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The second release in our Marines of the Pacific series!
September 1945: For countless American boys who sailed off to war in the Pacific, the Golden Gate Bridge was their last sight of home. Many would never return. Now, the veterans of WWII witness the joy of the nation they saved. A parade of watercraft escorts their convoy into San Francisco Bay while Corsairs of the "Black Sheep" provide an aerial salute. Stationed in California, the Black Sheep planes are factory fresh except for a war-weary model, used for training. Like the heroes below, this tired fighter will soon retire, its mission accomplished. America is free. No homecoming would be sweeter than this.
Want to know "who" signed which print edition? Click the EDITIONS tab above.
Shipping added in checkout // print size: 31" x 19" // ships rolled in a tube
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ARTIST PROOF - Resale, in mint condition!
Sold out years ago, this hard-to-find Artist Proof print is from an edition of 290 limited-edition prints, signed by artist John Shaw and 14 veterans of the Pacific: Corsair pilots Jim Hill (VMF-214), Lyle Bradley (VMF-123) and Bob Brunson (VFN-101). Marine heroes from The Pacific mini-series: Sid Phillips, R.V. Burgin, Jim Young, Jim Burke and T.I. Miller. Pilots who flew off Guadalcanal: Torpedo 8's Gene Hanson (2 Navy Crosses) and Wildcat pilot Sam Folsom (flew with Joe Foss). Army P-51 pilot J.J. Inman (23rd FG) and soldier Jesse Boyd (43rd ID). Sailor Jim Churchill (APA-16) and Marine Raider Marlin Groft (Battle of Bloody Ridge). Includes a Certificate of Authenticity with "History Behind the Art," a Pacific War campaign ribbon and photos representing the start/end of the Pacific War and VJ-Day.
VICTORY EDITION
450 limited-edition prints, signed by John Shaw and 8 veterans: Corsair pilots Lyle Bradley (VMF-123), Bob Brunson (VFN-101), Bill Lucas (VMF-224) & Darrell Smith (VMF-312), Marines R.V. Burgin (depicted in The Pacific), TI Miller & Jim Burke, plus 1 other signer! Includes a Pacific War campaign ribbon, photos relating to the start & end of WWII, and a Certificate of Authenticity with "History Behind the Art."
MAIN EDITION - Sold Out
550 limited-edition prints
PUBLISHER PROOFS - Sold Out
190 limited-edition prints
OTHER EDITIONS
A Valor Studios canvas giclee edition may be released. A Signer Proof edition exists, not-for-sale.
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"The Homecoming" is hand signed by a collection of heroes who fought in the Pacific during World War II. Click "editions" to see who signed which print edition.
Lt. Col. James Hill
An original member of the “Black Sheep” squadron, Hill flew Corsairs with legendary VMF-214 under the command of “Pappy” Boyington.
Col. Dan Holland
Corsair pilot Dan Holland was a member of the famed "Black Sheep" squadron of VMF-214 and later commanded Forward Air Controllers during the Korean War.
Lt. Col. Lyle Bradley
During WWII Bradley flew Corsairs with VMF-123 off the USS Bennington and later in the Korean War with the "Black Sheep."
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Brunson
Brunson served with the first carrier-based Night Fighter Squadron, VF(N)-101, aboard the USS Enterprise, where he flew F4U-2 Corsairs equipped with radar.
Col. Dean Caswell
Caswell became an ace as a Corsair pilot in VMF-221 aboard the USS Bunker Hill. After the war he flew with the Blue Angels before flying combat in Korea & Vietnam.
Col. Bill Lucas
Corsair pilot in squadrons VMF-216, "The Bulldogs" and VMF-224 "The Bengals." Flew combat missions from Guam, Kwajalein and Okinawa. Later fought in the Korean War, flying Corsairs and observation aircraft, earning a Silver Star and two DFCs. Would command Marine Helicopter Squadron 364 in Vietnam.
Commander Robert Maxwell
A Navy Ace with 6 victories, Maxwell flew Wildcats with the "Sundowners" and later Hellcats off the USS San Jacinto where he escorted then Lt. George H.W. Bush.
Lt. Col. Darrell Smith
Flying F4U Corsairs with VMF-312, the “Checkerboards,” Smith’s was a member of one of only three squadrons flying from Kadena Airfield.
Capt. Walter McLellan (Signature Card)
As a F4U Corsair pilot assigned to the VMF-122 "Werewolves," Walter was stationed on Peleliu as soon as the airfield was secured. From there, he flew Close Air Support missions to help the Marines fighting in the Umurbrogol Hills overlooking the airfield (depicted in The Pacific mini-series).
Col. Gene Morrison (Signature Card)
Gene became a fighter pilot flying the F4U Corsair after enlisting in the Marines. Assigned to the VMF-122 "Werewolves," Gene joined fellow pilot Walter McLellan in flying Close Air Support missions to assist the Marines. Following WWII, Morrison fought in Korea as a helicopter pilot in VMO-6 where he would earn TWO Silver Stars on daring rescue missions of downed Naval aviators. It was Gene's fellow VMO-6 helo pilot, Charlie Ward, who rescued Medal of Honor recipient Tom Hudner on December 4, 1950 (see the book Devotion by Valor Studios founder Adam Makos).
