VIETNAM |
IRAQ-KURDISTAN |
SOMALIA |
He began his military career in 1943 training as a naval aviator to become a Marine fighter pilot, following in the footsteps of his brother who was killed in World War II. "I flew fixed-wing airplanes and later, as a reservist, flew helicopters as well. In 1967 he served for three months as a combat artist in Vietnam. Twenty-four years later, he volunteered to reprise that role in Iraq. "I thought they might be interested in sending an aging combat artist over" during the Persian Gulf war. In 1991 he volunteered to join Operation Provide Comfort, a Marine Corps venture that was a part of a multinational force sent to rescue the Kurdish people fleeing to the mountains to escape from Saddam Hussein's troops. "I knew I wanted to be there to record it." His request led to orders for him to join the operation as a Marine combat artist once again. |