Vietnam Combat Artists Program

U.S. Army Vietnam Combat Artists Program
LOOKING DOWN THE TRAIL Watercolor James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967 Courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Army
Active	(June 1966–1970)
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army

In June 1966, the Army Vietnam Combat Artists Program was established as part of the United States Army Art Program, utilizing teams of soldier-artists to make pictorial records of U.S. Army activities in the course of the Vietnam War for the annals of military history. The concept of the Vietnam Combat Art Program had its roots in WW II when the U.S. Congress authorized the Army to use soldier-artists to record military operations in 1944.

During the Vietnam Era, the U.S. Army Chief of Military History asked Marian McNaughton, then Curator for the Army Art Collection, to develop a plan for a Vietnam soldier art program. The result was the creation in 1966 of the U. S. Army Vietnam Combat Art Program under the direction of the Office of Chief of Military History and McNaughton's office. Her plan included involving the U.S. Army Arts and Crafts Program, then headed by Eugenia Nowlin. McNaughton's office relied on Nowlin and her cadre of local Army Arts and Crafts directors to solicit applications from soldiers, which were forwarded to McNaughton's office at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, where selection and team assignments were made. The U.S. Army provided logistics support as the teams of artists were sent to Vietnam and then to Hawaii.

Artists interested in joining the program were asked to submit applications through the Army Arts and Crafts Program facilities nearest their unit. Applications were to contain samples of drawings, photographs of paintings and a resume. Selections were made by a committee composed of designated representatives from the Office, Chief of Military History and the Adjutant General's Office. Supervised by Army Art Curator Marian McNaughton. The program was the joint responsibility of the Office, Chief of Military History, and the Adjutant General's Office with support from the Office, Chief of information.

History

Nine Combat Artist Teams (CATs) operated in Vietnam. Typically, each team consisted of five soldier artists who spent 60 days of temporary duty (TDY) in Vietnam gathering information and making preliminary sketches of U.S. Army related activities. The teams then transferred to Hawaii for an additional 75 days to finish their work. Artists were given artistic freedom and encouraged to depict subjects in their own individual styles. Art created by soldier artists became a part of the U.S. Army Art Collection maintained by the U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH), Washington, D.C.

On 17 March 1969, due to the widespread interest shown by soldier artists and the impact of their work throughout the Army, the official name was changed from the VIETNAM COMBAT ART PROGRAM to the ARMY ARTIST PROGRAM. Coverage was expanded to include portraying the U.S. Army worldwide.

U.S. Army soldier artist participants

Roger Blum, Vietnam Combat Artist Team I, discusses his painting "Attack at Twilight," completed with acrylic. The painting was inspired by Blum's first view of a burning "hooch," or hut, and he used dramatic lighting to emphasize the emotion of the painting.

List of U.S. Army Vietnam Combat Artist Team (CAT) members and supervisors from 15 August 1966 – 14 January 1970. (Cities listed reflect information on original applications which are currently in archives of U.S. Army Center of Military History).

• CAT I, 15 Aug - 15 Dec 1966, Roger A. Blum (Stillwell, KS), Robert C. Knight (Newark, NJ), Ronald E. Pepin (East Hartford, CT), Paul Rickert (Philadelphia, PA), Felix R. Sanchez (Fort Madison, IA), John O. Wehrle (Dallas, TX), and supervisor, Frank M. Sherman.

• CAT II, 15 Oct 1966 – 15 Feb 1967, Augustine G. Acuna (Monterey, CA), Alexander A. Bogdanovich (Chicago, IL), Theodore E. Drendel (Naperville, IL), David M. Lavender (Houston, TX), Gary W. Porter (El Cajon, CA), and supervisor, Carolyn M. O'Brien.

• CAT III, 16 Feb - 17 June 1967, Michael R. Crook (Sierra Madre, CA), Dennis O. McGee (Castro Valley, CA), Robert T. Myers (White Sands Missile Range, NM), Kenneth J. Scowcroft (Manassas, VA), Stephen H. Sheldon (Los Angeles, CA), and supervisor, C. Bruce Smyser.

• CAT IV, 15 Aug - 31 Dec 1967, Samuel E. Alexander (Philadelphia, MS), Daniel T. Lopez (Fresno, CA), Burdell Moody (Mesa, AZ), James R. Pollock (Pollock, SD), Ronald A. Wilson (Alhambra, CA), and technical supervisor, Frank M. Thomas.

