A cartoonist for the US Army newspaper "Stars & Stripes" in Europe during World War II, he created the beloved characters of Willie and Joe, two dirty, tired, war-weary combat infantrymen who constantly put up with bad food, worse weather, maltreatment by officious army brass and a myriad of other obstacles faced by the ordinary "GI Joe" and nevertheless slogged on. "Willie and Joe" was a huge hit with US and Allied troops fighting in Europe, who could strongly identify with the trials and tribulations faced by the two.