Cartoonist Bill Mauldin, right, joins Cecil Brownlow of International News Service and Earnest Hoberecht of United Press in a "sporting engagement" at the Correspondents Club in Tokyo. (Melville Simpson / Stars and Stripes)
TOKYO — "Ever since the last war I have wanted to be a civilian war correspondent," Bill Mauldin World War II cartoonist, said Tuesday in Tokyo.
"In the last war I had to shoot dice and play poker on a buck sergeant’s pay while the correspondents had expense accounts," he added. Mauldin says he now can afford to participate in these "sporting engagements."
MAULDIN WAS a Stars & Stripes cartoonist during the last war in the Mediterranean theater. His interpretation of his two characters "Willie and Joe" became a favorite of service personnel and civilians throughout the world.
The two grimy, dirty and usually miserable soldiers’ "down to earth" comments were quoted by infantrymen everywhere. With the success of "Willie and Joe," Mauldin was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant one week before discharge.
Entering civilian life, Mauldin went to work for United Features Syndicate as a cartoonist. He stayed with the outfit for a short time and then began writing. He wrote ’Two "book of the month" stories, "Up Front" and "Back Home." He also has written recently "A Sort of a Saga."
Mauldin is now a correspondent for Collier’s magazine and will be going to Korea soon. He plans to do a series of feature articles with illustrations, "much in the same manner I .did before."
Mauldin’s books have been made into motion pictures and enjoyed huge success throughout the United States and Europe.
RECENTLY, while Mauldin was in New York, he received a phone call from John Huston in Hollywood, who told him that he was going to produce a war picture, "The Red Badge Of Courage," starring Audie Murphy. Huston wanted Mauldin to co-star.
"I never received so much money for doing something that I knew absolutely nothing about," Mauldin said.
"I WAS SURPRISED to hear the 45th Division is in Korea," said Mauldin. "It will be almost like old home week." He is a former member of the 45th Division, Company K, 180th Infantry.
THE SERVICEMAN’S cartoonist said that, because of World War II, he never had a chance to complete high school. In 1945, however, he "graduated" from Phoenix High school the same year he won a Pulitzer Prize.
"The principal," Mauldin said with a grin, "said it sorta’ embarrassed him to have a boy who didn’t graduate from his school win a Pulitzer award."