• CAT V, 1 Nov 1967 – 15 March 1968, Warren W. Buchanan (Kansas City, MO), Philip V. Garner (Dearborn, MI), Phillip W. Jones (Greensboro, NC), Don R. Schol (Denton, TX), John R. Strong (Kanehoe, HI), and technical supervisor, Frank M. Thomas.

• CAT VI, 1 Feb - 15 June 1968, Robert T. Coleman (Grand Rapids, MI), David N. Fairrington (Oakland, CA), John D. Kurtz IV (Wilmington, DE), Kenneth T. McDaniel (Paris, TN), Michael P. Pala (Bridgeport, CT).

• CAT VII, 15 Aug - 31 Dec 1968, Brian H. Clark (Huntington, NY), William E. Flaherty Jr. (Louisville, KY), William C. Harrington (Terre Haute, IN), Barry W. Johnston (Huntsville, AL), Stephen H. Randall (Des Moines, IA), and supervisor, Fitzallen N. Yow.

• CAT VIII, 1 Feb - 15 June 1969, Edward J. Bowen (Carona Del Mar, CA), James R. Drake (Colorado Springs, CO), Roman Rakowsky (Cleveland, OH), Victory V. Reynolds (Idaho Falls, ID), Thomas B. Schubert (Chicago, IL), and supervisor, Fred B. Engel.

• CAT IX, 1 Sept 1969 - 14 Jan 1970, David E. Graves (Lawrence, KS), James S. Hardy (Coronado, CA), William R. Hoettels (San Antonio, TX), Bruce N. Rigby (Dekalb, IL), Craig L. Stewart (Laurel, MD), and supervisor, Edward C. Williams.

NURSING by Robert C. Knight, CAT I, 1966, Courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Army

James Pollock, who in 1967 served as a soldier artist on U. S. Army Vietnam Combat Artist Team IV (CAT IV), chronicled his experience in an essay entitled "US Army Soldier-Artists in Vietnam" for "War, Literature & the Arts: An International Journal of the Humanities" published by the department of English and Fine Arts, United States Air Force Academy. In the essay Pollock wrote: "The idea of rotating teams of young soldier-artists from a variety of backgrounds and experiences through Vietnam was innovative. Soldier-artists were encouraged to freely express and interpret their individual experience in their own distinct styles. The artists responded enthusiastically to their artistic free reign [sic], and the resulting products were wide-ranging and comprehensive. Styles and media used were as diverse as the artists themselves, some chose detailed literal images while others preferred expressive almost abstract explosions striving to replicate the horrors of war".

Army artists after Vietnam

During the Vietnam War the army art program also used civilian artists. While the last team of soldier artists in Vietnam was Soldier Art Team 9 (CAT IX) the Army's interest in using artists to depict army activities continued. The 1991 book "Portrait of an Army", published by U. S. Army Center of Military History and edited by General Gordon R. Sullivan and Marylou Gjernes, states "Following the Vietnam War, the Army continued to use both soldier and civilian artists. They have covered such peacetime activities as summer training for Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) West Point cadets, Army National Guard annual training, and tank gunnery training in Europe. The Army Art Collection has also acquired depictions of the Army's operations in Panama and Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM."

In 2003, former Vietnam soldier-artist James Pollock gave a presentation entitled "U. S. Army Vietnam Combat Art Program" about Vietnam Era soldier artists at Mary Pickford Theater, U. S. Library of Congress at which he said: "On January 14, 1970, the members of Vietnam Combat Art Team IX (CAT IX), the last U.S. Army art team to set foot in Vietnam, disbanded. Like members of eight other Army soldier-artist teams before them, they left their sketchbooks and paintings of war-torn Vietnam behind and quietly returned to their respective military units scattered throughout the world or were re-assigned. Talent and chance had brought 46 young soldiers together for a common purpose: To be artists day in and day out for 120 days and to translate their personal Vietnam experiences as soldiers into art. All of the artists were exposed to the inherent dangers of being in a war zone. While visiting units in the fields of Vietnam, they encountered difficult conditions and some had to deal with life-threatening incidents. None were wounded or killed. The post-Vietnam Era destiny of these soldier artists varied as they went on to establish and nurture families and careers. Some continued successfully as artists, some became art teachers, some laid down their paint brushes and found careers outside the field of art. Some have died, and the whereabouts of others is unknown".

