War Paint ! A Pictorial History of the 4th Marine Division at War in the Pacific. Volume I - The Marshall Islands (Roi & Namur)

Chapter One

Theo Hios the Modern Artist

The odyssey of the 4th Marine Division presented in the War Paint series begins with my Uncle, Theo Hios. He served with the Marine Corps during World War Two. Since 1973, when I was ten years of age, my Uncle told me stories about the war. Thus he was the first veteran of the 4th Marine Division that I knew. And through all the years my Uncle would recount the same stories, but I wanted to know more. In 1998 while staying at his Hampton Bays Summer art studio, the old man told me: I don’t want the world to remember me as a Marine, I want to be remembered as an Artist.¹

Theo Hios, c. 1983. (35mm slide. Author’s collection)

Theo Hios was born in Sparta Greece 2 February, 1910, and emigrated to the United States in1929.² The Great Depression started but a few months after he arrived and ended his ambitions to attend law school. Instead he worked two full time jobs as a short order cook. Seeking fulfillment and recreation he started making small paintings and sketches. Soon thereafter he found his way to government sponsored WPA art classes.³

He painted landscapes, still life, portraits, murals and abstracts. During the WPA years of the 1930’s – 1940’s, he also produced several social commentaries, such as: the Spanish Civil War with Civilization in Flight – Guernica (1937); the plight of African Americans and inequality with Hidden Hands (1938-1939); and the war in Europe when his native homeland Greece was ravaged by Axis aggression in his sketches of Hitler’s Victims – Hitler’s Road to Athens (1942).

By the end of 1942 Theo Hios decided that it was time to do his part in the war against the Axis and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. With the Marine Corps he was a combat artist and photographer for the 4th Marine Division, and participated in the battles for the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima.

The Marine Corps needed artwork for public relations. That is the reason why the Corps supported Theo Hios’ art work. Within the Marine Corps Art Program Theo Hios found his way to other talented artists, photographers and writers. Therefore the Marine Corps Art Program inadvertently started an art movement of free expression within the ranks. But make no mistake about it - at the end of the day Marine Corps Artists were Marines first.

It seems to me that his service in the Marine Corps had a profound influence on his work. I observed many changes in his pre-war vs. post war art works, especially with regard to his abstract expression and symbolism. From the 1970’s through late 1990’s I viewed, handled and cataloged virtually all of his art work. His art celebrated life, nature and the beauty of the universe. His landscapes are vibrant with color. Some of his abstract works expressed the concern, hope and survival of Man and nature during the Cold War. While in the Marine Corps during World War Two, Theo Hios was a part of something really big – the conventional outcome of which revealed a much larger plot that introduced humanity into the nuclear era. During the war in the Pacific, Theo Hios participated in all campaigns with the 4th Marine Division. Two battles in particular included taking the Marshall Islands (February, 1944) and Tinian Island (August, 1944). Subsequently the airfields on Tinian Island were used to launch two atomic attacks against Japan (August, 1945). And Bikini Island, in the Marshalls, was the site of the first post war under-water atomic test (July, 1946). These events had a profound impact on Theo Hios’ psyche which he expressed in some of his post war abstract artworks.

In January 1999, about three weeks short of his ninetieth birthday, Theo Hios passed away in New York City. His wake was attended by many dignitaries from the New York art community and academia. A Marine Corps honor guard arrived. They were ‘dressed to the nines’ in their Marine Corps blues, regardless how bad the winter storm raged outside. The Marines properly folded the casket flag, and presented ‘old glory’ to Theo’s wife Catherine. Then I was amused to hear the hushed chatter amongst Theo’s old friends. Someone muttered why were the Marines present? Then it hit me. Most of Theo Hios’ artist friends had no idea that he was a Marine!⁴

Brighton Beach. New York City, September 1935. By Theo Hios. Oil on canvas board,

10 x 14 (Author’s collection)

Hios painted a timeless American beach scene of recreation. If the painting were not dated, it would not be obvious that America was in the midst of the Great Depression. Otherwise, just a calm peaceful sunny day depicting men, women and children going about their leisure. The America flag flutters in the breeze.

Civilization in Flight – Guernica, 1937. A work of social realism on the subject of the Spanish Civil War, by Theo Hios. Oil on Canvas Board, 16 x 20. (Image scan from 35mm slide. Author’s collection)

Self Portrait, 1938. By Theo Hios. Oil on Canvas, 22x27 (Image scan from 35mm slide. Author’s collection)

Quartet W.P.A., 1938. By Theo Hios. Oil on Canvas 28x36 (35mm slide. Author’s collection)

Hidden Hands, 1938-1939, by Theo Hios. Oil on Canvas 37x52.

(35mm slide. Author’s collection)

W.P.A. War Poster Competition, 1940 by Theo Hios

(35mm slide. Author’s Collection)

The U.S. Defense Stamps and Bond program started in 1940 in reaction to axis aggression in Europe. Theo Hios participated in the W.P.A. competition for the war bonds drive.

