 In 1944, after being praised by Ernie Pyle, Bill Mauldin's cartoons were syndicated in the United States.This effort was supported by the War Department due to Mauldin's grimmer depiction of everyday military life in his cartoons.Mauldin's cartoons not only publicized the efforts of the ground forces, but they made the war appear bitter and onerous, helping convince Americans that victory would not be easy.