The 45th Infantry Division Museum is proud to have in its collection more than 200 of Bill Mauldin’s original World War II cartoons. These significant drawings primarily date from 1944 and 1945 when Mauldin had reached the pinnacle of his wartime work.
Bill Mauldin joined the 45th Infantry Division in September of 1940 and became the cartoonist for the 45th Division News in October of the same year. Early cartoons featured an Indian named Joe, with drawings which recorded the division’s stateside training. Mauldin’s style progressed and matured during this period and he soon became recognized for his talents as a military cartoonist.