Sergeant Henry C. Casselli, Jr. Usmc

Place: New Orleans

Born: 1946

Biography:

Sergeant Henry C. Casselli, Jr. USMC, also known as Henry Calvin Casselli Jr., was born in New Orleans, United States, in 1946. He is a contemporary American artist who primarily paints watercolors of figures and settings from his native New Orleans. In 1967, he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was assigned the position of combat artist. During his deployment in Vietnam, he found himself immersed in the Tet Offensive of 1968. Despite the hardship of war, Casselli was able to depict soldiers and scenes of war in pencil sketches and paintings. After his discharge, he continued to paint various subjects, including American icons and historical moments. He was invited to be an official artist to NASA and was tasked with recording the first Space Shuttle launch in 1980. He also painted legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and was commissioned for the official portrait of President Ronald Reagan.