Harry Reeks
Harry Reeks | |
---|---|
![]() Military Transport Boats at Iwo Jima (1945) | |
Birth name | Harry Del Reeks[1] |
Born | [1] Covington, Louisiana | May 23, 1920
Died | January 15, 1982[2] Ocean Springs, Mississippi | (aged 61)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Battles/wars |
Harry Del Reeks (May 23, 1920 – January 15, 1982) was an American landscape painter and combat artist for the United States Marine Corps.
Early life and work
[edit]Harry Reeks was born in Covington, Louisiana. His father, John F. Reeks, was an artist. Harry Reeks would study under his father, a Spanish artist named Jose Mass, and Charles Reinike.[1] As a young artist, he lived in the French Quarter and painted scenes of the nightlife of New Orleans. He relocated to California in 1939.[3]
Military career
[edit]Reeks was a combat artist for the United States Marine Corps. He was at the Battle of Iwo Jima, arriving with the invasion force.[4] He was there for 30 days and was injured twice during the battle.[1][4] Reeks also documented the New Georgia Campaign, the Bougainville Campaign, the Battle of Saipan, and the Battle of Guam.[1] After his service, he returned to California.[3]
After military service
[edit]Back in California, Reeks painted the sights and landscapes of San Francisco.[3] He was visiting Hawaii and met Chloe Baker, who was in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. They married in Hawaii and lived in California, followed by Texas. In 1954 they moved to Biloxi, Mississippi. He worked for a public relations firm and did interviews with Elvis Presley. He was a portrait artist for a resort. Reeks also became a realtor and worked in Gulf Hills, Mississippi. Reeks started his own real estate company in 1967. He also worked for Spurgeon Pickering doing land development and was the foreman for the development of Gulf Park Estates, Mississippi.[1]
Legacy
[edit]The work of Reeks is held in the collections of the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at the John Hay Library at Brown University and the Parris Island Museum.[1][4] He also became a sculptor, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a sculptor. His sculptures are held in the collection of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. Sculptural works include Sam Dale Monument in Daleville, Mississippi and the Golden Fisherman in Biloxi, Mississippi.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Bellande, Ray L. "Harry Del Reeks (1920 - 1982)". Artists. Ocean Springs Archives. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Harry D. Reeks". Find A Grave. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Harry D. Reeks". AskArt. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ a b c "Military Transport Boats at Iwo Jima". World Digital Library. 1945–1982. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
- 1920 births
- 1982 deaths
- American real estate brokers
- American landscape painters
- United States Marines
- United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
- People from Covington, Louisiana
- People from Biloxi, Mississippi
- Battle of Iwo Jima
- World War II artists
- American war artists
- 20th-century American sculptors
- 20th-century American male artists
- American male sculptors
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- Sculptors from Mississippi