Remembering World War II

Stars and Stripes already had a proud history — having served the troops in the Civil War and World War I — when the decision was made to revive the newspaper in the European theater in April, 1942. A Pacific theater edition followed in 1945, and the paper has continued to bring news and information to troops around the world ever since. Here are some of the orginial stories and editorial cartoons Stripes delivered to U.S. servicemembers during World War II, as well as coverage of the 2004 dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington.

World War II Memorial
Joe Gromelski / S&S

World War II Memorial

Memorial Day belongs to all U.S. veterans, but Memorial Day 2004 belonged especially to the men and women of “The Greatest Generation,” Americans who helped win World War II.

Coming together on an unseasonably cool and clear day, three U.S. presidents — the current President Bush and his father, President George H.W. Bush, and President Bill Clinton — and a host of famous guests led a ceremony Saturday to dedicate the long-awaited World War II Memorial on The Mall in Washington, D.C. Read story

V-E Day 60th Anniversary Special Edition

WWII 60th Anniversary commemoratives

V-E Day

D-Day

Liberation of Guam

Stars and Stripes, August 15, 1945

World War II archives

Stories

Cartoons

  • Bill Mauldin: A collection of Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Mauldin’s “Willie and Joe” cartoons.
  • Dave Breger: “GI Jerry,” a scathing analysis of Nazi propaganda from the creator of “Mister Breger.”
  • Bil Keane: A 1945 cartoon on soldiers leaving the postwar Pacific theater for home, drawn by the creator of “The Family Circus.”

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