Cartoons: Army Life

While in the army during World War II, Touster finally had an outlet for his cartoons. Two army publications for the soldiers, Yank and Stars and Stripes, began publishing his work regularly.

In 1945, on the six-week return trip from Europe, his troop transport ship published a daily newspaper, the S.S. Walter Reed's Sentimental Journal for the passengers and crew. Touster was both cartoonist and designer for the paper, and his position was listed on the masthead as “The Nose,” no doubt referring to the main characteristic he gave to his cartoon subjects. His book on war cartooning, War and Laughter: The War Cartoons of Bruce Bainsfather and Bill Mauldin, was published in 2012.

(Click on thumbnail to enlarge image, and to view artwork data)