The Stamford Historical Society Presents
Pride and Patriotism: Stamford’s Role in World War II
Online Edition
From Mort Walker's Scrapbook 1945/46: Overseeing the POWs … and making friends
Mort Walker was drafted initially into the Army Air Corps in 1941, and later was part of the Signal Corps and Infantry before being shipped to Italy in 1945 on board the Mariposa, a converted luxury liner that also carried 100 nurses. Once there, he became of head of security for Ordnance Base #1 in Naples in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. In addition to guarding ordnance, Walker oversaw 10,000 German POWs, mostly regular army and signal corps men. Upon his return to the States, he began Beetle Bailey first as a college strip, but later he had Beetle enter the Army, where he has been ever since. Beetle is currently the #3 strip in the world, and Walker was recently presented with a Distinguished Service Award by the Army.
intervieving a general
“…I repatriated all of them, went with them on box cars and took them up to Switzerland
and gave them to the Red Cross, so my job was done over there…”
Images © Mort Walker, All Rights Reserved
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