They Drew Fire

The Bombing of Pearl Harbor Shocked the U.S. out of Comfortable isolationism. Artists, like most Americans, eagerly sought ways to contribute their skills to the war effort. Some of the country's best young artists had already been drafted into the Army; others were mobilized to enlist. Small soldierart programs flourished in boot camps around the country.

In 1943, the U.S. War Department selected 42 Americans -- 19 civilians and 23 soldiers -- to chronicle the war through all mediums of art. The result of this program was an amazing collection consisting of more than 12,000 paintings, drawings, and sketches. Hidden in collections deep within the walls of military archives, most of this art created during WWII has not been seen by the public in over fifty years. They Drew Fire: Combat Artists of World War II showcases the lives and work of the artists through more than 200 pieces of art. This full-color volume of art, interviews, and modern photographs of these military and artistic heroes is a powerful expression of life during VVWII as seen by men who were on the spot.