Cartoonists at the Warrior Center
Nine of the country’s top professional cartoonists just returned from a USO trip to D.C. and Germany where they spent a week visiting the troops. Continuing a tradition that started all the way back in WWII, these guys drew cartoons and caricatures for the men and women being treated or serving at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Walter Reed, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Ramstein AFB.
I had to miss this trip, but I didn’t have to worry about them because of their maturity. They are all seasoned travelers and each has been on similar visits here in the United States.
They are all business.
Plus the team leader, the guy who I knew I could rely on, was Army veteran Bruce Higdon.
Bruce Higdon leading
Besides, I knew the USO would give them the same advice they give to all the cartoonists: DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING.
Mason Mastroianni touching something
Stephen Silver
Dave Mowder
Doctors Mowder, Alma, Harrell, and Steckley (all cartoonists)
Plus I knew that they would handle themselves with subtle grace as they soothed the hurting soldiers.
Ray Alma soothing a hurting Soldier
In the end they all returned home with a perfect record. They visited troops at all their scheduled stops, they put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces, and not one of them got arrested.
As far as I know.
Cartoonists at the Ramstein gate
Chad Carpenter, about a million miles from Alaska
Tom Stiglich and the princess
Cartoonists with Ramstein Military Police
Ed Steckley at Ramstein
The USO Warrior Center (Landstuhl)
(Photos by USO photographer Jaime Goloyugo)
1 Comment
You all were GREAT! I look forward to your next visit to Ramstein. Pictures are worth a 1000 words and the ones of you with our troops say it all. Thanks for taking the time to visit us and see you back in Germany soon!