"Even God Is Against Us"

Vietnam Combat Art

Painter, sculptor, muralist, teacher and author, Austin Deuel, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1939. He served in the United States Marine Corps twice: from 1959-1965 and rejoined in 1967 to serve in the Vietnam combat art program.

After His Military Service

Following his military service, he relocated to Scottsdale, Ariz., and pursued his career as a professional fine artist. Deuel has completed numerous monument commissions such as the Vietnam War Memorial in San Antonio, Texas, the General Patton Memorial in Summit, Calif., Women's Veterans Memorial in Phoenix, Ariz., Dream Chaser in Skagway, Alaska, and the Marine Corps Chaplain in Scottsdale, Ariz.. His work has appeared in numerous publications such as Western Horseman May 1985;), Southwest Art (January 1980, April, 1992, December 1977), Wildlife Art (August 1979)and Artist of the Rockies (Spring 1985;), Pioneer West (March 1974)and can be found in multiple museums and private collections worldwide.

Books Published

Austin Deuel has also published important books such as Canon De Los Artistas (1982) subject: Baja; Even God Is Against Us (1986) subject: Vietnam; Swan Lake, Nature's Amazing Grace (2006) subject: Alaska. His books are mentioned in Lehrman, Lewis. Being An Artist; Chenoweth, Col. H. Avery (USMCR) Act of War; Murphy, and Edward F. The Hill Fights. His work is also in the U.S. Airforce Combat Art Collection at Andrews Airforce Base, Washington, D.C.

From Calendars To Greeting Cards

The artist's work has been published in Yearly Western Art Calendars by Shedd Brown, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1972, 1973, 1974;Western Christmas Cards for the Leaning Tree Card Company, Boulder, Colorado since 1973; Scottsdale, Arizona Parada Del Sol Poster 1978. He has also painted, printed and installed his images in Las Vegas, Nev. resorts. He has printed and installed his works in over 5,000 rooms, taking over 20,000 images along with original works for special rooms.

Deuel Has Traveled Widely

This incredible Marine and artist has traveled extensively. He has visited and painted in Russia, France, Holland, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, England, Scotland, Australia, Mexico, Baja California, Canada, The Yuka and the Arctic Circle.

Sculptures

One commission that Deuel accepted was the San Antonio's Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated on November 9, 1986. The memorial, titled Hill 881 South, depicts a radio operator comforting a wounded comrade while anxiously searching the sky for a medivac helicopter. The bronze sculpture stands about 10 feet tall at its highest point and is 23 feet long and 12 feet wide. With a weight of more than 10 tons, it is the largest sculpture of its kind in the country.

So Many Callings

Deuel taught art at the junior college level, ran an art gallery, wrote a San Diego newspaper column on artifacts, traveled abroad, collected Old Master works and contemporary art. As noted above, he was a sculptor, painter, and muralist as well as publishing the gamut of reproductions from lithogdraphs to greeting cards to calendars and plates, winning many awards in the process since the early 1960s.

From D.C. To Arizona

Austin Deuel was a member of the American Indian and Cowboy Artists Of America.His paintings hang in the United States Marine Corps Museum in Washington, D.C. and in many other collections, such as the Maddox Library at Trinity University, where many bronze sculptures of his are on display as well. In Arizona, one well-known and extensive collection is the Eddie Basha Collection.

An Incredible Legacy

Although his earthly life has ended, Austin Deuel's works and friendships will live on for many, many years.

Contributors

(Contributing to this article have been Dorothy Callaway, Greg Newman, VFW Post 3513, the Archives of askART, and the Eddie Basha collection among others. More information can be found at http://www.artnet.com/artists/austin-deuel/.)