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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #147
January 30, 2003
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"Wounded Once and Scared Often"
Another Tribute to Bill Mauldin, Soldier Cartoonist

As a World War II veteran and the former President of New
Mexico State University, I feel compelled to add a few comments
to the many, many tributes paid to Bill Mauldin after his
death in January 2003. With this tribute, I can address the
creator of "Williew" and "Joe" as Dr. Bill Mauldin. In 1972,
New Mexico State University awarded an Honorary Doctor of 
Letters to this distinguished New Mexican citizen.

This well-deserved honor was presented at the Commencement in
May 1972. At that time, the University had a display of 
Mauldin's works and I was one of the fortunate individuals to
receive an autographed copy of his book "The Brass Ring" with
a small sketch of Willie and a notation stating "For Jerry
Thomas with regards from a friend."

At the 50th Anniversary of WWII, NMSU sponsored a symposium
about New Mexico's involvement in the Second World War. This
conference resulted in a book entitled "Victory in World War
II: The Mexico Story," assembled by the Rio Grande Historical
Collections at NMSU. I wrote to Bill Mauldin for permission to
use some of his cartoons in the book because they added so much
meaning to the articles. A few comments from my chapter about
Bill Mauldin in that book bear repetition:

"Born in Mountain Park, NM (near Cloudcroft) in 1921, Bill
Mauldin succeeded so spectacularly that General George Patton,
infuriated by his satire, wanted to court-martial him. Others
applauded him as a morale builder. Ernie Pyle, probably WWII's
most famous reporter, game a succinct description of Mauldin in
the book "Brave Men":

'Sergeant Bill Mauldin seemed to us over there to be the finest
cartoonist the war had produced. And that's not merely because
his cartoons are funny, but because they are also terribly grim
and real. Mauldin's cartoons aren't about training camp life,
which is most familiar to people at home. They are about the
men in the line--the tiny percentage of our vast army who are
actually up there doing the dying. His cartoons are about the
war. Mauldin's central characters (Willie and Joe) are soldiers,
unshaven, unwashed, unsmiling. They look like hobos. They look,
in fact, like dogfoots who have been in the lines for two
months.'

Bill Mauldin joined the army at age 18. "Wounded once and
scared often," he prowled the foxholes with his pencil. He
spent most of his war years with the 45th Division. But his
cartoons spread rapidly, reaching both military and civilian
publications. His two Pulitzer Prizes and his Honorary Degree
from NMSU are well deserved. We can all be proud of this
citizen of New Mexico and we can never forget his unique
approach to telling the story of World War II.

Gerald W. Thomas
President Emeritus, NMSU

References:

"The Brass Ring," Bill Mauldin, W. W. Norton & Co, 1971.
"Brave Men," Ernie Pyle, Grosset and Dunlap, 1945.
"Victory in World War II: The New Mexico Story," Thomas,
Billington, and Walker, Rio Grande Historical Collections,
1994.

[The Newsletter thanks Dr. Thomas for this guest editorial.
Don is taking Water Certification classes this week.]

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. SPECIAL -- SEASONSCAPE, PHOTO 5
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- SCENIC CANYON RV PARK
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- NEW MEXICO STATE PARKS
5. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
6. COMING EVENTS
7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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Still some snow on the ground. Highs in the low-50s. Lows in
the low-20s.
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SPECIAL -- SEASONSCAPE, PHOTO 5
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The SeasonScape photo experiment by Kit Richards continues:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/photos/seasonscape.htm

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INSIDE THE SHOP -- SCENIC CANYON RV PARK
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Scenic, secluded, and uncrowded. Large pull-through spaces with
50 AMP hookups. 33 channels of Cable TV. Phone and internet
connections available. 6.5 miles East of Cloudcroft off Hwy 82.
For information and reservations, call (877) 687-2306 (toll
free) or email bill@cloudcroft-rv.com. For a map and more
information, see the link to their Web Site on the RV/Camping
page of Cloudcroft.com:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/camping.htm

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- NEW MEXICO STATE PARKS
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Here's a complete list.

