Veteran Les Fordahl is a war hero though he never drew a weapon. “I drew the war,” Fordahl said. “I sketched or took photos at several fire bases, on the streets, on the rivers. Wherever I was, I documented daily life during the war.”
A Bloomington resident since 1960, Les started sketching at eight years old, graduated from high school in 1964 then Normandale College in 1980. He entered the army and served in Washington D.C., Germany and Vietnam from 1967-1971, first as a draftsperson, and then a
combat artist.
Les returned from Vietnam with 131 sketches, but only 85 survived after a confrontation with protestors upon return to the States. Still, Les’ work can be found in many places, including the Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, the National Vietnam Museum of Art in Chicago, the Minnesota State Capital, Bloomington Civic Plaza, the Federal Building and more.
Though he continued to sketch and take photos, he worked a day job for the U.S. Postal Service for many years. Now, he’s back to sketching daily and has offered art classes and talks at local universities and Jefferson High School. He has volunteered at the VA Hospital for the past 15 years and, in 2018, was inducted by the Minnesota Center for Humanities for a Lifetime Achievement award.
Lately, a focus for Les has been raising money for the Bloomington Veterans Memorial.
“I am proud of the work that I have done,” Les said. “I am honored to have served.”
