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Drawing a smile: Cartoonists visit deployed servicemembers

  • Published
  • By Story by Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr.
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Laughter and smiles filled the room as members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and partner units saw themselves on paper when cartoonists and caricaturists visited Oct. 22-23, 2011, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

Ten cartoonists and caricaturists from the National Cartoonist Society visited the base as part of a USO Cartoonist Tour to share their artistic gifts with deployed servicemembers.

At several locations, the artists talked and joked with deployed members while they drew caricatures of them.

"I enjoyed it. It definitely gives us a break from the normal routine," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Briana Fidelholtz, a member of the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command, deployed from the Center for Information Dominance Learning Center in San Diego, Calif. "It's not like they're nobodies - they're MAD cartoonists and pretty name brand people. I've read MAD magazine and Beetle Bailey."

Some of the more well-known cartoonists included: Todd Clark, creator of "Lola," T. Lewis, illustrator of "Over the Hedge," Bill Janocha, Beetle Bailey artist, and Ed Steckley and Sam Viviano from "Mad Magazine." "Mad Magazine," founded in 1952, satires different aspects of life, pop culture, politics, entertainment and public figures.

"I didn't expect to be asked to attend this tour but it has been an honor and a privilege and it is turning out to be a fabulous experience too," Janocha said. "Certainly meeting the smiling faces and strong characters of the hundreds of service members has been very exciting."

The visit here is part of a tour throughout the Area of Responsibility with stops in several countries. During their stop, the cartoonists visited firefighters on-shift since they would not be able to make it to any of the public gatherings.

"The traveling cartoonists came in making some caricatures for all the firefighters," said Airman 1st Class Brian Bridgeford, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department driver operator, deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla. "It's pretty awesome and they are pretty talented people.

"I definitely enjoyed it and have all these souvenirs to take back home," the Colorado Springs, Colo., native said. "It's cool how each one has their own different style."

The National Cartoonist Society began visiting troops overseas in 1952.

"It's just great to see people come out and support us," said Fidelholtz, a native of Quaker City, Ohio. "It definitely shows people care about the military.

"It's not just them doing drawings of us. Like I got a drawing of me and my dog and I miss my dog so it makes me feel better," she added.

The cartoonists were not only quick with a kind word or smile, but their pens as well.

"We came, all 10 of us, and set up and made as many drawings as we possibly could in the time that we were here," said Rob Smith Jr., editorial cartoonist for Glenn Beck. "It was a great interaction between two different worlds."