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/nmparks/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - When is the Sunspot National Solar Observatory Visitor
Center open?

A - During the summer months, it is open every day from 10am to
6pm. During the winter months, it is open from 10am to 4pm,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting). 

http://www.nso.edu/sunspot/sp_index.html

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COMING EVENTS
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January 30 -- AARP#3790 meeting. Call (505) 687-3550.

January 31 -- Cloudcroft girls and boys basketball vs. Tularosa
at home.

February 1 -- Cloudcroft girls and boys basketball vs.
Lordsburg at home.

February 3 -- Cloudcroft girls and boys basketball vs.
Tularosa at home.

February 6 -- Cloudcroft girls and boys basketball vs.
Capitan at home.

February 8 -- Cloudcroft girls and boys basketball vs.
Hatch at home.

February 14 -- Cloudcroft girls basketball vs. Tularosa. away.

February 14 -- Cloudcroft boys basketball vs. Tularosa at home.

February 15 -- Cloudcroft girls basketball at Lordsburg.

February 21 -- Cloudcroft girls basketball at Capitan.

February 28 -- Mardi Gras in Cloudcroft. 5 days of festivities.
Call (505) 682-2733 for more info.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Sunday of each month,
2-4pm, in the Old Red Brick School House. Call (505) 682-3004
for more information and details on the Cloudcroft Summer Art
Workshops.

Would you like to help deliver meals to the homebound around
Cloudcroft? Monday through Friday deliveries. Call the
Cloudcroft Senior Center at (505)-682-3022.

Mountain Garden Club meets every third Monday of each month.
Call (505) 682-2910 for more information.

Senior Van from Timberon to Alamogordo leaves the Timberon
Lodge promptly at 8:30 every Tuesday morning.

Free Vitals Clinic. Cloudcroft Senior Citizens Center, every
Wednesday. High Rolls Senior Citizens Center, first Thursday
of each month.

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For an online calendar of area events, click the Events Calendar
link in the left column of our home page:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/index.html

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

I really enjoyed your story about the F117-A.

Since it seems that many Stealth pilots read your newsletter,
I would just like to say thank you to a Stealth pilot known to
me as "Bulldog".

Three years ago, I was in South Carolina for my 2-week Air Force
Reserve duty and the Stealth was there for an air show.
"Bulldog" introduced me to Ron, the mechanic that worked on his
Stealth.

Four months later I moved from St. Louis, MO to Holloman AFB to
be with Ron. This past November we got engaged, and plan to
marry next year!

Of course when I first met my fiancé Ron, "Bulldog" made us
promise to name our first child after him. We thought that was
crazy at the time, even though we may have a child some day,
I'm just not sure if I can keep that promise. But I would like
to say thanks to "Bulldog" for introducing me to Ron!

Thank you for your newsletter and for appreciating the Stealth
pilots as wonderful people.

Katey Wier

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Dear Newsletter:

I look forward to getting your column to have a glimpse of what
is happening in and around Cloudcroft. I too forwarded your
column to a friend of ours that is a Stealth pilot. He and
his family really seemed to appreciate it and I, like you,
respect and admire their dedication to duty and willingness
to protect us. We will be praying for them if and when they
go. We also need to pray for and support their families who
are left behind. 

I especially love the newsletter article(s) about the sweet
man at Village Hardware. Isn't it just the greatest store! I
admit I am a bit biased because Jerry is my Dad.

Since my parents moved there almost 11 years ago, they have
enjoyed every minute and we try to get up there from Dallas
as much as possible. In the meantime, I must be content with
reading about Cloudcroft from your newsletter.

Thanks for being one of my links to such a beautiful place. 

Mrs. Dru H. Chapman
Dallas, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

It was good to see you enjoy your visit to Holloman. I was
stationed there in 1973 when the tactical jets were Phantoms
and the crews were just as good.

It's easy to get high on the aircraft tour, but remember,
there are many people behind the scenes making the pilots look
great. And they may not be at the base!

The Air Force is a team, and the team is only as good as the
weakest member.

