Keep A Sense Of Humor Even In A Combat Zone

08.04.2005

Courtesy Story

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By Tech Sgt. Kelley Stewart
Combined Press Information Center-Baghdad



Humor is a very important " even if you aren't in a combat zone.

One way the staff of the Scimitar tries to help relieve stress is by running editorial cartoons; one of which is drawn by a staff member and others are drawn by volunteers who draw things they find funny.

Some find the cartoons humorous, some don't. This has been true since the first editorial cartoon came into being.

During World War II, Gen. George Patton didn't like Bill Mauldin's depiction of U.S. Soldiers. Mauldin drew the cartoon "Willie and Joe." His cartoons showed two infantry Soldiers in their foxholes and a variety of situations Soldiers found themselves in during the war. Quite often "Willie and Joe" were unshaven, dirty and tired -- both physically and mentally.

Patton didn't like Mauldin's cartoon, and demanded he immediately stop depicting Soldiers in an unflattering light. However, Soldiers loved "Willie and Joe" because the cartoon depicted what they were going through and saying the things they wanted to say.

The difference is Mauldin, who later went on to win two Pulitzer Prizes, had his cartoons published in the Stars and Stripes, a First Amendment newspaper.

The Scimitar isn't a First Amendment newspaper. It's a command information tool that allows the commander to get out information he feels the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines need to know. Information put in the Scimitar is thoroughly reviewed to ensure it is appropriate. Unfortunately, not everyone may appreciate some of the humor found in the Scimitar.

The Scimitar ran a cartoon drawn by an Airman July 22. The cartoon depicts an Army private saying he"d feel safer outside the wire rather than on base because 3,000 Airmen had been issued M-16s and manuals. Some people found it offensive to the Air Force. I, on the other hand, saw great humor and irony in the cartoon.

In today's Air Force all Airmen are issued the "Airman's Manual" and are required to bring it with them when they deploy. The "Airman's Manual" is chock-full of useful information from self aid and buddy care to identifying unexploded ordinance to taking apart your weapon, cleaning it and function checking it when it's been put back together.

So the cartoon isn't far off on the mark, in my opinion. Airmen are issued "instruction manuals." Soldiers are issued manuals as well, which are called the "The Soldier's Guide." This book, as it has been explained to me, covers all the basics of being a Soldier.

The second part of the cartoon I also found funny because it pokes fun at an old stereotype of our Air Force. Airmen are no longer miles behind enemy lines launching planes to bomb and destroy the enemy to safely return and enjoy a quiet evening at home.

Airmen are in the thick of the fight here daily, and they are proving that stereotype wrong every day!

I read a story online that said Airmen from the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and Detachment 1058 had supported 3,500 convoys and had recently completed their 3-million mile mark on convoys since the Airmen began their missions in March 2003.

Those Airmen, and thousands more throughout the area of responsibility from a variety of Air Force Specialty Codes, are putting this old stereotype to rest. That's why I found the cartoon funny, with a certain twist of irony.

I am proud to be an Airman in our Air Force. I am honored to work along side such tremendous Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Combined Press Information Center. We joke daily about the differences between the services, which I believe is a way to build camaraderie and tear down those barriers that lead to stereotyping and wrong perceptions about each other and mission we perform " what each brings to the fight!

Life here is too hard and dangerous enough without letting one cartoon get you all worked up.

Of interest, the cartoonist doesn't spare any service from his artistic and comedic talents, it is a way of looking at ourselves, seeing the truth in the humor and moving on, with a smile on our face because we can look at ourselves and laugh.

• Date Taken: 08.04.2005
• Date Posted: 08.04.2005 12:36
• Story ID: 2629