In honor of Marine Corps gunners everywhere...

 What would a Marine Corps unit be without its ability to close with and destroy the enemy using fire and maneuver?  The machine gun is an important part of that ability. 
Here are some drawings of Marine Corps machine gunners I've done over the last few years, posted here as a tribute.

Damage Control: Always Vigilant!

 A US Navy ship is a highly-developed, powerful, fast and seaworthy thing. It is truly an engineering and craftsmanship wonder.

It is a giant conglomeration of parts-- thousands of tons of steel, miles of electric wires, fuel and water pipes, ventilation & heating & cooling ducts, and so on. Fill it up with people and countless other things-- many of which are flammable or can sink! There are so many things that can threaten the safety of the crew and the seaworthiness of the vessel.

Damage Control is critical to the survival of the ship, in war or in peacetime.
While on board the Harry S. Truman in September 2015, I got to witness a common but very important training event, conducted by the crew-- a GQ (General Quarters) Drill.

"General Quarters" is regularly sounded to keep the crew sharp, and on their toes, ready for any contingency. Every crewman has a duty station when this happens, and they all rush to their battle stations, put on their gear, and do drills. It's a very interesting thing to watch, and it makes you admire the efficiency and teamwork the Navy engages in with every sailor and section on board a naval vessel.

 Getting geared up fast for fire control...

"Fire Drill in Aft D.C." 2015, oil on canvas, 20" x 24" 

Here are some of the Fire Control related sketches I did while visiting the destroyer USS Carney (DDG-64):

 

 

A Guest at the Supra!

Here are some of my sketches from Batumi, Georgia a few years back, when I was part of a group of Navy folks who were guests at a traditional event called the "supra," hosted by the Georgian Navy.

I was there as a Navy artist on board the USS MOUNT WHITNEY LCC 20 (we'd just transited the Bosphorus into the Black Sea, and docked at Batumi).

The tradition of the supra involves a great dinner, with guests and hosts going around the table during the evening, each making a toast (with everyone at the table drinking from their cups --or horns, depending!). Georgian food is amazing, btw.