It was published for the first time on February 8, 1918.
In World War I the staff and the roving reporters and illustrators of the newspaper were veterans of newspaper world or, more frequently, talented young soldiers who would later become famous members of the United Sates media in the post war era.
The Stars and Stripes was then an 8 page weekly which reached a peak of 526,000 readers, relying on the considerable improvisation efforts of its staff to get it printed in France and to distribute it to U.S. troops.
In World War II the newspaper was printed in several editions in several operating theaters. Again, capable newspapermen in uniform and young soldiers who would later become ace reporters and journalists, filled the staffs and showed zeal and talent in getting the paper out on time and delivering it. Some of the editions were assembled and printed close and very close to the front in order to get the latest information out to the most troops.
"The Stars and Stripes" is also a nickname for the Flag of the United States.