BAGHDAD — Pfc. Darrell Harden, of Greensboro, N.C., with the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team picked up an extra duty, splashing color on the drab protective concrete barriers outside of the brigade's headquarters at Forward Operating Base Falcon recently.
Harden painted the 1st Cavalry Division and 30th HBCT unit insignias on the barriers, an Army tradition when new units take over a battle space.
"It's pretty cool that I can do this," said Harden. "It is a long time tradition and it shows other units we were here and made a difference."
Harden said that he enjoyed the change of pace. He normally works behind a desk in the Tactical Command Center.
"I was able to get outside and do the thing I love to do," Harden explained. "I get to leave something behind that will be here for a long time."
"I do all kinds of artwork when I'm home, everything from t-shirts to tattooing."
When he returns home, Harden wants a new challenge separate from his art, seeking a degree in criminal justice.
First he's going to spend some time with his new family. He and his wife were married while he was home on leave. Earlier this year while he was training for his deployment to Iraq, they had a baby boy.
A year-long deployment, a new wife, a baby boy and college on the horizon the next thing Harden needs to paint might be an "S" on his chest.