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Mural

When Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard of Jackson returns from Iraq it will leave a large mural on a wall that had been used to display paintings of the leaders of the former regime.

Sergeant Robert Leader, a member the 194th, is assigned to the Civil Affairs (S-5) section. His civilian occupation is a digital systems manager for Mid-South Color Labs in Jackson. Using his expertise in graphic design he has designed a number of certificates for the 194th and other units.

In April, SGT Leader was requested by Command Sergeant Major Ronald Jones, of the 194th, to look into the possibility of painting the large (billboard size) wall which is located in the compound of the 194th's office building. The painting would be a dedication to the fallen soldiers in the fight against global terrorism. SGT Leader took on the task but put his artistic skills to work. He designed a mural using a combination of sketches, photos and computer graphics.

After an undercoat of solid white was applied to cover the bare concrete the wall was ready for the mural. Working nights to allow the image to be seen from an overhead projector, a crew of about ten soldiers painstakingly outlined the computer image and began painting the wall. Three and half months later the wall in front of the 194th building has now become a conversation peice for the base.

SGT Leader has also contributed his talents toward other sign projects on post. One has been the design of the sign and logo for the dining facility, The Coalition Cafe. Another is a sign for the 122nd Corps Support Group office building.

Soldiers, in addition to SGT Leader, who contributed time toward painting the large mural in front of the 194th building were: Colonel Robert Johnson, Command Sergeant Major Ronald Jones, Master Sergeant Danny Roberts and Sergeant First Class Charles Oakley all of HHC, 194th; Staff Sergeant Michael Devores and Specialist Matt Schumann of the 133rd Engineer Company; Specialist Stephen Lightsey and Specialist Jonathan Hambleton of the 1438th Engineer Company; Sergeant Jason Lane of HSC, 891st Engineer Battalion.

The Wall before a mural was painted.

The Wall after many hours of planning, preparation and painting.

SGT Leader entered and won a contest for the best sign design to place on the dining facility. Congratulating him is Brigadier General Jimmy Welch (right), Commander of the 194th Engineer Brigade and Command Sergeant Major Ronald Jones, Command Sergeant Major of the 194th Engineer Brigade.

Command Sergeant Major Stephen Hand of the 122nd Corps Support Group thanks SGT Leader for the design and work he did on the sign for the new 122nd building.

Story and photos by SFC Pete Quinton, S-5/PAO,
194th Engineer Brigade (TA)
Tennessee Army National Guard
Tallil, AB, Iraq