Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, March 4, 2022

High Desert Hangar Stories
Sgt. George Baker, artist behind the popular

World War II comic, “The Sad Sack”

by Bob Alvis Army life.
special to Aerotech News “The actual state of mind of a soldier
was more authentic and real to me than
In my collection of books, I have his outer appearance,” George wrote in
the works of one Sergeant George the preface to one of his books in 1946,
Baker, which came into my inventory “so therefore my character looked re-
of World War II collectables at some signed, tired, helpless, and beaten. Go-
point when I was on a mission to save ing the whole hog, he looked clumsy
as much of the Greatest Generation’s and even a little stupid, but these last
memorabilia as I could. two elements were actually uninten-
At the time, I didn’t realize that this tional and only slipped in because I
book and its writer probably were one was still a bit rusty in my drawing.”
of the most important morale-boosters The cartoon quickly gained a follow-
to come out of World War II, often ing, and drew the notice of Maj. Hartz-
single handedly keeping the American ell Spence. Spence was on staff with
soldier moving forward during times Yank, a weekly Armed Forces tabloid
of stress. and Bambi. In June 1941, Baker joined magazine. Recognizing talent when
Working for Aerotech News, I real- Disney’s rank and file cartoonists in he saw it, Spence “enlisted” Baker as
ize the importance of the simple format their strike against the Disney studio. a weekly contributor to Yank. George
that keeps the military and civilians up Strapped for cash, he was drafted into titled his strip “The Sad Sack,’’ based
to date about current events, while at the Army and sent to Fort Monmouth, on an Army slang term for a worthless
the same time entertaining them with N.J., for basic training. His inaugural soldier (aka “a sad sack of … a word I
articles and subject matter to take their assignment was to the Signal Corps, as can’t use here!”). “The Sad Sack” ap-
minds off of current events. In World an animator for training films. peared in Yank’s first issue, published
War II the publication “Yanks” did Being in the Army, George ob- June 17, 1942.
that same job, and did so with so many served: “Civilian ignorance of the Baker’s talent earned him a perma-
great contributors who went on to be- Army was appalling. Everyone seemed nent assignment to the staff of Yank
come renowned for their craft. One of to have been educated to the military before 1942 was out. He served there
those was Sgt. Baker and the creation through the movies ... Simple terms for the duration of World War II. As
he came up with which delighted GI’s such as K.P. or Inspection drew a blank part of his assignment, he traveled to Courtesy photographs
till the end of the war: “The Sad Sack.” and needed explanation. In an endeav- military installations world-wide to ob-
George Baker was born May 22, or to rectify this sad state of affairs serve military life and mine for comic a dangerous business. “The Sad Sack” etery it leaves me in awe that this Dis-
1915 in Lowell, Mass., a son of mid- and also to occupy my evenings with strip gold. Baker also helped sell sub- let it be known to soldiers that, in the ney artist who was responsible for add-
dle class parents. In 1923, the family something constructive for a change, scriptions to the magazine in its early fox hole or the kitchen, they were not ing his talent to Disney masterpieces,
moved to Chicago where George at- I decided to do some cartoons that days, and later created promotional alone, or any different than any other then carrying the American GI on his
tended Roosevelt High School. After would explain pictorially what Army posters for the magazine and “The enlisted man in the service. back for the duration of a World War,
graduation, he worked a variety of jobs life was like.” Sad Sack,” George Baker went on to many other would just be another headstone in a
including truck driver, cleaner and dyer Baker envisioned his cartoon pro- Cartoons nowadays do not carry the projects in his life, but none more im- sea of thousands.
assistant, salesman, and clerk. In the tagonist as a comically put-upon, low- same weight as they did generations portant than his works which, during a But that’s no reason to grieve. In
mid-1930s, he moved toward his true ly GI. His goal was “to refute the ads ago. New Sad Sack comics carried very brutal world war, kept the Amer- death, as he was doing what he did in
gifting when he became an assistant to that were then beginning to make their on for a while after the war ended — ican military grounded in reality. He life, he was being the same Sad Sack
a commercial artist. In 1937, he ap- appearance, in which soldiers always and Sad Sack even reenlisted when helped to put a smile on GI’s faces, as that all those at rest around him related
plied to Disney Studios for a job, was looked bright and cheerful, bedecked the Korean war broke out (what was they faced the horrors of war on a rou- to. His spirit was likely just happy to
accepted, and moved to California. He in tailored uniforms immaculately he thinking??) The material was seen tine basis. When it came to understand- end up in a beautiful setting and not
worked in Disney’s effects depart- pressed and shined.” Far from that more in comic books than in newspa- ing he “nailed it’’ as around bunks, Sad ending up with a peeler and an infinite
ment, contributing to classic animated ideal, Baker’s hapless hero was mired per publications; however, those strips Sack was usually sharing wall space stack of potatoes!
features including Pinocchio, Dumbo in the absurd bureaucracy of everyday did motor on for a while. with the sexy pin up girl who kept the Sgt. George Baker, American Leg-
Being an old veteran myself, when lonely GI dreaming of home and mov- end and a friend to every man that put
I sat down for the first time and really ing forward. on the uniform, may you rest in peace,
took in the works of Sergeant Baker, I Sgt. George Baker had so much even if a Sad Sack can ever relate to
realized just how important it was back more to his life than I can share here. the word “peace!”
then that the GI have an alter ego that After seeing a photo of his simple
kept him grounded in reality in such headstone at Riverside National Cem- Until next time, Bob out …

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