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From Civilian to Soldier During the Vietnam Years
A Soldier's Experiences Documented and Recorded in Fine Art

A memorial to the young men of America who fought in the war in Vietnam.
The individuals, their training, their experiences, relating to the Vietnamese people,
and more, are done in oils, graphite, ink, casein, aquarelle and pastels.
The following 30 artworks were created by Phillip G. Schuyler
in the methods of the old masters using modern materials.

A story that begins with "The First Day" and ends with, "Death of a Soldier".

No stranger to combat, Philip Schuyler was wounded twice in World War II,
then contracted Polio from swamps in France. He was Eventually
flown home on a litter and spent years in hospitals.

Mr. Schuyler's first motivation in recording experiences of the men and women sent
to serve their country was to express appreciation to them in his own unique way.
Closely following that was his concern for the loved ones they were leaving behind.
The first dozen major artworks were, therefore, accompanied by plaques documenting
names, units, dates, locations and activities portrayed in each work of art. These
were intended to help the families understand the new lives of their family members
in the unfamiliar world of the military. With consideration for historical significance,
the plaques are reproduced here exactly as written at the time the artworks were created.

The first twelve artworks are oil on canvas or Masonite.
Eighteen smaller works are done in various media.


TheFirstDay PhysicalFitness Rifle Practice His Firs tPatch Graduation
The First Day
30" x 40"
Oil on Masonite
Physical Fitness
40" x 30"
Oil on Canvas
Rifle Practice
30" x 24"
Oil on Canvas
His First Patch
46" x 36"
Oil on Canvas
Graduation
48" x 40"
Oil on Canvas



DivSgtMa WestPoint Attack TheSearch Chaplains
Div. Sgt. Major
18" x 22"
Oil on Canvas
West Point
32" x 40"
Oil on Canvas
Attack
40" x 30"
Oil on Canvas
The Search
40" x 30"
Oil on Canvas
Chaplains
45.5" x 39"
Oil on Canvas



Diplomats
Death of a Soldier
Diplomats
24" x 32"
Oil on Canvas
Death of a Soldier
30" x 40"
Oil on Canvas


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The following eighteen works Mr. Schuyler referred to as "graphics" have his
personal notations on them and therefore did not require further explanation.


IDGinAmbushPosition SearchingDeadVC NightPatrol ExplainingClaymore VC in Ambush Position
IDG Soldier in
Ambush Position

14" x 11"
Casein
Searching Dead
Viet Cong

11" x 14"
Black Ink Wash
Night
Patrol

16"x12"
Polymer
Explaining a
Claymore Mine

9" x 11"
Brown Ink Wash
Viet Cong in
Ambush Position

11" x 14"
Casein



Near Ho Chi Minh Trail
Evacuation of Casualties
Helicopter Assult Landing
Counter Mortar Radar
5th US SF & IDGs
Near Ho Chi Minh Trail

18" x 14"
Aquarelle
5th US SF & IDGs
Near Ho Chi Minh Trail

18" x 14"
Aquarelle
Helicopter
Assault Landing

18" x 14"
Black Ink Wash
Counter Mortar
Radar

15" x 12"
Black Ink Wash


Away from combat, Americans often gave kind responses to needs of Vietnamese civilians.
Building swings and playing games with children, medics caring for health
and medical needs, and other such responses benefited both
the civilians and the Americans.


Swings for Children Medic Treating Montagnard Village Children and Friend Medic Treating Woman Candy for Village Children
Special Forces
Soldier Builds
Swings for Children

9" x 12"
Brown Conte &
White on Tan
Medic Treating
Montagnard
in the Central Highlands

12" x 9.5"
Black and White
Crayon on Gray
Village
Children
and New
Friend

9" x 12"
Pen and Ink
Treating Woman
from
VC Prison Camp

9" x 12"
Black & White Crayon on Gray
Candy
for
Vietnamese
Children

18" x 14"
Aquarelle



Medic Treating Village Child Village Women Weaving
Medic Examining Children
Saigon Street Vendor
Medic Treating
Village Child

12" x 9"
Pen and Ink
Vietnamese Women
Weaving

12" x 8.5"
Brown Conte & White on Tan
Army Medical Officer
 Examining Village Children

13.5" x 10.5"
Black Ink Wash
Saigon Street Vendor
9" x 12"
Brown Ink Wash

The Story of a Story in Art

Traveling in the Northwest in 1965, artist Philip Schuyler discovered that the
Army's Fourth Division was headquartered at Fort Lewis, Washington.  He had been a
lieutenant in the Fourth Division during the invasion of France in 1944 and had served
until he was rendered disabled and sent home.

In a wave of nostalgia he went to visit the Fourth Division at Fort Lewis and discovered
it was preparing for commitment to action. Still unfit for active duty but having been a
professional artist for many years, he went to the division's commander, General Collins,
with a proposal. "I can't lead them but I will memorialize them in art."
General Collins was pleased. 

Mr. Schuyler took up residence at the Fort Lewis Inn and began the first painting.
Much publicity followed. The first painting was exhibited. Then the first three were shown.
Jose Nunez, curator of the Washington, D.C. Gallery of Art, declared the works
"modern masterpieces." The painting "Chaplains" was the Picture of Honor
at an exhibition of religious art in California.


Posing
Drill Sergeant Posing for the painting "PHYSICAL FITNESS"

When eleven paintings were completed they were exhibited at West Point.
The Teamster's Union asked to buy the eleven for $250,000 to exhibit
throughout the nation. Mr. Schuyler would not sell.
He was not finished with the story.
 
In 1967, with scenes of induction into the military and training completed
Mr. Schuyler sought permission to visit the troops in Vietnam to continue their story.
 
He was given the designation of Historian.
His wife was given permission to accompany him as a journalist.
She would continue documentation and written descriptions
of the scenes to inform families at home.
 
At the last minute, with preparations made and immunizations completed,
permission for a female journalist was denied.

The artist and veteran alone would be able to go to places too difficult and risky
for a woman so she waited at home like thousands of other women.
 
Mr. Schuyler collected sketches, snapshots, data, and samples of many kinds
for reference materials to be used in the artworks later.
 
In the Highlands of Vietnam, near the Laotian border, he visited a special friend,
Chaplain Howard T. Lee. They are shown in a picture below,
standing in front of the Chaplain's sand-bagged hut.


Phil and Howard
Mr. Schuyler and his friend
Catholic Monsignor Howard T. Lee, Chaplain

Many stops and visits later, after collecting much more reference material
and information, Mr. Schuyler returned home to continue the story of
our young men in Vietnam. The series had now grown to 30 pieces of art
portraying their activities.


Sketching
Artist Schuyler sketching in the field

During the years that followed, Mr. Schuyler built
a Fine Arts Department at the University of Santa Clara.
After several years his health began to fail. He died in 1981.
Following his death the collection languished in storage for many years.
He had never seen his entire series exhibited together. 
Now, with the modern technology of the Internet, it has become possible
to provide a virtual gallery for the display of these artworks.
At Last, Mr. Schuyler's dream is fulfilled - though in a way he would
have never envisioned. They can now be visited in the modern day
Museum of the Internet, on this web site, at any time.


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For Information Contact: schuylersart@gmail.com

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