Dawn Departure
Image Size: 25" x 17"
Overall Size: 31" x 23.5"
1000 CGSC Class of 2009 Edition
250 Publisher Proof Edition
100 Artist Proof Edition
20 CGSC Foundation Edition
Dawn Departure
Command and General Staff College Class 09-01 selected the theme “Night Operations in Iraq
or Afghanistan” based on the students’ combat experiences and intellectual challenges faced at
the college. While the print leans towards a depiction of Afghanistan, the themes throughout the
painting showcase the obstacles that the US military faces in the Global War on Terror also known
as the "Long War" in every location from Iraq to the Horn of Africa.
The small unit in the foreground emphasizes the criticality of junior leaders or “strategic
corporals” to execute successful counterinsurgency tactics. In the painting, this platoon-sized
element occupies a building while it evacuates one of its own casualties and completes their
extraction after conducting night operations. The securing of this building represents the generic
"people" or population that serve as the key terrain in any insurgency. The extraction of the
wounded soldier reflects not only the sacrifice of the American military, but the cohesion of
our units that always take care of our own. To achieve success in counterinsurgency operations,
our military has had to leverage all of its assets. This concept of joint operations incorporates
everything from the Soldier on the ground to the pilots in the air to the state department
representative on a provincial reconstruction team. The artist’s depiction of US Army Soldiers
and aircraft, a US Air Force JTAC, and two Marine Cobras show the synergy of all the services
and government efforts. This action occurs at night/pre-dawn which substantiates the US
military’s capability to operate anywhere in the world at any time of day. Finally, the servicemen
in this painting exude the warrior spirit that pervades the entire US military which stands ready
to do whatever our nation asks of us.
We're sorry, but we cannot offer framing or framed shipping for this print, due to its size.
Code: jd-pr-118