Corner of Bleecker and Christopher, 1940. By Theo Hios. Watercolor.

(35mm slide. Author’s collection).

Hitler’s Victims – Hitler’s Road to Athens. W.P.A. Art Program, Sept. 1942. By Theo Hios, Pencil on Paper, 18x24 (35mm slide. Author’s collection)

The New York City art community in the early 1940’s:

The rise of Nazi tyranny in Europe created the exodus of many talented people from Europe. During the early 1940’s many European artists found their new home in New York City.

Theo Hios recalled how wonderful it was to meet and interact with the new arrivals of the art community. The art galleries had a fresh supply of new ideas to exhibit. The artists congregated at the numerous coffee houses of Greenwich Village --- conversations overpowered the fresh smell of coffee, talk of the latest trends in art and the exchange of news from Europe.⁵

Hitlers Road to Athens (1942):

During the Fall of 1998, Susan Teller Gallery exhibited Hitler's Road to Athens, 1942, in New York City.⁶ Nazi Germany’s bailout of fascist Italy’s disastrous invasion of Greece only compounded Theo Hios’ fears for his family back in Sparta. He expressed that by producing sketches that depicted macabre wholesale slaughter of Greek civilians. Such horrific imagery of the holocaust did not become widely publicized in the United States until the liberation of Europe in 1945. I asked the artist what prompted him, in 1942, to sketch the Road to Athens? The old man wryly grinned and stated: We knew, the Artists knew. The word got out.⁷

USMC Recruiting Station, New York City:

In November of 1942, America had been at war nearly one year. Although Theo Hios was thirty-two years, and had a steady union job with a printing company, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Theo Hios first approached the USMC Recruiting Station at 299 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City in mid-November, 1942. ⁸ His recruiter in Manhattan inquired Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as to how best can Hios’ background in art and lithography be best utilized to the fullest? The reply from HQ granted Theo Hios admission into the Engineer School, upon successful completion of basic training.⁹

On December 14th, 1942, Theo Hios enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, and is sworn in with the rank of Private Then Pvt. Hios received a full medical examination, was photographed and fingerprinted for his Service Record Book (SRB). His SRB also noted his weight at 145 pounds, and height at 68 ½ inches. Capt. William G. Hamilton issued Theo Hios his first official orders:

R.S. NEW YORK, N.Y.

10TH FLOOR

299 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, N.Y.

Ser. # 51805014 December, 1942

From: The Officer in Charge

To: Pvt. Theodore P. Hios, Cl. III ( c ), USMCR

Subject:Orders.

Reference: (a) Telegram OIC ERD to OIC RD, N.Y., N.Y. dated 10 Dec 42.

Having this date enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve you are hereby transferred to inactive status and ordered to your home.

Your Staff Returns will be retained at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station, 299 Broadway, New York, New York, until such time as your transfer to active duty is affected. You will notify this office of any change of address or any other occurrence which might affect your status as a reservist.

Your transfer to active duty is contemplated during the month of January, 1943 and you will be informed by this office of the exact date. Upon this notification you will be advised to report to this office for transportation to your new duty station on a given date.

No mileage nor transportation furnished.

William G. Hamilton

Capt. U.S.M.C.R.¹⁰

The Lithographer’s Journal story about Theo Hios’ Enlistment:

Theo Hios’ voluntary enlistment was inaccurately reported by Justus Ebert as Theo Hios, Lithographer and Draftee, published in the Lithographer’s Journal December, 1942:

An opaque in the employ of Daniel Murphy and Co., New York City…he is ready and willing to go, especially in view of the horrors inflicted on his homeland by the ruthless Nazi’s. He has written to Washington, D.C. offering his many sided abilities to the government….as a maker of camouflages in actual warfare. Hios is a painter of the modern school….He was working in a restaurant when he started to paint for relaxation. He got so infatuated with painting that he couldn’t give it up. It still enthralls him…¹¹

(Courtesy of Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library)

Theo Hios Christmas Day, 1942. Sheridan Square, New York City. Theo Hios enlisted in the United States Marine Corp earlier that month. (Photo courtesy of Theo Hios, Author’s collection)

Chapter Two

Marines at War 1943

Brigadier General Robert L. Denig, founding Director of the Division of Public Relations, HQ, Washington D.C. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo, courtesy of the USMCCCA)

Denig’s Demons and the Combat Correspondents, Photographers, and Artists:

Brigadier General Robert L. Denig is the founding director of the Division of Public Relations at HQ, Washington D.C, whom started the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Program. The CC program subsequently attracted the talent of writers, photographers and artists to promote Marine Corps public relations. The original D.P.R. staff members from 1942 are known as Denig's Demons.

When the new recruit Theo Hios was headed for Marine Basic Training at Parris Island in early 1943, General Denig already established the Division of Public Relations. That was fortunate for Theo Hios and other Marine Corps artists, because General Denig’s public relations success relied on a steady supply of new artwork from all the Marine Corps Divisions. The Marine Corps Art Program helped to sell war bonds and the public responded positively.

On June 30, 1941 (less than six months prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor),