by Joe Burlas

(See related Story below.)

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 26, 2000) - The creator of one of the newest cartoons poking fun at the Army recently met the creator of most enduring Army funnies.

Sgt. 1st Class Mark Baker, author of "Private Murphy's Law," met briefly with "Beetle Bailey" author Mort Walker just prior to Walker receiving the Army Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service from Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera May 24.

"Mort Walker has been a real inspiration to me," Baker said. "In fourth-grade, I got a class assignment to bring in my favorite comic strip --'Beetle Bailey' was the one I cut out. He's been around forever."

Through the years, Beetle, Sarge, Otis and General Halftrack from the satirical Army strip have remained some of his favorite funny paper characters, he continued.

In preparation for his meeting with Walker, Baker created a comic of Pvt. Murphy meeting Pvt. Bailey. He gave the original print and a book of Pvt. Murphy comic strips to Walker. Walker gave him praise for his work and encouragement to keep it up.

"I've always wanted to be a cartoonist and Mort Walker is the guy I've tried to emulate - he's the best in the field," Baker said.

Walker will celebrate the 50th anniversary of penning "Beetle Bailey" in Septmeber. His seven syndicated comic strips appear in more than 1,800 newspapers and have an approximate readership of 200 million people.

Baker, a self-taught artist, created "Private Murphy's Law" in the early 1990s. The comic strip tells about the mishaps of an Army private in basic training.   It started running in Army newspapers last August.

"Army honors 'Beetle Bailey' creator"

by Joe Burlas

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 25, 2000) - Poking fun at the Army is usually frowned upon in the halls of the Pentagon but it just got a cartoonist the highest award the Army gives to civilians.

Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera presented the Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service to Mort Walker, creator of the "Beetle Bailey" comic strip, during a Pentagon ceremony Wednesday.

"For more than 50 years Americans and people the world over have enjoyed Mort Walker's natural blend of wit, charisma and the mastery of his craft," Caldera said. "He has brought to us the lighter side of life in the military - poking fun at the people, the regulations, the chow, the order and discipline. No one who has worn the uniform, or knows someone who has worn the uniform, does not have a favorite 'Beetle Bailey' strip."

The award citation recognized Walker's view of the Army as entertaining several generations of soldiers and his efforts to help make the building of a World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., a reality.

When penning "Beetle Bailey," Walker said he draws upon his own experiences and the people he met while serving in a variety of Army assignments in the 1940s.

"I was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1943 but had never been on a airplane before," he said. "They sent me to the Signal Corps but I had no mechanical ability. They sent me to the Engineers but I had no high school math. I was then sent to the Infantry and made a scout, but I was nearsighted."

While in the Infantry, Walker attended Officer Candidate School where he was commissioned. He next landed in an Ordnance unit in Italy which had no requirement for an Infantry lieutenant. He finished his Army career as the commandant of a prisoner of war camp in Naples, Italy. That camp, Walker said, is actually the Camp Swampy used as a backdrop for "Beetle Bailey."

The cartoonist claimed that he wasn't welcome at the Pentagon when he started drawing the cartoon in 1950, but Army leaders have since learned to laugh at themselves.

In addition to the Distinguished Civilian Service award, Walker received coin momentos from and a letter of appreciation signed by Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, Caldera, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Henry H. Shelton and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki during the ceremony.   He also received a Patriotic Eagle award from the Association of the United States Army, a plaque from the Noncommissioned Officers Association and a letter of appreciation from the National World War II Memorial Campaign Committee.

"Beetle Bailey" appears in more than 1,800 newspapers and has an approximate readership of 200 million people. Walker will celebrate the 50th anniversary of drawing the enduring strip in September.

Walker is also the creator of the "Hi and Lois" comic strip.

Excerpts from the U.S. Army Web Site News Coverage (May'2000)

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"So what are you going to do???   Send me to 'Nam'?!"   <rofl>

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Take a Virtual Tour of various Army installations, pieces of equipment, and simulations.
Click on the links below.

Click the rafting photo (below) for Other U.S. Army Links

Army Barracks Living quarters in today's Army are nothing like what your parents were used to.   Enlisted personnel are assigned to areas more like a college dorm than the common picture most people have of Army barracks. Abrams M1A2 Tank Explore inside the Army's primary mobile weapon system.   See each crew members position and also view interviews with an actual crew. Army Aviation The Army fields many types of aircraft from fixed wing airplanes to high-tech helicopters. Bradley M3A3 Fighting Vehicle Explore one of the most versatile combat vehicles available. See inside and view actual crew members discuss their jobs.

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Quoted verbatum -

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# # #

Associated article photos/graphics have been used
to promote, enhance and present in the most favorable facsimile
the two Army News Service Articles, verbatum
as well as the United States Army!

Furthermore, " Army Link" and " Army News"
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DPRB has been careful to provide credit information for this page.
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By Mort Walker   (Bookmark for a laugh'a day...)

Credits:   both news articles are written by Joe Burlas

The following was brought to use as a public service of DPRB.

"If you enjoy humor, ie, cartoons then you too will want to honor these fine folks!"

Mort Walker and SFC Mark Baker are honored herein.

Both , I am proud to say -

are products of the U.S. Army (past and present, respectively.)

This tribute* page was composed in celebration of D-Day, 2000 Anniversary.

"In memory of those that served and died so that we all may be free!"



* "This is not a commercial advertisement
and DPRB is the sole owner of this web site
not in conjunction with or affiliated with any
other organization, profit or otherwise."   - DPRB   6 Jun 00