By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

Bill Mauldin was maybe the only regular infantry man to go up against General George Patton and win — twice. Mauldin was little and scrappy; part Apache, left a broken home at 14, and never graduated from high school– all of which may have contributed to his lifelong passion for the underdog. He fought in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns, receiving the Purple Heart.

His artistic talent was put to work for the armed services paper, Stars and Stripes, where he developed his iconic characters, Willie and Joe. Loved by the “dogfaces” at the front, the irreverent sketches were not as popular with the top brass. They so infuriated Patton, that he went after Mauldin, only to be told “hands off!” by Eisenhower.

America is experiencing the return of our armed forces personnel from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which set me thinking about the veterans of other American wars. Today’s consensus is that the WWII Vets were revered upon return, but Mauldin also shows the sometimes bitter reality that could await them.

Once I started reading all of Maudlin’s work, I was mesmerized by the man’s genius. Willie & Joe vols. I and II are essential, but go ahead and read them all — you’ll be glad you did!