1944.07.30 “The Girl in Navy Blue” by Frederick (Fred) Otto Seibel

A great reminder that women have somehow played a role in every war effort. Also cool to see that the artist passed this piece to Joe Certa. 

Interesting idea. I came across 2 WW2 soldiers with the name and wondered if they were NOT the recipients because artists so readily included rank in their dedications. 

This would be, by internet reckoning, a couple of years before THAT Joe Certa started his professional career. 

Little is known about the life of Joe Certa, co-creator and longest serving artist of the Martian Manhunter. Certa was born in 1919, educated through the Art Students League, and entered the field in 1946 through Funnies Inc. As part of the comic strip packaging service, Certa's first published work was on titles for Lev Gleason, including the infamous Crime Does Not Pay and Crime and Punishment. For Novelty Press, Certa worked on the strips Bull's-Eye Bill, Target and the Targeteers, The Cadet and Dick Cole, The Wonder Boy. For other publishers, Certa produced work on True Comics, Picture News and more.

The comic book series for which Certa initially made his name were Captain Marvel Jr. (1947-1953,) Joe Palooka (1950-1959,) and The Durango Kid (1950-1952.) 

Certa began his long association with National/DC in 1949 on The Adventures of Alan Ladd, continuing with Captain Compass, Casebook Mystery, Gang Busters, Robotman, and The Phantom Stranger. 

In 1955, Joe Certa began his thirteen year run on DC's Manhunter from Mars, co-creating John Jones/J'onn J'onzz and his entire supporting cast, including Zook, Diane Meade, and Captain Harding. With the exception of Professor Hugo, Certa co-created every noteworthy Martian Manhunter villain of the Silver Age, including Mr. V, Marco Xavier, Vulture and the Diabolu Idol-Head.
 

I'd like to think it's "that" Joe Certa.