Public showings

From September 2010 to March 2011, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA hosted an exhibit entitled "Art of the American Soldier" featuring more than 300 works from the army art collection, one of the first times that the Army Art from the Army Art Program has been put on display en masse.

See also

• United States Army Art Program
• United States Air Force Art Program
• American official war artists

Art Gallery (All Images Courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Army)

CAT I 15 August to 15 December 1966

THE LOST OF WAR by Roger A. Blum, CAT I, 1966

ELEPHANT GRASS by Roger A. Blum, CAT I, 1966

GRENADE THROWER by Roger Blum, CAT I, 1966

SWAMP PATROL by Roger Blum, CAT I, 1966

WOUNDED by Robert C. Knight, CAT I, 1966

NURSING by Robert C. Knight, CAT I, 1966

PAGE FROM SKETCHBOOK by Robert C. Knight, CAT I, 1966

VIETNAMESE WOMAN by Paul Rickert, CAT I, 1966

RELIGIOUS SERVICES 1st CAV AKA THY ROD and THY STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME by Paul Rickert, CAT I, 1966

Combat Artist At Work by Paul Rickert, CAT I, 1966

BOG-DOWN by Felix R. Sanchez, CAT I, 1966

GUNSHIP by John O. Wehrle, CAT I, 1966

LANDING ZONE by John O. Wehrle, CAT I, 1966

RAPPELING by John O. Wehrle, CAT I, 1966

FDC BRAVO CO 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION by John O. Wehrle, CAT I, 1966

INTENSIVE CARE WARD 3RD FIELD HOSPITAL RVN by John O. Wehrle, CAT I, 1966

CAT II 15 October 1966 to 15 February 1967

SCOUT DOG by Augustine G. Acuna, CAT II, 1966–67

BODY COUNT by Alexander A. Bogdanovich, CAT II, 1966–67

SKETCH OF SOLDIER II by Theodore E. Drendel, CAT II, 1966–67

RECONNAISSANCE PATROL NEAR SOUTH CHINA SEA by David M. Lavender, CAT II, 1966–67

SECOND PLATOON ASSAULT by Gary W. Porter, CAT II, 1966–67

CAT III 16 February 1967 to 17 June 1967

MONTAGNARD NEAR PLEIDJERONG I by Michael R. Crook, CAT III, 1967

MED CAP by Dennis O. McGee, CAT III, 1967

PERIMETER OF ARTY PASS AT BEAR CAT by Robert T. Myers, CAT III, 1967

THE INNOCENT by Kenneth J. Scowcroft, CAT III, 1967

AFTER THE BATTLE by Stephen H. Sheldon CAT III 1967

CHAPLAIN MARTINS BIBLE Stephen H. Sheldon, CAT III, 1967

CAT IV 15 August to 31 December 1967

GI CONVOY-EASY TOUCH by Samuel E. Alexander, CAT IV, 1967

AMERICAN DOCTOR EXAMINES VIETNAMESE CHILD by Samuel E. Alexander, CAT IV, 1967

RECONNAISSANCE, LONG BINH by Daniel T. Lopez, CAT IV, 1967

CHARLIE SUBDUED by Burdell Moody, CAT IV, 1967

KILLED IN ACTION by Burdell Moody, CAT IV, 1967

NIGHT OPERATION by Burdell Moody, CAT IV, 1967

BIG AND LITTLE FIREPOWER by Burdell Moody, CAT IV, 1967

LOOKING DOWN THE TRAIL, Watercolor, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

DOOR GUNNER, Pen and Ink, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

GI CARD GAME, Watercolor, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

LONESOME, Mixed Media, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

WAITING INTERROGATION,199th LT INF BG, Watercolor, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

WAITING TO LIFT OFF, Ink/Watercolor Wash, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

MED EVACUATION (93rd EVACUATION), Oil, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

FIELD HAIRCUT AT BIG RED ONE, Ink/Watercolor wash, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

LOCALS, Oil, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

199th SOLDIERS WAIT, Gouache, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

OLD VIETNAMESE MAN, Ink Wash, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

