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Eight Hours To Glory, the 82nd Airborne during the Salerno Invasion
Print Size: 31" X 19"
Turning The Corner
 by James Dietz

Description:
In early 2003, select divisional units were designated to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom through the initial phase of combat culminating in the liberation of the Iraqi people from the tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein. In the fall of 2003, the division as a whole was ordered to prepare for deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

In January, division elements began deploying to the theater of operations and in April 2004 the division assumed command and control of Task Force Baghdad. During the divisions tour of duty, Task Force Baghdad’s ranks swelled to more than 39,000 uniformed members including active duty, reserve, national guard Soldiers, US Marines, and international coalition partners. The division engaged the enemy across multiple lines of operation, helping the Iraqi people forge a new, democratic government—the first in that nation’s history.

Task Force Baghdad fought numerous engagements with the insurgents throughout the city. On several occasions division units were called on to conduct or support major offensive operations, which further stabilized a country striving for a return to peace. Two major events in the march toward true democracy occurred during the division’s year in the Iraqi capital: first, the coalition returned sovereignty to the people of Iraq in June 2004; and second, the national elections of January 2005 proved illustrative of the resolve of the Iraqi people to gain control of their country.

The division transferred authority to the 3rd Infantry Division in February 2005 and completed redeployment on April 2. As a commemorative to the division’s tour of duty, this painting by James Dietz captures the essence of a street scene in Baghdad with Cav troopers and the equipment they used in the effort to help the Iraqi people “turn the corner” on the road from tyranny to democracy.

PUBLISHER PROOF EDITION:
250 Limited Edition, Signed and Numbered prints
$175.00 + $15.00 SH (PA residents please add 6% sales tax)
Jim Dietz has gained international recognition in aviation, military and automotive art circles for his unique approach to these genres. "The people, settings and costumes are what make early 20th Century history exciting and romantic to me." It is this feeling that makes Jim Dietz and his artwork so different from his contemporaries. Rather than simply illustrate hardware, Jim prefers to portray human involvement, to show in his paintings the interaction between man and machine-after all, he says, "it is the people who make machines great-by design, by operation and by dedication."

A native of San Francisco, Jim graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1969 and began a successful illustration career in Los Angeles. The subject matter varied from automobiles to action scenes to romantic book covers. A steady flow of work from New York clients enabled Jim and his wife to move to Seattle in 1978, where he began to fulfill his dream of specializing in historical
Artist Jim Dietz with "Silencing The Guns" signer Major Richard Winters.

aviation, automotive and military art. His clients have included Boeing, Bell Helicopter, Federal Express, Allison, Cessna, Flying Tigers, the Indianapolis 500, BMW, the National Guard and many U.S. Army organizations and associations.

Jim lives in Seattle with his wife, Patti, son, lan and his Australian Shepherd, Tazzy, who is seen often in Jim's paintings. His studio resembles a World War I aviator's bar, filled with flying and automotive memorabilia, wooden props and model airplanes.