Story by Lance Cpl. Christopher Zahn
2nd MAW
CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq – The artist kneels in front of his canvas, a sketch in one hand, a pencil in the other. The pencil flows smoothly across the wood, its faint scratching sound the only sound in the room. The artist draws with one eye on the sketch and the other on the canvas. Instead of a lush studio apartment the room he works in is filled with rifles, optics, and other implements of war. The painting he is working on will never be considered with works such as the Sistine Chapel, but that doesn't diminish its importance.
For Lance Cpl. Jorge R. Campos, art is a passion. Every moment he can spare from his duties as an armory custodian for H&S Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, is spent designing, drawing or painting. Spending time drawing was a habit he picked up during his first deployment to Afghanistan, but the seeds of his infatuation were planted much earlier.
His passion began at a young age in elementary school. His talent remained unrefined until he got to sixth grade and met a friend who gave all his old sketchbooks to Campos. With those aids he began refining his skills. Upon entering Miami Senior High School he enrolled in more art classes.
"It was there I started learning different techniques such as sketching, graphing, and painting, said Campos, 21, from Miami, Fla. "I was learning and learning and began learning on my own, doing side projects."
Campos made sure his skills didn't go to waste when he graduated high school in 2003 and entered the Marine Corps in September of that year.
"In boot camp I volunteered to be the recruit artist," said Campos. "I drew our rifle flag, and also three campaign cover cases."
He reported to the "Teufelhunden" battalion after graduating from boot camp and the School of Infantry only to discover the unit was deploying to Afghanistan in a month. He quickly gained notoriety before the deployment by submitting the winning design for a t-shirt competition. He often spent time drawing pictures for his fellow Marines to kill time while deployed. His lifelike replicas of wives and girlfriends were often mailed home as gifts.
"Every drawing I like to do very detailed work, make it as realistic as possible," Campos added. "There's nothing better than when you look at a picture and say 'Wow, that's very realistic."
He has been applying his eye for detail and touch of realism to several signs and murals around the base during this deployment, including a logo for every Marine battalion that has been on the base.
"At 3/6 we're pretty proud of our history and his artist renditions of our logos and other historical artwork helps bring that pride about," said Capt. Kirk M. Spangenberg, the commanding officer of H&S Company. "It keeps us focused on who we are and where we came from."
The only interruption of his painting came during a trip to Baghdad, where he was sworn in as an American citizen Feb. 11. It was a dream he had been pursuing since his family moved from Managua, Nicaragua to America when he was 3-years old.
"I started last year when I came back from Iraq," said the newly naturalized citizen. "My mother was hassling me about it and eventually I got the nerve to do the paperwork. I just couldn't believe it; the only words that came out of my mouth were 'finally.'"
Following the trip, Campos returned to Habbaniyah where he resumed his primary responsibilities as a company armory custodian and immediately picked up his paint brush, making signs that truly enhance the landscape of a once dull camp.
"Doing these signs gives me joy," said Campos. "It's been a lifetime dream of mine to be immortalized, to have something that will stay in history."
For the Marines of the Teufelhunden battalion, they will certainly remember Campos and the pride he takes in being a painter, a citizen, and a US Marine.
"Campos is an outstanding Marine, and a fine American citizen," added Spangenberg. "He's a tremendous artist and his images help promote unit pride, cohesion, motivation, and morale."