Sketch of my grandfather made in 1945.

[David Conwill]

In April of 1945, my grandfather was in the hospital in Germany. A USO artist, apparently named Mimi Forach, came by and sketched him. This was the result:

The original is on heavy, yellowish cardstock and the 9th Air Force patch is in color. I haven’t got a proper scanner at the moment, so this was done with the document scanner at work.

This has hung in my grandmother’s house for years, and I’ve always loved it.

-Dave

 

[Feraud]

That is one of the coolest things I've seen posted here is a while!
What a treasure.

 

[Foofoogal]

Very nice. Does it look like him? Do you have a picture of him as well?
I am sure you treasure it.

 

[David Conwill]

Alas, my scanner died before I got any close-ups from that era scanned. This is all I've got at the moment:

It is an excellent likeness, though.

-Dave

 

[Foofoogal]

It is. Very nice. :eusa_clap
What a treasure.

 

[skyvue]

That's a real treasure -- very nice.

 

[zetwal]

As above ... very nice!

 

[David Conwill]

I just got another period photo of my grandfather scanned. He is in the lower right of the photo (second from the left, in the front row, with his face partially obscured by the rope). I think he’s wearing a crusher and an M41 field jacket.

The back of the photo is stamped:

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH
AIR CORPS - U.S. ARMY
New Orleans Army Air Base, La.
Publication prohibited unless authorized
read -Photograph by U.S. Army Air Corps.-

I hope the Air Corps doesn’t come after me!

The fact that this was shot in New Orleans means it was taken sometime in 1942, as that’s when my grandfather was stationed there.

-Dave

 

[HeyMoe]

awesome!

 

[scotrace]

That is really wonderful. Thanks very much for letting us have a peek at such a treasure!

 

[Talbot]

That is indeed a great family treasure.

I think everyone should have pics of themselves in their prime. When we get old, we can say 'look who's still inside'.

 

[AmateisGal]

I love that sketch of your grandfather! The artist really captured his personality.

 

[DanielJones]

I always love coming across stuff like this. It brings a greater connection to our relatives and to our collective past. Thank you for sharing these treasures.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[David Conwill]

I just got this one over the weekend. This is my grandfather's senior picture. He graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago, Illinois in 1933.

-Dave

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

She got the likeness, for sure. As an (caricature) artist, I often have people tell me they still have the drawing I did of them or their children from two, three, five years ago. I am always flattered to know that they are cherishing something I drew. Mimi would be very thrilled and proud to know that you, and now we, are enjoying and valuing her work after all these decades.

 

[David Conwill]

My grandparents shortly after their marriage in 1942. This is their apartment in the French Quarter, New Orleans:

-Dave

 

[Shangas]

Grandpa Bill was a handsome devil! And boy, just look at the gloss and sheen on his hair in his graduation photograph. He must love him some Brilliantine.

 

[Miss Tuppence]

I just got another period photo of my grandfather scanned. He is in the lower right of the photo (second from the left, in the front row, with his face partially obscured by the rope). I think he’s wearing a crusher and an M41 field jacket.

-Dave

Wow wee, what a lovely thing to have- a wonderful bit of family history and social history for that matter!
Glad to see the artist could capture a likeness-
Not sure how we are meant to tell in this picture though!!! – It always has to be the relative of yours obscured by the rope doesn’t it…(blooming typical!) Great snap all the same.

t x