Medal of Honor Recipient Portrait

Hi All,

Happy Tuesday!  It's a great day....taking another step toward wrapping up a big project, the sun's shining, and I'm breathing in and out....not bad.

I came across an old piece of artwork today that I produced for the Air Force Art Program.  I completed the artwork while still on active duty while stationed at Bolling AFB in the District of Columbia.  While working in DC I learned about the Air Force Art Program (AFAP), from my pals at the Pentagon.  The AFAP's office was right down the hall from Air Force Media and I got to see the operation and what it's about.

The Air Force Art Program is an office at the Pentagon that handles an amazing volume of artwork.  The artwork is donated by artists who create artwork with Air Force themes, in various sizes and media. They coordinate and catalog all of this artwork and sign it out to units all over the planet, to be displayed.

To have my work accepted into the AFAP was really an honor.  There was even an annual Art Induction dinner, where the year's newly inducted artwork was displayed as a show and the artists were invited to attend, along with guests and some other VIPs.  It was fun, and really a cool experience to be able to meet these other artists, get to know them, break bread together and just be a part of it.

Pitsenbarger - pencil and airbrush, 16"x20"

So I decided that I'd draw a portrait of A1C William Pitsenbarger.  He was a true hero and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  He was serving in Viet Nam in 1966 when he went on a rescue mission to help some Army infantry soldiers who were pinned down and taking heavy casualties.  He was lowered from the helicopter thru the trees and immediately started tending to the wounded and loading casualties.  When the helicopter started taking fire and had to leave, he waived them off and stayed to provide aid to injured on the ground.  He coordinated the evacuation of nine casualties. He continually put his own life on the line, pulling wounded from the line of fire, providing medical aid and returning fire when he could.  In the end, he didn't make it out alive that day, but was able to assist many others that day who did.

I drew the portrait of him in pencil depicting him in uniform with his helicopter aircrew helmet on.  The medal of honor is also on the pic, drawn in pencil.  I airbrushed in a warm background of a light yellow to brown.

As a graphic artist in the Air Force - it's an honor to have a piece of my artwork in the Air Force Art Program.  It's also an honor to have served with so many amazing men and women, who put mission before self every day. 

I'm glad that my artwork hangs somewhere in an office or hallway, in an Air Force building where Airmen and civilians alike can see his image and reflect on the inspiration that this man, William Pitsenbarger was.

Take care and have a great day everyone.

Peace,

Tom