Charles Waterhouse (artist)
He gave the U.S. Marine Corps its visual soul, painting its history from Tun Tavern to modern battlefields in over 500 vivid works.
1924–2013 (age 89)·American painter, illustrator and sculptor·Birthday: September 22·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Charles Waterhouse didn't just depict Marines; he became one of them, earning the title 'Artist of the Marines' after a lifetime of immersion in their culture and history. Born in New Jersey in 1924, his artistic path was forged in the crucible of World War II, where he served as a combat artist in the Pacific theater. This firsthand experience with the grit and gravity of military life informed everything that followed. For decades, Waterhouse operated like a one-man historical bureau, translating Corps lore—from the legendary first recruitment at Tun Tavern to the sands of Iwo Jima—into tangible, dramatic art. His medium was versatile, encompassing oils, watercolors, illustrations, and sculpture, all executed with a meticulous attention to historical accuracy that won him the deep trust of the institution. His legacy is a vast, curated visual archive that shapes how generations of Marines and the public perceive the Corps' identity and sacrifices.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Charles was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Charles Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Charles's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Died at 89
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Officially designated the 'Artist of the Marines' by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1992.
- Created more than 500 original works for the permanent collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
- Served as a combat artist for the U.S. Army during World War II, documenting the war in the Pacific.
- Designed the obverse of the Marine Corps' 223rd anniversary medal in 1998.
Did You Know?
He was the first and only artist to be formally named 'Artist of the Marines' by the Corps.
His studio was located in a converted church in Farmingdale, New Jersey.
He provided illustrations for the 1962 edition of the Marine Corps manual 'The Marines' Handbook'.
“I painted the Marine's face in the mud of Iwo Jima.”
