the wrath of Daisy.

Comments:
The nephews are using a dummy for a drowning test. If they succeed they advance from Ten Star Generals to Exalted Hightails which means that they can wear the tails of their caps on top instead of hanging down the back. They not only succeed, they also become Chevaliers of the Honor Guard for making a rescue during a blizzard. Furthermore, they are titled Rear Admirals of the Arctic Snows for foiling frostbite, and Commandants of the Hightails' Hall of Heroes for saving government mail.

WDCS181 'Building Bridges' - 1955

Synopsis:
The male JW organization and the female Chickadee patrol are competing in bridge building. Donald tries to help the JWs...

Comments:
The JWs are challenged to a woodcraft contest by the South Duckburg Chickadee Patrol. They tie but Generals Huey, Dewey and Louie are presented with a quart of medals and titled Supreme Exalted Bridge Masters of the Yawning Gulfs.

WDCS227 'Lost in the Woods' - 1959

Synopsis:
The JWs are in need of someone to hide in the woods and pretend to be lost. Donald volunteers in order to make it hard for them.

Comments:
The JWs are preparing for training in finding lost persons and Donald hides somewhere in the vast forest. Several Duckburg troops are called for but they have to get reinforcement from a Goosetown battalion and a Mudhen City army before Donald finally is cornered.

WDCS232 Under the Polar Ice - 1960

Synopsis:
Donald has to peel five sacks of potatoes as a punishment in The Loyal Order Of Marshbirds while the nephews are taking a JW test in magnetic navigation.

Comments:
The nephews have to take the JW Magnetic Navigation test and they do so despite the fact that Donald is trying to make them fail. The nephews win first prize which is a submarine trip under the north pole icecap.

WDCS253 Hound Hounder - 1961

Synopsis:
Donald is an expert dogcatcher until he tries to catch the JW hound. He soon finds out that the creature is just as sly as Donald himself!

Comments:
The JWs Troop Number One is having training exercises in Wildwood Glen. The purpose is to send their hound with a message to Troop Number Two stationed on Hoot Owl Hill. They also have to send a message with their hound. The troop who get their hound first to the other troop are declared winners and owners of the prestigious title Grand Commanders Of the Order Of Mercury.

WDCS282 Bubbleweight Champ - 1964

Synopsis:
A contest between two JW burrows ends in a tie and now it is up to their instructors to settle the score with a boxing match. But Donald is the instructor for Duckburg...

Comments:
The Duckburg burrow of the JWs is vying with the Goosetown burrow for points in an international physical fitness program. In the ensuing boxing match between the two leaders Donald, the champion for Duckburg, wins and the Duckburg JWs receive a gold medal.

WDCS294 Duck Out of Luck - 1965

Synopsis:
Once again, Donald participates in a fishing race which has been won by Gladstone every year. But this time he stands a good chance...

Comments:
Donald participates in Duckburg's annual Ice Skating Fishing Race and he wants to donate the secret prize to the JWs who then support him all the way. Donald wins and is given a very odd - and smelly - collage which he then tries to force the JWs to accept. The reader can choose to see Donald's determined chasing off the Junior Woodchucks into the dark shadows as Barks' graphic metaphor for terminating the organisation; at least, this was the last JW story he drew...