To the editor:

The Journal-World’s unfortunate use of Bill Mauldin, in its apparent attempt to indirectly absolve a U.S. soldier for summarily executing a helpless Iraqi captive in cold blood, (“Grim reality,” Jan. 31) disgraces the paper and casts aspersions on its readers.

I knew Bill Mauldin in the days that I taught journalism at Northwestern University. In no way, I’m convinced, would Bill have approved of what that soldier did.

Neither would have my older brother, who served honorably as a combat infantryman in the renowned 104th “Timberwolf” division in World War II and fought in the historic Battle of the Bulge. He was one of those “dog faces” portrayed by Mauldin in “Up Front.” Nor would have my younger brother, who served in a tank destroyer unit and later participated in the roundup of Japanese soldiers in Korea.

Is the Journal-World suggesting that they and its readers probably would engage in the same immoral action — under similar circumstances — as the soldier mentioned in the editorial?

If so, they have every right to resent it.

John De Mott,

Lawrence