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A tribute to my father.
This day in history.
In 1828, Noah Webster published the first English dictionary.
In 1902, Wyoming received the first JCPenny outlet.
In 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg that would sink it by morning of the next day.
And…
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot. He died the following morning.
Good time, eh, Pop?!
Happy birthday. I hope you have a great day!
World War I marked the last of the DOUBLE recipients of the Medal of Honor, the changes of the Medal of Honor review board of 1917 establishing that only ONE Medal of Honor could be awarded to any person. The five double recipients from World War I were all members of the United States Marine Corps, working closely with soldiers of the U.S. Army. For this reason, they were initially awarded the ARMY Medal of Honor. Later, they were awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Medal of Honor for the same action. Unlike previous double recipients, their double award was presented for one action, not two separate actions.
Corporal John H. Pruitt was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on 4 October 1896. He enlisted as a private in the U.S. Marine Corps on 3 May 1917 and joined the 6th Regiment of Marines in July 1917. Corporal Pruitt went overseas with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment.
He participated in engagements with the enemy at Chateau-Thierry, Bouresches, and Belleau Wood before he was gassed 14 June 1918 and sent to a base hospital. Upon his Recovery he returned to the front and fought in the Marbache Sector, St. Mihiel, Thiaucourt, and later at Blanc Mont in the Champagne Sector. He was officially cited for bravery in action, near Thiaucourt, France, 15 September 1918, for aiding in the capture of an enemy machine gun.
Corporal Pruitt was mortally wounded in action at Blanc Mont on 3 October 1918 and died the following day. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the battle that took his life. His official citation states: “For extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, October 3, 1918. Corporal Pruitt, single handed, attacked two machine guns, capturing them and killing two of the enemy. He then captured forty prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shell fire while sniping at the enemy.”
Besides his citations Corporal Pruitt was posthumously awarded the Army Medal of Honor, Naval Medal of Honor, French Croix de Guerre and Italian Cross of Military Valor.
The destroyer USS Pruitt (DD-347), launched August 2, 1920 at the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, was named in memory of Corporal Pruitt. On October 3, 1918, Marine Corporal John Henry Pruitt II, while operating with American Expeditionary Forces in Blanc Mont, France, single-handedly attacked two German machine-gun positions.
Pruitt was killed in action.
Pruitt killed two German soldiers and captured 40 more. Later that same day, while serving on sniper duty, he was hit by a mortar shell and gravely wounded.
He died the next day on his 22nd birthday.
Military experts have said that Pruitt not only saved many American soldiers’ lives but also that his heroic efforts greatly helped his unit accomplish its mission.
For his valor, Pruitt was posthumously decorated. Pruitt received two Medals of Honor, one from the Navy and one from the Army. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by France, and the Croce di Guerra by Italy, both medals are those countries equivalents to the American Medal of Honor. In addition, Pruitt received two purple hearts, four silver stars, four bronze stars, and several other combat and victory medals. He was the first person from Arizona to earn a Medal of Honor.
Citations:
Marine Corps
For extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Cpl. Pruitt, single-handed attacked 2 machineguns, capturing them and killing 2 of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he was sniping the enemy.
ARMY
Cpl. Pruitt single-handed attacked 2 machineguns, capturing them and killing 2 of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he was sniping at the enemy.
I haven’t drawn in what seems like years (although it could be reasonably conceived to be around 12 months). I stumbled upon this gentleman’s work while doing a google image search for “letter + envelope + pen” for a particular client I’m doing some graphic design work for. Some of his work just downright inspires the crap outta me! 
What I mostly love about his work is the life he puts into each piece, such as his portraits section; every piece has a wonderfully creative narrative of each individual – and no two are alike – they each capture something unique about that person’s life and then doesn’t write about another person with even remote similarity. One guy he drew is the heavy weight world champion clown named Rumple. I imagine that individual would be a hoot to meet. Another one is a gal he used to go to clubs with when they were broke; she’d get guys to buy her drinks, but only if they’d buy one for him, too – and now “she’s back.”
The life within his work is commensurate to his talent and life as outlined in his biography within the aforementioned site. His level of illustrations depicting characterization, creativity, fluidity and movement are qualities in an artist that I admire and seek after when I draw. His work inspires me.
Enjoy his site, talent and experiences. The man is full of life!
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Just this morning, my 5 year old spilled a full glass of water on the dining room table – she’s not allowed to have cups filled past 1/2 for that reason, she can always go back for more.
Anyway, she cleaned up as best a 5 year old can do, but lacked to remove the sopping wet table runner that my wife so wonderfully adorned our 40 some-odd-year-old antique table with and the water sat and seeped into the wood and has caused separation in it.
We were not very happy. Not happy at all.
At least its only a table and no one lost a limb, though! 
And at least I have a table and a home to put it in. And at least the table was already dinged up being antique and all, so it doesn’t look too horribly bad.
Perspective is great.
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These are soooooo cool!!!
The wife and I were at Ross last night and came upon these easter bunnies – just like the chocolate ones my mom used to get my sister and I went we were growing up. I emailed the pics to my sis and said, “remember when…?” She said that she mostly remembered our wonderful mother racing back from Walgreen’s with the chocolate bunnies to try to get them home and in the fridge before melting in the hot Arizona springtime.
We saw these guys and just KNEW we needed one! How vintage is that!?
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