William Mauldin
William Mauldin
William Henry "Bill" Mauldinwas an American editorial cartoonist who won two Pulitzer Prizes for his work. He was most famous for his World War II cartoons depicting American soldiers, as represented by the archetypal characters Willie and Joe, two weary and bedraggled infantry troopers who stoically endure the difficulties and dangers of duty in the field. These cartoons were widely published and distributed in the American army, abroad and in the United States...
ask fresh gonna troops wake ya
How ya gonna find out if they're fresh troops if ya don't wake 'em up and ask 'em?
background business text
My business is drawing, not writing, and this text is pretty much background for the drawings.
actions advancing beating cold despite facing feelings gentlemen hard hell lead molded mortal normal people screaming steel stupid talented together whose
They are normal people who have been put where they are, and whose actions and feelings have been molded by their circumstances. There are gentlemen and boors; intelligent ones and stupid ones; talented ones and inefficient ones. . . . But when they are all together and they are fighting, despite their bitching and griping and goldbricking and mortal fear, they are facing cold steel and screaming lead and hard enemies, and they are advancing and beating the hell out of the opposition.
gets peace side
Peace" is when nobody's shooting. A "just peace" is when our side gets what it wants.
behind candidate fear five friend good known until
If you can get behind an Englishman's unholy fear of making a friend until he has known the candidate for at least five years, you will find him a pretty good egg.
almost battle desire die eyes fact forget home hopeless infantry joe joys kid looking looks resigned talking weary willie
If he is looking weary and resigned to the fact that he is probably going to die before it is over, and if he has a deep, almost hopeless desire to go home and forget it all; if he looks with dull, uncomprehending eyes at the fresh-faced kid who is talking about all the joys of battle and killing Germans, then he comes from the same infantry as Joe and Willie .