NEW ORLEANS (July 17, 2026) — A special exhibit exploring the life and legacy of one of the most important American cartoonists of the 20th century is now on display at The National WWII Museum. Originally organized by the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin and the Art of War traces Mauldin’s life and career, especially highlighting his wartime work that captured the realities of the front lines in Europe.

A sergeant in the 45th Infantry Division’s press corps during World War II, Mauldin was a true soldier’s artist. His cartoons, published in the military newspaper Stars and Stripes and other publications across the United States, never romanticized combat or shied away from the hardships American servicemembers faced. Instead, Mauldin conveyed the exhaustion, frustration and mundane absurdities of life at the front with a sharp wit that resonated deeply with enlisted troops, even as he drew criticism from some senior officers. 

“Bill Mauldin remains one of the defining artistic voices that emerged from World War II, and we are thrilled to bring this exhibit to The National WWII Museum,” said Curator Chase Tomlin. “His work reminds us that humor can coexist with and even help overcome hardship, and that honest depiction can be an act of respect.” 

Central to Mauldin’s work were Willie and Joe, two weary, mud-covered infantrymen whose candid observations offered an unfiltered view of life in the European theater. Through these iconic characters, Mauldin articulated the everyday experiences of combat soldiers and created some of the most enduring images of the American GI during World War II — images that would win him his first Pulitzer Prize. 

Drawn to Combat features original drawings and sketches, wartime publications, correspondence and personal materials that illuminate both Mauldin’s working process as well as his evolving views on war and American society. The exhibit also follows Mauldin beyond 1945, when his focus shifted to veterans’ issues, civil rights and political commentary. 

“The opportunity to display some of Mauldin’s original works alongside personal artifacts from his life and service allow visitors to connect more directly with the artist soldier whose work helped shape how Americans understood the war and its aftermath,” said Tomlin. 

The National WWII Museum has expanded upon the original exhibit by incorporating objects from its own collection and re-creating some of the environments and situations Mauldin drew so frequently, including a bombed-out building.

Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin and the Art of War is on display through April 18, 2027, in the Museum’s Senator John Alario, Jr. Special Exhibition Hall. Support for this exhibit comes from the Lois and Lloyd Hawkins, Jr. Foundation; Mr. and Mrs. Scott Petty, Jr.; and Joseph and Deborah Rucci.    

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, the institution celebrates the American spirit, teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front. For more information on Tripadvisor’s #1 New Orleans attraction, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.