26 Facts About Bill Mauldin

William Henry Mauldin was an American editorial cartoonist who won two Pulitzer Prizes for his work.

Bill Mauldin 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.

Bill Mauldin's cartoons were popular with soldiers throughout Europe, and with civilians in the United States as well.

Bill Mauldin was born in Mountain Park, New Mexico, into a family with a tradition of military service.

Bill Mauldin did not graduate with his class and in 1939 he took courses at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts where he studied political cartooning with Vaughn Shoemaker.

Shortly after returning to Phoenix in 1940, Bill Mauldin enlisted in the Arizona National Guard.

Bill Mauldin began working for Stars and Stripes, the American soldiers' newspaper; as well as the 45th Division News, until he was officially transferred to the Stars and Stripes in February 1944.

Bill Mauldin's cartoons were viewed by soldiers throughout Europe during World War II, and were published in the United States.

Bill Mauldin thought he was living in the Dark Ages.

Bill Mauldin's cartoons made him a hero to the common soldier.

Bill Mauldin wanted Willie and Joe to be killed on the last day of combat, but Stars and Stripes dissuaded him.

In 1945, at the age of 23, Bill Mauldin won a Pulitzer Prize for his wartime body of work, exemplified by a cartoon depicting exhausted infantrymen slogging through the rain, its caption mocking a typical late-war headline: "Fresh, spirited American troops, flushed with victory, are bringing in thousands of hungry, ragged, battle-weary prisoners".

Bill Mauldin made the cover of the July 21,1961, issue.

Bill Mauldin illustrated many articles for Life magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, Sports Illustrated, and other publications.

Bill Mauldin brought back Joe as a war correspondent, writing letters to the stateside Willie.

On 7 February 1965, while visiting his son who was serving with the US Army at Camp Holloway, South Vietnam Bill Mauldin was present for the Vietcong Attack on Camp Holloway.

In 1969, Bill Mauldin was commissioned by the National Safety Council to illustrate its annual booklet on traffic safety.

In 1985, Bill Mauldin won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Bill Mauldin remained with the Sun-Times until his retirement in 1991.

Bill Mauldin was inducted into the St Louis Walk of Fame on May 19,1991.

Bill Mauldin died on January 22,2003, from complications of Alzheimer's disease and a bathtub scalding.

Bill Mauldin was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on January 29,2003.

In June, 2000 Bill Mauldin was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Bill Mauldin was inducted into the Oklahoma Cartoonists Hall of Fame in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, by Michael Vance.

Bill Mauldin appeared as an actor in the 1951 films The Red Badge of Courage and Teresa, and as himself in the 1998 documentary America in the '40s.

Bill Mauldin appeared in on-screen interviews in the Thames documentary The World at War.