Vet's recovered WWII illustrations now in book

By H.M. Cauley

For the AJC

It took 65 years and a trip halfway around the world, but illustrator and artist Jim Schell, 92, finally has published his first book.

“Occupation Outbursts 1945-1946” is a collection of editorial cartoons Schell penned for the Pacific Stars and Stripes when he was stationed in Tokyo in the final months of World War II.

The self-taught artist was 26 when he was recruited as a rifleman replacement late in the conflict, despite being married, having a child and suffering from a serious hearing problem. Convinced he was being sent to a foxhole, Schell instead found himself drawing humorous sketches of GI life among the Japanese people. His work entertained readers for more than a year.

A family emergency called Schell back to the States, and he never returned to Japan. For years, he wondered what became of the hundreds of drawings he had left behind.

“At the time, I assumed I would return to Tokyo and take up where I left off,” he said. “It never happened. I saved none of my work, so I had no proof I was ever there. For 65 years, I had nothing.”

But a surprise phone call from a stranger in Pueblo, Colo., changed that. Mike Thomason, a former college librarian and historian, discovered Schell’s work while researching a book on the war.

“Mike found out I was the guy who did ‘Occupation Outbursts,’ ” said Schell. “So he photographed them and gave me a big stack. I’ve never met him, but I did write him a terrific thank you letter.”

Thomason, who was born in Japan, followed in the steps of his veteran father and served 20 years in the Army, and he is now helping his dad collect his war papers. He stumbled across Schell’s work on microfilmed copies of the Stars and Stripes and tracked him online to Sandy Springs. When he learned that Schell did not have any copies of his work, he printed out each drawing and mailed them to the artist.

“There are a lot of guys who maybe didn’t get credit for the work they did,” said Thomason. “I had no selfish interest; I just thought it would be nice for Mr. Schell’s family to know that their dad was a cartoonist.”

Thomason also was taken with Schell’s talent and humor.

“He didn’t slam the Japanese; he had a very sympathetic ear,” said Thomason. “I saw a lot of cartoons with a sniping or arrogant attitude that came through, but he obviously had talent, and his work was tasteful and mature.”

Schell took Thomason’s suggestion and created the book as a legacy to his three daughters and grandchildren. The collection, with a handsome uniformed Schell gracing the cover, is available at Binders Art Supplies and Frames in Atlanta.

“Without Mike Thomason, we would have never found all these,” said Schell’s daughter Susan Tasse. “Daddy did a cartoon almost every day, but I'd only seen three of them before this.”

Schell’s postwar career included a stint as an illustrator for the Atlanta Journal magazine and a partnership in an advertising firm. He still works at his craft today, giving art lessons and painting portraits, still lifes and landscapes in his home studio, where every bit of wall space holds one of his creations. Only a few examples of his illustrations are on display, so he’s happy to have a book show off that side of his talent.

“I’d almost forgotten about them,” Schell said of the war drawings. “I’m just delighted to have them published in a book. It’s something I can leave for my kids.”

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