“The three years I spent in the army taught me all I needed to know about loneliness,” Schulz wrote in “My Life with Charlie Brown,” published in 2010. “My sympathy for the loneliness that all of us experience is dropped heavily upon poor Charlie Brown.”
Charles Schulz, was drafted into the US Army in November of 1942. Schulz reported to Fort Snelling in Minnesota for induction into service. Charles’ mother Dena, was suffering from cancer and he would visit her as much as possible during this time.
When Charles arrived at Camp Campbell in Kentucky and was assigned to Company B in the 8th Armored Infantry Battalion, 20th Armored Division. During basic training Staff Sergeant Schulz became a squad leader on a .50 caliber machine gun crew in charge of training new recruits.
According to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center: “On February 25, 1945, Schulz’s unit landed in France. They trained at a chateau near Rouen in Normandy. His unit trekked 1,400 miles through Europe, entering Germany and playing a part in liberating Dachau. Sergeant Schulz was honorably discharged from service in January 1946.
“After the war Charles published his first comic strip “Li’l Folks” in 1947 under St. Paul Pioneer Press. Schulz eventually pitched a four panel strip to United Feature Syndicate and it was accepted. The first release of “Peanuts” was October 2, 1950.”
On May 30, 1983 the 26th animated special, “What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?” was released – focusing on World War I and II history. It won a Peabody Award. On June 28, 1996 Charles Schulz received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame before announcing his upcoming retirement on December 14, 1999. At this time his comics were published in over 2,700 newspapers worldwide.
Staff Sergeant Charles Schulz passed away on February 12, 2000 at the age of 77 years old. The next day, his final new Sunday strip runs. Reruns of “Peanuts” continue to run in newspapers.
Throughout his life Charles continued to support his fellow veterans as he led efforts to honor the D-Day invasion and donated $1 million to fund what would become the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia.
Schulz’s comics routinely held markings of his military service. He commemorated Veterans Day and referenced some of his fellow WWII veterans such as Bill Maudin, who was himself a famous cartoonist. In an interview toward the end of his life, he referred to D-Day as the “most important day of our century.”
Charles Schulz would have been 102 years old today. He lies in rest at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park in Sebastopol California. Lest We Forget.
WWII uncovered©️ description and photos sourced by The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, US Army center of Military History and Charles Schulz comics. (Fair Use Photos)
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