BACK FROM PATROL, Oil, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

TAKING A BREAK, Oil, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

AIR CONTROLLER 196th LIB, Pen and Ink, by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

FIELD SERVICE, Oil (unfinished), by James Pollock, CAT IV, 1967

UNREAL REALITIES by Ronald A. Wilson, CAT IV, 1967

LOADED DOWN by Ronald A. Wilson, CAT IV, 1967

MORTAR ATTACK, COUNTERFIRE, Ronald A. Wilson, CAT IV, 1967

CAT V 1 November 1967 to 15 March 1968

LISTENING by Warren W. Buchanan, CAT V, 1967–68

HURT by Philip V. Garner, CAT V, 1967–68

LAST STAND by Phillip W. Jones, CAT V, 1967–68

THE ENEMY? by Don R. Schol, CAT V, 1967–68

3 WAR MAN by John R. Strong, CAT V, 1967–68

CAT VI 1 February 1968 to 15 June 1968

5th SPECIAL FORCES PATROL by Robert T. Coleman, CAT VI, 1968

SEARCH FOR AMMO CACHE (11th CAV) by Robert T. Coleman, CAT VI, 1968

TROOP COMMAND POST by Robert T. Coleman, CAT VI, 1968

TIME OUT by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

LONG BINH by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

IN THE FIELD by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

NAVY'S BEST by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

WAITING by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

YOUNG GIRLS by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

BIG GUNS by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

THE LADIES by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

YEA VIETNAM by David N. Fairrington, CAT VI, 1968

CAVALRY TROOPER by John D. Kurtz IV, CAT VI, 1968

CHOPPERS by John D. Kurtz IV, CAT VI, 1968

UNTITLED by Kenneth T. McDaniel, CAT VI, 1968

POTABLE WATER by Michael P. Pala, CAT VI, 1968

CAT VII 15 August 1968 to 31 December 1968

CHOPPER PICK-UP by Brian H. Clark, CAT VII, 1968

SOLDIER RESTING by William E. Flaherty Jr., CAT VII, 1968

S & D MISSION by William E. Flaherty Jr., CAT VII, 1968

APC-RPG-1 by William C. Harrington, CAT VII, 1968

MEDCAP by Barry W. Johnston, CAT VII, 1968

500 METERS TO THE FRONT by Barry W. Johnston, CAT VII, 1968

FIREFIGHT by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

LETTER TO HOME by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

COBRA by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

HARD LABOR by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

FLAMER by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

GET THEM OUT by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

I SEE IT by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

SOLDIERS by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

TANK by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

SILENT SWEAT by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

OVER THERE by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

FIGURE STUDY by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

EARLY MORNING by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

DOCK OF THE BAY by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

COMMUNICATION by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

MOUNTAIN CLIMBER by Stephen H. Randall, CAT VII, 1968

CAT VIII 1 February 1969 to 15 June 1969

CAMP IN AMERICAN DIVISION by Edward J. Bowen, CAT VIII, 1969

SATURDAY UPTOWN by James R. Drake, CAT VIII, 1969

LONG RANGE PATROL by James R. Drake, CAT VIII, 1969

BODY COUNT No. 5 by Roman Rakowskky, CAT VIII, 1969

PRISONER BLINDFOLDED by Roman Rakowsky, CAT VIII, 1969

COMBAT ENGINEER by Victory V. Reynolds, CAT VIII, 1969

BRIDGE BUNKER WITH GUARD by Thomas B. Schubert, CAT VIII, 1969

DAN TIENG OBSERVATION TOWER by Thomas B. Schubert, CAT VIII, 1969

CAT IX 1 September 1969 to 14 January 1970

APC by David E. Graves, CAT IX, 1969–70

RICE PADDY by James S. Hardy, CAT IX, 1969–70

RICE MILL, MY THO by William R. Hoettels, CAT IX, 1969–70

GROUND GUIDE by Bruce N. Rigby, CAT IX, 1969–70

CHIEU HOI MISSION by Craig L. Stewart, CAT IX, 1969–70

External links

• Artwork from the Art Program at the United States Army Center of Military History webpage
• Humanities Magazine September/October 2011: Volume 32, Number 5
• About light and dark in peace and war and a piece of Vietnam Capital Journal (South Dakota), 17 January 2014.