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Signed up in 1967 and went for ASA training to fort Devens, Mass. After basic. Asked to transfer to hgtrs. Art dept. after seeing me sketch to relax after duty hours. Volunteered to draft the charts in Europe for the 69 congressional study of our bases.
Oil on rice canvas 32 x 38, "Junk boats in the Song Saigon river," currently housed in the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, Chicago, IL. From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
Acrylic 4' x 4', "Hospital ship off East coast of Vietnam"From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
After thirteen months and charts done, volunteered to go to Nam. Was a draftsman for SEATS in Long Binh, Vietnam and was TDY to the 221st photo and combat arts co. Traveled with a 4 man art team to firebases to sketch and develope paintings for documentation of history of the war.
Have some pieces of art I have restored another the protestors in Oakland Caught me in uniform. Original sketches I did for myself are in the library of congress with the art I did for the 221st. They wrote a text journal about us as combat artists from the research work of Karl Michel. He is mentioned in the book "The Art of War" by Col. Avery Chenoweth. This book goes back to 3000 BC and references artists along the time line to the present day. I had no idea when I served in Vietnam of the history being recorded.
[Pencil on Paper] "Woman on Saigon Street" [1970]. From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
Art work for a Bob Hope special, "Operation Holly '70." From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
[Pencil on Paper] Rear view of a U.S. Navy patrol boat on a river, Vietnam. From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
[Pencil on Paper] "On the Road in Vietnam" [1970]. From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
[Pencil on Paper] Danang Press center. From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
[Pencil on Paper] "Living Quarters (Hooch), Fire Base (underground), Vietnam" [1970]. From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
From the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection.
I am proud to had served and do book reports with school students and find it important to give back in such a unique way. I presently have an exhibit up at the bloomington civic center of my work and events after with chapter 320. I paint as a volunteer artist for the theater in Bloomington and I volunteer at the VA.
I want to thank all of you for bringing the history of our war to light in this unique way.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Bloomington, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Long Binh, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1967 - 1971
Veteran Organization: VFW, VVA, DAV
Unit: Army
Specialty: 81 E illustrator/draftsman
See more of Les's artwork and listen to audio interviews at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project website.
Story Themes: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, Army, Art, Bloomington, Bob Hope, Carl Fordahl, DAV, Disabled American Veterans, Drawing, Fort Devens, Les Fordahl, Long Binh, Look, Massachusetts, Oakland, Operation Holly, Painting, Sketching, The VA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, Vietnam Veterans of America, Visual Art, VVA
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