Sat Oct 4, 2008 — by Robert Greenberger

Cartoonists Cheer Soldiers

NCS Members Tour Washington, Germany

Eight cartoonists have been visiting with American troops recovering from action-related injuries at both Washington’s Walter Reed Hospital and at German’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

According to a report from Stars and Stripes, Chip Bok (editorial cartoonist at Akron Beacon-Journal), Jeff Keane (Family Circus), Rick Kirkman (Baby Blues), Mike Peters (Mother Goose & Grimm), Mike Luchovich (editorial cartoonist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Walt Handlesman (editorial cartoonist for Newsday), Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine), and Tom Richmond (Mad Magazine) have been traveling together along with military artists and others.

The National Cartoonist Society members broke in to groups and scoured the wards, sitting beside soldiers and sketching away, often doing caricatures as they chatted and presenting them as tokens of appreciation.

"You guys are awesome," Jesse Stephenson said upon receiving a drawing. "You guys are awesome."

"You’re awesome," Peters told him in return.

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