"The Fighting Cartoonist" Topic

"PICTURE TWO SOAKING AND EXHAUSTED GIs squatting in a mud-filled ditch.

"Yesterday, you saved my life and I swore I'd pay you back," one says to the other. "Here's my last pair of dry socks."

That was a just one of the many fictional yet real-world-inspired wartime moments that were amusingly immortalized by William Henry "Bill" Mauldlin, history's most famous ‘fighting cartoonist'.

The baby-faced infantryman from Phoenix, Ariz. was the creative genius behind Willie and Joe, perhaps the best-loved comic strip to come out of World War Two.

The popular single-panel cartoon focused on the trials and tribulations of a pair of bearded and beat up riflemen as they tried to survive life on the front lines. Not surprisingly, the biting and honest humour was a huge hit with the rank and file and helped keep soldiers' spirits up during some of the conflict's darkest days. In fact, many combat veterans said they couldn't have made it without a daily chuckle from the famous anti-heroes…"

Main page
awon.org/willie/willie2.html

Amicalement
Armand

You know, that cartoon of the old cavalry sergeant putting his jeep out of its misery would make a great piece for anyone doing US Cavalry for Flames of War.

Grelber

I have always enjoyed these cartoons. As an artilleryman when I was in the army may favorite was the sargent on the phone next to his piece: "Ordenance, there's something wrong with my shootin' iron", or something to that effect. I also made a deck of cards for IABSM using some of the cartoons for the card backs.