Bill Mauldin

Born	29 Oct 1921
Died	22 Jan 2003
Country	United States
Category	Ground

Contributor: Bryan Hiatt

Bill Mauldin isn't famous for any heroic exploits during World War II. Rather, he created the cartoon characters Willie and Joe, two battle-hardened, sardonic dogfaces for the 45th Division News.

Mauldin just wasn't a journalist along for the ride. He joined the Army in 1940 and participated in the invasions of Sicily and Italy with the 45th Division before going to work full-time with Stars and Stripes. His work was eventually syndicated by the United Feature Syndicate and Willie and Joe reached millions of Americans.

He published the book Up Front in 1945 using his cartoons and accompanying text to illustrate the conditions of American fighting men in the ETO. He wrote:

"I drew pictures for and about the soldiers because I knew what their life was like and understood their gripes. I wanted to make something out of the humorous situations which come up even when you don't think life could be any more miserable."

Mauldin's cartoons even reached the desks of the Army's top brass, including George Patton, who thought Willie and Joe undermined discipline in the ranks. Patton even threatened to ban the newspaper from soldiers under his command. The two eventually met at the urging of General Eisenhower, though Mauldin remained committed to showing the life of a solider, gripes and all.

Mauldin won a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1945. Rather than singling out one cartoon as the winner, the Pulitzer Committee noted the following:

"For distinguished service as a cartoonist, as exemplified by the cartoon entitled, "Fresh, spirited American troops, flushed with victory, are bringing in thousands of hungry, ragged, battle-weary prisoners, in the series entitled, Up Front With Mauldin."

The cartoon, however, shows American troops as demoralized and battle weary as the prisoners they guard, noting the ironic difference between hopeful news copy and reality.

After the war, Mauldin introduced Willie and Joe back into American life in the newspapers and later in the book Back Home (1949). He won a second Pulitzer Prize in 1959 and continued addressing pressing issues of the day in American culture and beyond. He died in 2003.

Stars and Stripes maintains an archive of Mauldin’s work here.

Sources: 45th Infantry Division Museum Website, the Pulitzer Prizes, Spartacus Educational.

Bill Mauldin Timeline

29 Oct 1921	Bill Mauldin was born.
22 Jan 2003	Bill Mauldin passed away.

Share this article with your friends:
	Facebook	Reddit
	Twitter	Digg
	StumbleUpon	Delicious
Stay updated with WW2DB:
	RSS Feeds

Advertisement Close

Advertise on ww2db.com

Search WW2DB & Partner Sites

Your Name
Your Email
	Your email will not be published
Your Comments
Security Code