Bill Mauldin, a renowned American cartoonist, was born in Mountain Park, New Mexico in 1921. From a young age, he demonstrated a passion for drawing, which would eventually become his career. Mauldin took a few courses at the prestigious Chicago Academy of Fine Arts before entering the Army in 1940. He was assigned as an illustrator for the military's newspaper, The Stars & Stripes, where he created two iconic characters that would become synonymous with his name: Willie and Joe.
These two infantrymen, with their plain and tired demeanor, yet determination, resonated deeply with the average GI. However, they also earned the ire of the military brass, including the infamous General George S. Patton, who despised them and attempted to have the panel removed and Mauldin court-martialed. Despite this, Willie and Joe's popularity among GIs was unmatched, leading to a feature on the cover of Time magazine and eventually, Patton's reluctant acceptance.
After the war, Mauldin continued to feature Willie and Joe in his work, this time tackling social issues and critiquing the Red Scare hysteria and paranoia of the McCarthy era. In 1949, he was hired by the United Features Syndicate, and later by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he wrote books and even appeared in two motion pictures: Teresa (1951) and The Red Badge of Courage (1951),starring Audie Murphy.
Mauldin's work was characterized by its humor, relatability, and commitment to showing reality. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and the environment, and took a vocal stand against the war in Vietnam. Mauldin's achievements were recognized with numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes, and he was honored with degrees from Connecticut Wesleyan University, Washington University, and Albion College.
In his personal life, Mauldin was married twice, first to Norma Jean Humphries in 1942, with whom he had two sons, Bruce Patrick and Timothy. After their divorce in 1946, Mauldin married Natalie Sarah Evans in 1947, with whom he had four sons: Andrew, David, John, and Nathaniel. Mauldin passed away in Newport Beach, California in 2003.