I know for a fact that our Air Force is the best trained and
has the best morals and best everything of any military force
the world has ever known.

Or ever will.

Cheers,
TexasTip (USAF Maj, Ret)
Houston & Florida

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Dear Newsletter:

Thank you for the letter about the Stealth fighters (both
letters) - the first one gave me a lump in my throat, but the
second one made me cry. We always think of our fighting men and
women as nameless faces, but your letter really helped put
things in perspective.

My dad was a decorated war hero in WWII and unfortunately, I
never realized what that meant until he was gone. I only hope
to see him again someday.

Keep writing your wonderful letters, they are a joy to read!

Ann Moeller
Austin, Texas 

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Dear Newsletter:

I finished my working days in civil service at Holloman Air
Force Base and retired while attached to the 49th Civil
Engineering Squadron in 1992. This was shortly after the F-177
Stealths were moved there.

Like all of your articles, I have especially enjoyed your write
up on the Stealth and also your VIP trip to the base. I haven't
been on the base since 1996, so the description of your trip
and the pictures brought back a lot of pleasant memories.

The first Stealth to arrive at Holloman was shortly after the
Gulf War and was flown by the Squadron Commander, who's name
escapes me. He had just returned from the war. We were
notified he was on base and parked by the old control tower.

Of course we rushed for a look. A rope barricade had been
placed around the plane and several armed guards were stationed
inside the ropes. If I remember, 18 bombs were painted on the
side of his plane, which would denote the sorties he had flown.

I must admit at first the plane appeared to most of us as being
ugly and clumsy looking. I later became used to its unusual
shape and size and after reading what a potent weapon it is,
I am now very proud to have been one of the first group to
welcome the 49th Squadron to Holloman.

One other note, there was a T-38 trainer parked close to the
Stealth and the T-38 was much longer, but not as high as the
117.

Dick Trone 
Carlsbad, NM

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Dear Newsletter:

I thought that your article this past week was exceptional. 
I wish that the entire country could read this.

I have enjoyed all of your articles since I came on board a
few months ago. We live on the central coast in California and
have new friends in Las Cruces now.

Enjoyed seeing your picture as well to see who's behind the
words.

Keep on truckin',
Sharon E. Owens-Avey
Atascadero, California 

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Dear Newsletter:

The 4000 or so of us who don't live in Cloudcroft (yet) could
probably stand to know what the denizens of their favorite 
'Burgh look like. How about a full-face pic of your mug?
Include one of your wife and your "editor" for good measure.

That way when we see you on the streets of Cloudcroft during
our oh-so-short visits there, we can yell "Howdy" like we know
you or something...as we already feel we do from reading your
ramblings here weekly.

Thanks in advance, you'll be glad you did...

Richard Day
Biloxi, MS/High Nogal

[For a photo of Don, see the first photo in last week's issue.]

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Dear Newsletter:

Recently I have been trying to recall details about my years
in the Cox Canyon School. That period was from January 1935 to
March 1938. I can remember our teacher in 1935, Mrs. Lon
French, and some of the students. I also have a vague memory
of other buildings and families living near the school.

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has memories or
pictures of that era.

Robert C. Mitchell
Ellensburg, Washington

[If you can help Mr. Mitchell, email us and we will forward
your emails to him.]

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Dear Newsletter:

My wife and I travel through Cloudcroft about ten time a year
and it's as close to Shangri-La as one can get.

Your story on the F-117 Blackhawk was great. It brought back
memories of my two sons who were in the Air Force. Yes, I know
how you feel about protecting our country--I feel the same way
too.

We're both smart enough to know that some of the Middle-East
countries did not throw a dart at a world map and say let's
get the Americans. I believe there is a lot of history behind
why there is such hatred for Americans. I hope and pray every
day that we can find peace and justice. On the other hand--if
it comes to war--my heart and prayers are with all those on the
side of justice, peace and democracy.

Thanks again and keep up the great work with the paper. In a
few years I would love to retire in 'Shangri-La'.

Jim See 

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