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FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A new painting commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Persian Gulf War has been posted on the Kentucky National Guard eMuseum website.
The Road to War, by artist Michael Goettner, honors the Kentucky National Guard troops that took part in Operation Desert Shield / Storm - 25 February 1991 in Southern Iraq.
The painting was commissioned by the 138th Fires Brigade in 2011 for a limited edition of signed and numbers prints of the original painting. The painting features the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery Battalion who mobilized on 10 December 1990 and returned in May 1991.
The battalion was commanded by Maj. John Wayne Smith with subordinate units from Glasgow, Tompkinsville, Campbellsville, Monticello and Springfield, Kentucky. While deployed they were assigned to the 196th Field Artillery Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, XVIII Corps; 1st Cavalry Division, VII Corps. Their mission was to provide fire support in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait.
During the deployment the 1/623rd worked with the 101st and XVIII Airborne Corps as well as VII Corps; given mission to provide fire support to six coalition divisions.
The concept for the artwork is taken from a photograph taken by Lt. John Dooley of A Battery.
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