Let's Declare Ourselves Winners and Get the Hell Out

Published in 1971, this collection brings together Bill Mauldin's political cartoons and commentary from his later career at the Chicago Sun-Times. The work captures a pivotal period in American history from 1962-1972, including the Vietnam War, civil rights movement, and political upheaval. The cartoons demonstrate Mauldin's transition from his WWII-era military cartoons to pointed political satire aimed at presidents, policies, and social issues. Each piece is accompanied by Mauldin's written context and reflections on the events that inspired the work. Through stark black and white illustrations and biting commentary, Mauldin documents America's struggles with war, racism, and political corruption during a transformative decade. The collection stands as both historical record and artistic statement about power, patriotism, and the role of political dissent in democracy.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Bill Mauldin's overall work: Readers consistently praise Mauldin's raw honesty in depicting soldiers' experiences during WWII. His "Willie and Joe" cartoons resonate with veterans and historians for capturing authentic details of infantry life. What readers liked: - Accurate portrayal of combat conditions and soldier mindset - Humor that balanced darkness with humanity - Simple yet expressive artistic style - Personal connection to soldiers' experiences What readers disliked: - Some collections lack context/background information - Print quality varies in older editions - Political cartoons from later career seen as less impactful than WWII work Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: "Up Front" - 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: "Willie & Joe: The WWII Years" - 4.8/5 (150+ reviews) Reader quote: "As the son of a WWII combat infantryman, these cartoons helped me understand what my father went through better than any history book." - Amazon reviewer "The mud, the exhaustion, the bureaucracy - Mauldin got it all exactly right." - Goodreads review from veteran

Up Front by Bill Mauldin A World War II infantry soldier's collection of raw battlefield cartoons and observations parallels the political commentary style of Let's Declare Ourselves Winners.

Once There Was a War by John Steinbeck The collected war correspondence presents unvarnished views of World War II through a journalist's lens, mixing reportage with personal insights.

War Without Heroes by David Douglas Duncan The photojournalist's documentation of Vietnam War combat operations captures the same mix of dark humor and harsh realities found in Mauldin's work.

About Face by Colonel David H. Hackworth and Julie Sherman A career soldier's critical examination of military leadership and policy during Vietnam reflects Mauldin's questioning of authority and conventional wisdom.

Generation Kill by Evan Wright The embedded reporter's account of Marines during the Iraq War invasion continues the tradition of combining frontline reporting with commentary on military culture.

🔸 Bill Mauldin won two Pulitzer Prizes for his editorial cartooning, with his first coming at age 23, making him one of the youngest recipients ever. 🔸 The book's title comes from a 1971 cartoon about the Vietnam War, reflecting Mauldin's increasingly critical stance toward American military involvement in Southeast Asia. 🔸 During WWII, Mauldin became famous for his characters Willie and Joe, two disheveled infantrymen who represented the average combat soldier's perspective, much to General Patton's displeasure. 🔸 The collection includes cartoons that skewered both Republican and Democratic politicians, with Mauldin being particularly critical of Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal. 🔸 Mauldin's evolving political views - from a relatively conservative WWII soldier to a more liberal political cartoonist in later years - can be traced through the cartoons in this collection, reflecting broader changes in American society.