In the Highest Tradition–WWII Medal of Honor Art: Paintings by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

In 1973, the U.S. Marine Corps commissioned Waterhouse as a major in the Reserves to create paintings that depicted Marines in the Revolutionary War.

He spent the next 19 years as the Marine Corps' first official Artist-In-Residence, creating hundreds of paintings detailing the Corps' history.

Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant George H. Cannon, USMC

For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage, and disregard of his own condition during the bombardment of Sand Island, Midway Islands, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Wake Island

In this painting, Waterhouse depicts Marine Medal of Honor recipient Capt Henry T. Elrod, a pilot with VMF-211, as he fights off an overwhelming enemy force on Wake Island.

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Medal of Honor recipient Captain Henry T. Elrod, USMC

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to Marine Fighting Squadron Two Hundred Eleven, during action against enemy Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, from 8 to 23 December 1941.


Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant John Basilone

For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Guadalcanal

Platoon Sergeant Mitchell Paige, USMC–Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Group–26 October 1942

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Mitchell Paige

For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on October 26, 1942.

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While this work may appear unfinished, this style was a conscious decision of the artist when he was creating these series of portraits.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant William D. Hawkins

For valorous and gallant conduct above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of a Scout Sniper Platoon attached to the Second Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against Japanese-held Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, November 20 and 21, 1943.


Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Solomon Islands

In the air, on land and at sea, the Marines continued to fight the enemy.

First Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh received a Medal of Honor for his actions over the Solomon Islands Area, 15 and 30 August 1943.

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh

For extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron 124 in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Tarawa

First Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, Jr., USMCR fighting on Tarawa–20 to 22 November 1943.

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of the 2d Battalion Shore Party, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division, during the assault against enemy Japanese-held Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, 20–22 November 1943.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Guam

Captain Louis H. Wilson, Jr., USMC–Fonte Hill, Guam–25 to 26 July 1944

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient Captain Louis H. Wilson, Jr., USMC

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Company F, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Fonte Hill, Guam, Marianas Islands, 25 and 26 July, 1944.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Peleliu

Private First Class Arthur J. Jackson, USMC–Island of Peleliu in the Palau Group–18 September 1944.

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient Private First Class Arthur J. Jackson, USMC

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Peleliu in the Palau Group, September 18, 1944.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Iwo Jima

In this painting, Waterhouse showcases Cpl Hershel W. Williams using his flame thrower to thwart the enemy on Iwo Jima, 23 February 1945.


Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Hershel W. Williams, USMCR

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Demolition Sergeant serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island, 23 February 1945.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Iwo Jima

Fighting alongside Marines were U.S. Navy Corpsmen, risking their lives to care for wounded Marines.

Pictured here is Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Francis Pierce, Jr. carrying a Marine to safety. Pierce received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Iwo Jima, 15 and 16 March 1945.


Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Battle of Okinawa

Hospital Apprecentice First Class Robert E. Bush, USNR–Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands–2 May 1945

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient Hospital Apprentice First Class Robert E. Bush, USN

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle company, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands, 2 May 1945.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Battle of Okinawa

The last major battle of WWII, the Battle of Okinawa, would be one of the bloodiest with more than 49,000 American casualties.

In this painting, Waterhouse depicts Pvt Robert M. McTureous tossing grenades into enemy caves to draw attention to himself as Marines are being evacuated. McTureous received the Medal of Honor posthumously, giving his life to save Marines.

Painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Medal of Honor recipient Private Robert M. McTureous, USMC

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company H, Third Battalion, Twenty-ninth Marines, Sixth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa in the Ryukyu Chain, 7 June 1945.

Portrait by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)