“If we had a collection of all of this artwork, we’d have a good conglomerate, a good collection of really wonderful works that tells the story…everything tells a story.” (Audio interview, Part I, 56:09)

Carl Les Fordahl

Carl Fordahl, Vietnam [undated] War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Unit: Headquarters Company, 1st Signal Brigade Service Location: Washington, DC; Germany; Long Binh, Saigon, Cameron Bay and Da Nang, Vietnam Rank: Specialist Five Place of Birth: MN

Carl Fordahl’s official duties in Vietnam were as an draftsman and illustrator, but he also became a combat artist. But it was twenty years after the war before he finished the drawings he had made during his tour of duty. While in the field, Fordahl only had time to make quick sketches or take photos. Other veterans easily recognized his sketches of locations like Firebase Bastogne. Decades later, Fordahl decided to complete the sketches that he had saved. His work is now in the collections of the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago.