The Korean War: An Artist's Perspective

Roger Stringham was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where he developed an affinity for art at an early age. Pursuing his artistic interests, he enrolled in an art school upon graduation from Berkeley High School. His time there was cut short, however, when he was drafted into the Army in late 1950. Over the following years from 1951 to 1952, he served in the Korean War with both Item and Headquarters Companies of the 21st Infantry Division, conducting patrols and guarding supply lines among other duties.

Stirred by the beauty of the Korean landscape, his artistic talents came to life as he documented his experiences through sketches. Materials were scarce on the front lines, and he often resorted to using the bottom of empty beer, cigarette, and toothpaste cartons that had been disposed of to draw what he saw during war. One-by-one, he mailed his sketches home in letters to his family, keeping them informed and ensuring them he was okay. His mother, an artist herself, submitted the sketches to the San Francisco Museum of Art where they were exhibited in 1952.

Stationed in Japan for several months prior to returning home, he purchased watercolor paper and paints, eager to capture the feeling of safety. The city lights of Sedai, Japan, after having spent a year in Korea amid the ravages of war, were a welcoming and impressionable sight. His paintings bring to life the final phase of his service.

The Korean War Legacy Foundation is honored to showcase Roger Stringham’s collection of sketches and watercolor paintings. Beautifully hand-crafted, they tell the story of a soldier’s life in a war fought on foreign soil and aimed at preserving freedom and democracy on the Korean peninsula. To view Roger Stringham’s full interview and selected clips, please visit Roger S. Stringham.

Roger Stringham’s artwork was displayed in a special exhibition at the United Nations Peace Memorial Hall in Busan, South Korea, from July to December 2022. View Gallery

Sketches

1. First impressions of the lush North Korean countryside in Spring.

2. Guard duty in reserve position to provide safety for relaxing troops.

3. Towering peaks of mountains that form the infinite series of ridges.

4. Aircraft landing after hit to cooling system while supporting ground advances. A debate on how to avoid its capture. Pilot walks away from landing.

5. Cutting down mountaintop tree to improve view.

6. Mountain view of winding river through the valley.

7. Item Company headquarters just established near a rushing river.

8. Item Company troops in reserve.

9. Water tactics practice in a large lake.

10. Nervous energy: Not all could swim and uncomfortable water levels.

11. Danger: Swift moving waters and enemy danger in the hills.

12. Plight of P-51 Mustang still in discussion one week later.

13. Riverside danger

14. Morning fog.

15. P-51 Mustangs clearing out enemy ground troops.

16. Combat Mission: On the move.

17. Little village of Kumsong.

18. Tanks rolling through paddies towards Kumsong.

19. Mountaintop view of reservoir: Supplies in ordered display on shore.

20. Trucks making delivery to Item Company headquarters.

21. An attack on a hill on 15 Oct. 1951. Attack lasted into the late evening until Chinese were out of ammo and disappeared. Many hand grenades remained undetonated.

22. A deserted and damaged farm house.

23. Stuck in a neutral zone and forced out quickly.

24. When can we pass this guy?

25. Commander of K CO of the 21st Regiment hurries to a helicopter pickup.

26. Bridge with temporary fix allows movement of vital supplies.

27. I CO HQ new site

28. Movement of troops and supplies over ridges and bridges.

29. Lonely tree on a ridgetop above valley stream.

30. Result: Heavy artillery bombardment of ridgetop.

31. Mountaintop bunker with tidal wave of morning fog.

32. New site for 21st Infantry Regiment Item Company on banks of swift running river.

33. No signs of life: A damaged farmer's house.

34. Abandoned ridgetop trenches and tanks rumbling up the valley towards Kumsong.

35. Ridgetop view: Scattered supplies on the edge of the river.

36. Ocean fog subsides from valley paddies: Refreshing the landscape.

37. Peaceful valley amid war.

38. Near the Pacific Ocean: Tidal fog

39. Winter Patrol: Emerging from the forest for pickup by nervous truck driver in no man’s land.

40. Fall: Our patrol passing through a suspicious village on a moonlit night without incident.

41. A friendly flair uncovering our position in the snow.

42. Machine gunner, Antone, in position and on all night and day providing distraction for aerial photography.

43. Winter in Korea

44. The cold winter and sun make for an updraft of small ice crystals.

45. The mess hall was just across the frozen stream and around the corner. A short walk.

46. Sunny all night long at 21st Infantry Headquarters Company: Searchlight beams reflect off of low clouds.

47. We were ambushed at about midnight in a light snow. Professor Lee, our interpreter from China had just been killed, and Sargent Hoffman, in white, in a life and death struggle, was able to disable and capture the well equipped Chinese soldier in what seemed to be a brand new blue quilted parka. After about a minute of fierce activity we had lost Lew Geisendorfer who was never found (he had been writing the “great novel”) and Professor Lee.

Watercolors

1. Departing Korea: Troop transport ship slowly slips out to sea with community lights in background. (Exaggerated)

2. Departing Korea: Troop transport ship slowly slips out to sea with community lights in background. (Reality)

3. Departing Korea: Troop transport ship slowly slips out to sea. (Reality)

4. Covered landscape: Valley of black ice and snow.

5. Desolate valley marshes: Walking on moonlight nights, looking for answers to questions never asked.

6. Fall 1951: Moonlight companion crawling through valley growth.

7. Forest ridges of North Korea untouched by war.

8. Rolling Tank: Racing past dead and dying enemy soldiers towards Kumsong. (Painted later from memory.)

9. Day 2 in Korea: Introduction to 21st Infantry Division, Item Company. (Painted later from memory.)

10. Tent population with sleeping bags, weapons, and personal belongings. Captain Kimble informs group on who will conduct next sunset to dawn patrol. (Painted later from memory.)

Watercolor 11

Watercolor 12

13. Replacement troops arriving at low tide at Inchon: Climbing down nets into assault landing craft landing on a 1000 foot deep and 2 foot thick mud strip. A walk of 2000 yards to a line of waiting trucks that will take us on a 4 hour drive through destroyed and smoking Seoul to a rest stop deep in the Korean interior for the next morning's troop dispersal to all parts of Korea. (Painted later from memory.)

The Korean War: An Artist’s Perspective

Sketches

Watercolors

Exhibit