Les Fordahl, a name you might not know but certainly will remember, is an artist of a different kind, one who traded his rifle for a sketchpad during the throes of Vietnam. According to a recent highlight by the City of Bloomington's official website, Les is a combat artist and a veteran, capturing the war not with bullets, but with quick, thoughtful strokes of his pen and camera lens. "I drew the war," Fordahl said, chronicling his experience across numerous mediums and locations, from fire bases to the bustling streets and muddy rivers of Vietnam.
Fordahl's journey began way before his military stint, dating back to his childhood in Bloomington—a city he's called home since 1960. Les, who started sketching at the ripe age of eight, navigated through high school, graduated in 1964, and then attended Normandale College graduating in 1980. His Army service spanned four years from 1967-1971, where he served as a draftsperson, and then, most notably, a combat artist in Vietnam. Upon his return stateside, a confrontation with protestors slashed his collection of 131 sketches down to 85.
Nevertheless, Les's contributions haven't been lost to time or turmoil, with his art donning the walls of prestigious institutions like the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project and even the National Vietnam Museum of Art in Chicago. A true embodiment of dedication, Fordahl balanced his passion for art with a practical day job at the U.S. Postal Service—a reality many civilian soldiers face, returning to the mundanity of life after the cacophony of war.
In his golden years, Fordahl has rekindled his first love: sketching daily and imparting wisdom through art classes and talks at local schools like Jefferson High School and various universities. Volunteering has been another canvas for his service, spanning over a decade and a half at the VA Hospital. And as if these accolades were not enough, the Minnesota Center for Humanities enshrined his efforts with a Lifetime Achievement award in 2018. "I am proud of the work that I have done," Les told the City of Bloomington, "I am honored to have served." Today, his sights are set on raising funds for the Bloomington Veterans Memorial, adding yet another layer to his storied legacy.
The tale of Les Fordahl is not just one of personal triumph and artistic legacy, it's a tapestry of service, resilience, and the nuanced life of a soldier off the frontlines. It's a story wrought in pencil shavings and darkroom chemicals, a narrative bookmarked in the hearts of a community for whom he continues to serve, to inspire, through his indelible work. And for those itching to glimpse his view of history, his sketches remain a living document, speaking volumes of a time and a conflict that shaped a generation and the artist himself.