Lt. Col. Sam Folsom
Folsom flew F4F Wildcats in Major Joe Foss' famous "Flying Circus" on Guadalcanal and later commanded VMF(N)-533 on Okinawa and flew in Korea.
Capt. Eugene Hanson
As a pilot flying Devastators with Torpedo 8, Hanson was in Hawaii when his squadron was wiped out at Midway. When Torpedo 8 was refitted, he joined them on Guadalcanal and earned an amazing 2 Navy Crosses!
AOM3c Wiley Bartlett
A member of Torpedo 8, Bartlett flew as a TBF Avenger turret gunner with pilot Eugene Hanson throughout the Guadalcanal campaign.
Pfc. Harry Bender
A machine-gunner with K-Company (K-3-5), the Marine company featured in "With the Old Breed" and in "The Pacific," Bender fought in Okinawa where he was wounded.
Sgt. R.V. Burgin
Burgin was the squad leader of Eugene Sledge and SNAFU Shelton with K-Company (K-3-5). Burgin fought at Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa.
Cpl. James Burke
Burke fought as a mortar man in K-Company (K-3-5) on Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa. He is a character in Sledge’s classic book "With the Old Breed," where he is referred to as “The Fatalist."
Pfc. Jesse Googe
Serving with K-Company (K-3-5), Googe was Captain "Ack Ack" Haldane's runner on Cape Gloucester and a rifleman on Peleliu, where he was wounded and taken off the line.
Pfc. Sterling Mace
A rifleman with K-Company (K-3-5), Mace fought at Peleliu and Okinawa. He is the author of "Battleground Pacific."
Sgt. James McEnery
A squad leader with K-Company (K-3-5), McEnery fought on Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu.
GySgt. Thurman “T.I.” Miller
T.I. Miller enlisted in the Marines prior to WWII, making him part of the "Old Breed." Assigned to K-Company (K-3-5), he fought on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester.
Pfc. Sidney Phillips
At age 17, Sid was fighting on Guadalcanal as part of H-Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (H-2-1), the same unit as Robert Leckie. Sid was featured in "The War" and in "The Pacific." He's the author of "You'll Be Sor-ree!"
Roy Gerlach
Gerlach fought at Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester with H-Company (H-2-1), the same unit as fellow H-Company Marines Robert Leckie and Sid Phillips.
Sgt. James Young
A three Campaign veteran, Young served as in the Mortar Platoon with H-Company (H-2-1). Young fought alongside fellow H-Company Marines Robert Leckie and Sid Phillips on Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu.
Sgt. Richard Greer
As a machine gunner with D-Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (D-1-7), Greer fought on Guadalcanal. A close friend of John Basilone, Greer was tasked with re-writing the first draft of Basilone’s Medal of Honor citation.
Cpl. Charles “Red” Womack
A flamethrower operator with M-Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Womack was depicted in "The Pacific" and Eugene Sledge’s book "With the Old Breed."
Robert Addison
Addison was a mortar squad member with the elite 1st Marine Raider Battalion “Edson’s Raiders” fighting on Tulagi and Guadalcanal, including the Battle of Edson’s Ridge.
Marlin Groft
As a rifleman with the elite 1st Marine Raider Battalion “Edson’s Raiders,” Groft fought at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Okinawa.
1st Lt. Joseph Lockard
Stationed at the radar unit at Opana Point, on December 7, 1941, Lockard was first to see the approaching Japanese aircraft. While his forewarning went unheeded, Lockard had provided an early alert of the Pearl Harbor attack.
2nd Lt. Russell Gackenbach
As navigator on the B-29 “Necessary Evil” as part of the 393rd Bomb Squadron, 509th Composite Group, Gackenbach’s B-29 accompanied the “Enola Gay” as the photo plane on the August 1945 Hiroshima atomic bomb mission.
2nd Lt. Ira Weatherly
As Co-Pilot on the B-29 “Straight Flush” as part of the 393rd Bomb Squadron, 509th Composite Group, Weatherly’s B-29 accompanied the “Enola Gay” as the weather reconnaissance plane on the August 1945 atomic bomb mission that targeted Hiroshima.
Master Sergeant Jesse Boyd
As a soldier in the 43rd Infantry Division's 43rd Signal Company, Jesse participated in the invasion of the Philippines in January 1945 and fought throughout that bloody campaign.
Tim Churchill
As a Navy sailor aboard the troopship J. Franklin Bell (APA-16), Tim participated in the invasions of the Aleutians, Tarawa, Saipan, Okinawa and more.
J.J. Inman
As an Army Air Corps P-51 Mustang pilot, J.J. flew combat missions in the China/Burma/India theater during 1945.
