Howard D. Becker

Howard Daniel Becker (1914 in Albany, New York, United States – 1995 in Pennsylvania, US) was an American painter and watercolorist. He served in World War II in 6th Port Headquarters as documentary artist, assigned by Col. R. Hunter Clarkson, painting and sketching the history of the occupation and reconstruction of the Port of Marseille. His watercolor painting "Assembly Plant", Cazes, Morocco, 1946, appears in "Soldiers Serving the Nation," a book of the works of artists in the field during World War II, drawn from The US Army Art Collection edited by General Gordon R. Sullivan, U.S. Army Chief of Staff. Several of Becker's pieces were retained by the Historical Properties Section in Washington, D.C..[1][2][3]

Howard D. Becker
Born(1914-01-21)January 21, 1914
Albany, New York
Died(aged -1996–-1995)
NationalityAmerican
EducationPratt Institute,
Known forpainting, watercolor
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1941–1945
RankCorporal
Unit6th Port Headquarters, Transportation Corps
Battles/warsWorld War II:
European theatre of World War II
AwardsEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Meritorious Service Medal

Early life and education

Howard D. Becker was born in Albany, New York in 1914.[1]  He graduated from the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn, New York in 1935.

World War II

Becker was drafted April 26, 1941.  He reported to Camp Blanding, Florida with the 57th Quartermaster Regiment.[1]  While in at Camp Blanding, Beckers watercolor "Convoy In Dixie" was exhibited as part of a soldiers' art show in the Society of Four Arts library, and purchased by Frederick Gunster, president of the Four Arts, and his wife.[4]

In April 1943, Becker left for North Africa with the 6th Port Headquarters, with the rank of corporal, technician 5th grade.

Commander R. Hunter Clarkson assigned Becker to the unit as an artist, commissioning him to paint port activities and scenes of Army life.  May 3, 1944, he arrived in Naples, Italy followed by the south of France on September 4, where he continued painting the restoration of the port of Marseille and Army scenes.  In May 1945, he visited an American camp where he created an exhibition of German art from selected artists from the German prisoners.[5]

Exhibitions of Becker's work included an exhibition at Oran, Cpl Becker's watercolors on Oran and its environs, the property of the U.S. Army, were displayed for the civilian population of Oran as a gesture of goodwill.[6][7]

Becker was discharged October 7, 1945, at Fort Dix, New Jersey.[2]

Career

Returning from the war, Becker lived at the Taos art colony and travelled through the Southwest where he painted and held art exhibitions.[8] Becker set up residence in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he painted historical scenes, old farms, covered bridges, and country churches. Becker's work has been shown in exhibitions, including The Wayne County Historical Society.

Recognition

The 6th Port was Awarded the Meritorious Service Plaque for Superior Performance in Control and Execution of its Port Missions, 1945.[9]

Alliance of UDH rewarded Becker posthumously in 1997 his outstanding contributions to the preservation and appreciation of the Heritage of the Upper Delaware Valley.

Honesdale Historical Society Museum opened with a retrospective exhibition of 40 selected works.

Three of Becker's oil paintings were exhibited at the prestigious, totally dedicated to "Architecture in the State Landscape" exhibition, and presented by Governor and Mrs. Edward G. Rendell in their Governor's Residence, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Exhibitions

The World War II Art of Howard D. Becker, Torrey Building, Pennsylvania, 1995

The Artistic Vision of Howard D. Becker, Wayne County Historical Society, Honesdale[1][10][11]

Personal life

Becker was married to Elsa Garratt Becker, an artist who illustrated for Highlights for Children Magazine.  They had one son, Peter.[12]

References
  1. Di-Stasio, Thomas M. (May 31, 1995). "Army-art exhibit carries on a legacy, Soldier's World War II works displayed". The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania). p. 23. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  2. Sullivan, General Gordon R. (1995). Soldiers Serving The Nation. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 178. ISBN 0-16-045496-4.
  3. ""Do what you think is right" says Honesdale artist Becker". Honesdale Wayne Independent. November 10, 1979. p. 11. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  4. "Six Pictures Sold From Art Exhibit". Palm Beach Post. April 8, 1943. p. 6. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  5. "Art Exhibition Draws Flood of GI Entries". Southern France Stars And Stripes. July 2, 1945. p. 3. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  6. "GI's Watercolors To Be Exhibited". Oran Stars and Stripes. March 24, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  7. "Study Of Children Under Fascism Wins Art Prize". Mediterranean Stars And Stripes. November 23, 1943. p. 3. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  8. "Howard D. Becker, '35, in one-man show at Santa Fe Museum". The Art Educators’ Column. October 11, 2013. pp. 4–26. doi:10.1080/00119253.1949.10742892. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  9. "6th Port Given Service". The Stars And Stripes, Marseille. January 27, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  10. "Lifestyles, Places To Go & Things To Do In Northeastern Pennsylvania". The Times-Tribune. July 1, 2012. pp. G3. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  11. "The Artistic Vision of Howard Becker :: Wayne County Historical Society". www.waynehistorypa.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  12. "Becker named Wayne County Historian". The River Reporter. July 16, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
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