Bill Mauldin. Dead at 81.
Bill Mauldin, creator of the the beloved “Willie & Joe” cartoons of WWII died yesterday at age 81 from complications from Alzheimer’s and Pneumonia. He took part in the invasions of Sicily and Italy as a member of the 45th Infantry Division.
"Just give me the aspirin. I already got a Purple Heart."
“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.” - Bill Mauldin.
“Look at an infantryman's eyes and you can tell how much war he has seen.” - Bill Mauldin.
“No man who depends upon those below him - not only for his success, but for his very life - is going to abuse his men unnecessarily. Not if he has good sense.” - Bill Mauldin.
“’Peace’ is when nobody's shooting. A ‘Just Peace’ is when our side gets what it wants.” - Bill Mauldin.
“They wish to hell they were someplace else, and they wish to hell they would get relief. They wish to hell the mud was dry and they wish to hell their coffee was hot. They want to go home. But they stay in their wet holes and fight, and then they climb out and crawl through minefields and fight some more.” - Bill Mauldin.
More About Bill Mauldin
http://www.toonopedia.com/mauldin.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ARTmauldin.htm
http://mike.whybark.com/archives/000272.html
http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/Mainmuseum/Mauldin2.htm