HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINE!
By Andy Weddington
Tuesday, 10 November 2020
As the commandant's Birthday message this year opened with a World War II Marine, again felt appropriate - first published Saturday, 10 November 2018 ...
Not quite six months ago I wrote commentary about a World War II Marine.
Private First Class Lyle E. Charpilloz, USMC.
He fraudulently enlisted at age 15.
His boot camp photo looked like a scared kid.
He fought on Guadalcanal.
That scared kid survived.
The look didn't - replaced by a confident combat-tested Marine.
The Battle of Tarawa was his last fight.
He was dead at 17 on the first day of battle.
His remains returned home - Spring this year.
Only a surviving younger sister, who had clear memories of her brother, had closure.
A great nephew contacted me and offered more on his great uncle.
Recently he asked if I thought a portrait was possible; despite short on reference material.
I explained the challenges of posthumous portraits - not knowing the person; of not having live sittings; the distortions of photography; limited references; etc. but that I'd think about it.
Yesterday morning it was bitter cold and snowing. Taken by the unusual light I hauled my wagon of gear out anyway and painted a landscape; conditions as difficult as I have ever faced - moments of heavy snow covering paint and blowing onto the canvas. Winter cold weather survival training above the Arctic Circle in Norway 36 years ago this month still comes in handy.
Perseverance returned a nice painting ... and more importantly an idea for the portrait.
So starting late yesterday and finishing this morning a life-size portrait - with just a stick of twig charcoal.
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3 comments:
Happy Birthday Colonel. Keep up the good work, and stay safe.
Happy Birthday Sir, God bless and stay safe.
Happy Birthday, Colonel! And Happy Birthday, PFC Lyle Charpilloz, and all of our brothers and sisters who blazed the trail before us and now guard the streets of Heaven!
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