Bill Mauldin WIP *FINITO!*

Great dio!  I remember that cartoon, too.  I remember Mauldin describing that it caused a stir, because some MP's thought it accused them of being cowards.  I think he talked his way out of that one by saying that it highlighted the dangerous nature of their work.

Your Mauldin dios are an excellent series!

Regards,

Brad

the Baron wrote:

Great dio!  I remember that cartoon, too.  I remember Mauldin describing that it caused a stir, because some MP's thought it accused them of being cowards.  I think he talked his way out of that one by saying that it highlighted the dangerous nature of their work. Your Mauldin dios are an excellent series! Regards, Brad

Mauldin did indeed try to explain the joke to soothe the MPs ruffled white leggins... Although Mauldin and his characters made fun of MPs, same as the rest of the Army (can't spell "WIMP" without M-P), he understood what MPs did.  This one takes place near Anzio in the early days after the landing when the Germans held all the high-ground and had every crossroads in the area zeroed-in for artillery and motars.  MPs directing traffic at the crossroads oftentimes found themselves the main point of interest for the Germans, who would sometimes lob a round or two in at the checkpoint just to watch the MPs react, so staying in the hole probably wasn't a bad idea...

So as it sits right now, I have three more Mauldin "Jeep" doiramas to finish, then I'll start on something else he did... The reason for the jeep subjects is that I'm resurecting some 6 or 7 from the junkyard that I've built in previous years, a couple as long ago as the 1970s(those are REAL piece o' work.)...

This one turned out great, Hans. I wouldn't mind a few more pics, whenever you get the chance.

Steve

Great work and subject matter HvH!

I really admire folks that push the envelope on modeling subjects.

My uncle gave me a copy of 'Up Front' when I was a kid. It took a couple of reads before I was able to "get" all the cartoons. Then I found a copy of Mauldin's 'Back Home' at a yard sale.

I was slightly "disappointed" that there was no real military cartoons at first, but after a few reads, I began to appreciate the poignancy of the trials and tribulations of the returning WWII vet. Willie and Joe were wearing civvies with that same rumpled look though.

My favorite toon from "Back Home" was Willie and Joe exiting a theater under the marquee advertising a 'war picture'. They are sweating and mopping their brows and saying something humorous about how the film was too real.

Great work Hans!

My personal favorite from "Back Home" was Willie and Joe checking into a hotel as newly-minted civilians and recognizing the bellhop loaded down with our hero's bags as a former officer they'd served under with Joe remarking, "Why, Major Wilson! Back in uniform, I see."...

It goes well with one from "Up Front" where Joe (as a private) is saying to the Major, "One more crack like that, sir, an' you won't have yer job back after th' war!" ...

( A lot of Army officers were "minted" during the war because of the massive expansion of the Army and their commisions were temporary as Reservists and they wouldn't be allowed to retain the rank after the war, so they'd get out rather than serving as Corporals and Sergeants in peacetime.  Also, many officers were employees of their now-subordinate former bosses from back home before the war.)

Hans von Hammer wrote:

My personal favorite from "Back Home" was Willie and Joe checking into a hotel as newly-minted civilians and recognizing the bellhop loaded down with our hero's bags as a former officer they'd served under with Joe remarking, "Why, Major Wilson! Back in uniform, I see."... It goes well with one from "Up Front" where Joe (as a private) is saying to the Major, "One more crack like that, sir, an' you won't have yer job back after th' war!" ... ( A lot of Army officers were "minted" during the war because of the massive expansion of the Army and their commisions were temporary as Reservists and they wouldn't be allowed to retain the rank after the war, so they'd get out rather than serving as Corporals and Sergeants in peacetime.  Also, many officers were employees of their now-subordinate former bosses from back home before the war.)

That's excellent HvH! I remember that cartoon!

I hadn't seen 'Back Home' mentioned in this thread so I thought I would bring it up for the benefit of others....should have known you'd be all over it. I have to check Alibris.com and buy them books!

Another toon was Willie or Joe being shown a mop-closet for rent as a room.....illustrating the housing shortage after the war.

subfixer wrote:

I remember one with "Uncle" PVT. Willie being enthusiasticaly greeted by his bird colonel nephew in the Air Corps.

 Wasn't the very young Harrison Ford a Full Bird in Apocalypse Now? I always wondered about that. Maybe he got MACV and rank quickly because of a relative? Just curious.
 Back on topic. I love the Mauldin's. Excellent work!

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If you count the WIPs, I've got 6 "Mauldins" as of right now, five are Jeep dioramas...  The STuG IV "Able Fox Five" is the largest one, at 8 x 10, the rest are some Mauldin "Jeep dios" at 5 x 7..

I had a bunch of jeeps to ressurect from the scrap bin and junkyard for a total of 8... Haven't yet bought any to do all the Mauldins I want to tho... The jeeps I have left in the J-yard (3) are all Monogram 1/32 offerings I've had following me around since the late 60s/early 70s...  They must have 10 coats of paint on 'em, lol... Needless to say, they'll require a bit of work...

Hopefully, I'll get 'em done and posted before my friennd Senojrn beats me to it...