Post by connie on Aug 31, 2020 11:59:40 GMT -5
Some of the story of this man is found on page 6 of the 2013 April- July issue of the Cub magazine:
Thomas H. Kapsalis, an Artist’s House
Submitted by Thomas H. Kapsalis
Golden Lion Thomas H.
Kapsalis is not only a veteran
of the Battle of the Bulge and
former prisoner of war, but he is also
an accomplished artist for more than
60 years. Mr. Kapsalis provided the staff of The CUB with a copy of his book, an Artist’s House: Paintings & Sculptures 1947–2008 after reading the last issue of The CUB (Vol. 69, No. 1), that inspired him to share his military service. Thank you sir, for the copy of your book.
The following is transcribed from his book (pages 6–7). “In 1944, Kapsalis was inducted into the 106th Infantry Division (known as the “Golden Lions”), 422nd Regiment, of the U.S. Army. He quickly went through boot camp and soon found himself on the ground in the midst of the Battle of the Bulge, the largest, nastiest engagement of World War II with the highest Allied casualty rate. Along with the entire 422nd and 423rd regiments, Kapsalis was captured; upwards of 9,000 American soldiers from those ranks
died in the fighting. En route to Stalag IIA, where he was imprisoned for
five months, Kapsalis was shelled (by friendly fire), instantly killing his bunk
mate and injuring him. He still has shrapnel in his hip from that night. In January 1945, the Kapsalis family was informed that their son was missing in action; it was not until April that they
were told he was a prisoner of war; by May, the prisoner of war camp he was in had been liberated by the Russians.
In letters home, Kapsalis assured his loved ones that he was recovering well and mentioned that he was continuing to sketch. His life as an artist, so abruptly interrupted, was still foremost in his mind, despite his dire circumstances. When he returned, he was awarded the Purple Heart and he is a proud veteran, though his vivid, terrible experience also led him to question the rationality of war. In 1946, Kapsalis reentered
School of the Art Institute
of Chicago
... there he painted a small study, part of an exercise
in design and dimensionality, the he titled Dream of
a Prisoner of War.
Thomas H. Kapsalis, an Artist’s House
Submitted by Thomas H. Kapsalis
Golden Lion Thomas H.
Kapsalis is not only a veteran
of the Battle of the Bulge and
former prisoner of war, but he is also
an accomplished artist for more than
60 years. Mr. Kapsalis provided the staff of The CUB with a copy of his book, an Artist’s House: Paintings & Sculptures 1947–2008 after reading the last issue of The CUB (Vol. 69, No. 1), that inspired him to share his military service. Thank you sir, for the copy of your book.
The following is transcribed from his book (pages 6–7). “In 1944, Kapsalis was inducted into the 106th Infantry Division (known as the “Golden Lions”), 422nd Regiment, of the U.S. Army. He quickly went through boot camp and soon found himself on the ground in the midst of the Battle of the Bulge, the largest, nastiest engagement of World War II with the highest Allied casualty rate. Along with the entire 422nd and 423rd regiments, Kapsalis was captured; upwards of 9,000 American soldiers from those ranks
died in the fighting. En route to Stalag IIA, where he was imprisoned for
five months, Kapsalis was shelled (by friendly fire), instantly killing his bunk
mate and injuring him. He still has shrapnel in his hip from that night. In January 1945, the Kapsalis family was informed that their son was missing in action; it was not until April that they
were told he was a prisoner of war; by May, the prisoner of war camp he was in had been liberated by the Russians.
In letters home, Kapsalis assured his loved ones that he was recovering well and mentioned that he was continuing to sketch. His life as an artist, so abruptly interrupted, was still foremost in his mind, despite his dire circumstances. When he returned, he was awarded the Purple Heart and he is a proud veteran, though his vivid, terrible experience also led him to question the rationality of war. In 1946, Kapsalis reentered
School of the Art Institute
of Chicago
... there he painted a small study, part of an exercise
in design and dimensionality, the he titled Dream of
a Prisoner of War.