"Uncommon Valor"

D-Day Iwo Jima - February 19, 1945. Marines of the 27th Regiment land on Red Beach One and are immediately pinned down by heavy Japanese Artillery fire. Most of the Amtracs, Jeeps, Tanks, and other vehicles that tried to advance inland to support the Marines became bogged down in the soft volcanic ash which covered the beaches.  In the painting, an officer shouts  "Move up and take cover!". Fear can be seen on some of their faces, but all Marines will advance and do what they have been trained to do.  Over 6,800 of them died on Iwo Jima. Twenty-seven Marines were awarded the Medal Of Honor on Iwo - one third of all such Medals awarded to the USMC in WWII. In Admiral Chester Nimitz's words, "Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue".

Uncommon Valor

Original painting available - Call for Details
Oils on Belgian linen
 36 X 24 inches