A man smiles at a woman in an office.

David Mazzarella, editor who championed independent military journalism at Stars and Stripes, dies at 87

Former Stars and Stripes editor David Mazzarella, whose newspaper career spanned 45 years as a reporter, editor and executive, died Thursday from complications of a fall, his obituary said.

Vernon Grant, Cartoonist

Cartoonist and Army officer Vernon Grant had a unique ability to capture the soldier’s perspective during the Vietnam War.

John Olson, Photographer

Former Stars and Stripes Pacific combat photographer John Olson is known for his haunting images of the Vietnam War, particularly those taken during the bloody Tet Offensive and Battle of Hue in 1968.

Steve Kroft, Reporter

Veteran broadcaster Steve Kroft, who retired from CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes” in 2019 after three decades with the groundbreaking news program, began his journalism career with Stars and Stripes Pacific during the Vietnam War.

Tom Sutton, Artist

Long before artist Tom Sutton began contributing to Marvel Comics and the popular Warren Publishing series “Vampirella,” he was sharpening his drawing pencil, and his skills, at Stars and Stripes’ office in downtown Tokyo.

Shel Silverstein, Artist

Author, composer and cartoonist Shel Silverstein served as a draftee on Stars and Stripes’ Pacific staff in the mid-1950s and said it was the catapult that launched him to success and wealth.

Toshi Cooper, Librarian

After wartime terror and defeat, a Japanese life is rebuilt around Stars and Stripes