Bill Mauldin was born in New York City on October 4, 1921. He attended public schools in New York City and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on June 2, 1941, and served as a private until September 1946, when he retired with the rank of corporal due to disability
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He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. After his discharge, he attended New York University on the G.I. Bill of Rights and graduated with an MFA degree in 1948.
Mauldin's first job was as a proofreader for The New Yorker magazine. He then joined the staff of The Saturday Evening Post for 13 years until his retirement at age 65. His cartoons appeared throughout the Post throughout his career—sometimes two or three times a week—and were syndicated through King Features Syndicate.
Mauldin died on April 14, 1998 at age 81, survived by his wife, Mary Jane, sons Bill Jr., Peter, and daughter Harriet.