Artist: December 1997 - June 1998
Colonel Gary N. Cassidy - U.S. Army (Ret.) served in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and the peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington University, Missouri, and a Master of Fine Arts from Claremont Graduate University, California. Col. Cassidy spent most of his military service in Special Operations with over twenty years as a Psychological Operations (PSYOP) specialist.
Col. Cassidy's most recent mission to Bosnia was to collect images to produce a series of paintings and drawings documenting the Army's experience in Bosnia.
The U.S. Army Center of Military History, Museum Division, frequently uses soldier-artists to document field operations. Colonel Gary N. "Butch" Cassidy (Ret.) produced the following works of art. Col. Cassidy was recalled from retirement to active duty on 1 December 1997 for six months. He deployed for the second time to Bosnia in February 1998. These paintings and drawings were exhibited at the Old Guard Museum, Fort Myer, Virginia, 7 July - 30 September 1998, at National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., from 30 September -18 December, 1998 and at the Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from 11 January - 5 May 1999.
The Bosnia Art Project
Col. Cassidy asked our troops what they would remember the most about their tour of duty in Bosnia. Many said, "All the minefields." Others replied "Guard duty and all the mud". Many spoke of being impressed with the old structures and cities. The artist has captured the soldier's memories in these works of art.