Hard Landing by David Wischer
Veteran: Arturo J., US Marine Corps
Artist Statement: I was introduced to Arturo in an email and we exchanged hellos. The next email I received included a gripping story of fear, chaos, smoke, fire, life, death, and the smell of burning fuels. Marines were trained for these conditions during the Vietnam Era. After a routine lunch break, a loud trembling voice came over the intercom. An immediate emergency situation was in progress. In an instant, Arturo was commanded to save lives, which he did with tremendous courage. Spiritually, he saw a vision of his mother, and she told him, in Spanish, “lt’ll be okay, son.” And it was. Arturo was meritoriously promoted and was given Inspector responsibilities, but post-traumatic scars, unfortunately, are a part of life for veterans. Arturo is a perfect example of bravery and commitment, and I am so thankful for this collaborative experience. I learned a lot from Arturo, and I hope he’s proud of this work.