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And Bill Mauldin is on it too.

"The United States Postal Service deserves a standing ovation for something that's going to happen this month: Bill Mauldin is getting his own postage stamp."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/07/g ... tml?hpt=C1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"He never held back. Sometimes, when his cartoons cut too close for comfort, his superior officers tried to tone him down. In one memorable incident, he enraged Gen. George S. Patton, and Patton informed Mauldin he wanted the pointed cartoons -- celebrating the fighting men, lampooning the high-ranking officers -- to stop. Now."

That's pretty neat.

Very neat indeed. I'm 55 and even my Dad missed WWII, so I didn't know who Willie & Joe were. I recommend the article to everyone - this is a great story. I just shared the link on my Facebook page and encourage others to do the same.

I am fortunate enough to have found 2 copies(back in the late 70's) of his book Up Front, first edition printings, and still have them.

Many, of his drawings were made in the Italian campaign with the 45th Infantry Division(Indian Head Division), stationed at Ft.Sill, OK and Camp Barkley, TX(west of Abilene). He spent 3 years with the 45th, but also spent time with the 36th(aka Texas Division, an old National Guard unit reactivated during WWII).

The book itself deals with the day to day living conditions of the common G.I. and the hardships they faced just existing in battlefield conditions.

He was able to find humor in the common G.I. facing the most trying of circumstances, and relating it to the folks back home.
It's a fascinating read if you ever get the chance.

I'm glad he is getting the recognition he most certainly deserves.

Thanks for posting TxD.

I used to have a copy of "Up Front" it disappeared while I was in the Navy.

My father had two Mauldin books, compilations of his cartoons. I may have lost them in the intervening years. If so, I will be sorry.

That link contains 5 or 6 of his cartooons.

My father was a WWII vet, US Army, 91st Oregon Division,
fighting up and down the Italian mountains. Wounded,
but never any paperwork done at the time, so he never got
the Purple Heart he earned.

He had Mauldin's cartoon books. The one I remember fondly
is the soldier whose jeep was no longer operable. The soldier, looking sad,
had his 1911 over the hood, pointing down, ready to execute it himself by shooting it
in the engine, as if it was his trusted horse.

SIA

jimlongley wrote:I used to have a copy of "Up Front" it disappeared while I was in the Navy.

That's because the Navy ain't "Up Front". They're "In Back".
Just kidding, Jim.

Hey, I was a Sergeant in the Air Force.
You know, that branch of the military where the
enlisted men send the officers out to fight.

joe817 wrote: Many, of his drawings were made in the Italian campaign with the 45th Infantry Division(Indian Head Division),

Not to pick nits but the 2nd Infantry Division is the Indian Head Division. The 45th Infantry Division was known as the Thunderbird Division.

But, you are spot on with everything else. I highly recommend "Up Front" to anyone interested in WWII.

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:That link contains 5 or 6 of his cartooons.

My father was a WWII vet, US Army, 91st Oregon Division,
fighting up and down the Italian mountains. Wounded,
but never any paperwork done at the time, so he never got
the Purple Heart he earned.

He had Mauldin's cartoon books. The one I remember fondly
is the soldier whose jeep was no longer operable. The soldier, looking sad,
had his 1911 over the hood, pointing down, ready to execute it himself by shooting it
in the engine, as if it was his trusted horse.

SIA

Your wish is my command:




Geeze, who hasn't felt that way about a vehicle at one time or another?

I had lots of Willie & Joe as a kid, and loved them all. I was in college in the early '80s, and I continued to appreciate Mauldin's work as a political cartoonist.

It's about time Bill got a stamp. It took many years and petitions before Audie Murphy finally made it to a stamp in 2000.

SQLGeek wrote:

joe817 wrote: Many, of his drawings were made in the Italian campaign with the 45th Infantry Division(Indian Head Division),

Not to pick nits but the 2nd Infantry Division is the Indian Head Division. The 45th Infantry Division was known as the Thunderbird Division.

But, you are spot on with everything else. I highly recommend "Up Front" to anyone interested in WWII.

You are correct SQL Geek! I was thinking Thunderbird but somehow it came out as Indian Head. My bad and thanks for the correction.

chabouk wrote:I had lots of Willie & Joe as a kid, and loved them all. I was in college in the early '80s, and I continued to appreciate Mauldin's work as a political cartoonist.

It's about time Bill got a stamp. It took many years and petitions before Audie Murphy finally made it to a stamp in 2000.