Army Unveils Transformation Mural

[Hasbeen]

Army News Service | J.D. Leipold | April 21, 2006

Washington D.C. - The Army unveiled a three-piece, 65-foot mural highlighting the history of Army transformation at the Pentagon April 20.

The mural spans from 1939, when the cavalry mobilized via horse, to the 21st century.

Prior to the unveiling, Lt. Gen. James J. Lovelace, deputy chief of staff, G3/4/7, spoke to a packed auditorium of Soldiers, civilians and senior Army leaders about how the Army, both its active- and reserve-components, has reorganized numerous times to address specific threats and to better employ new technology.

“Some people think ‘transformation’ is something that’s only been happening over the last four years, but that’s simply not true,” Lovelace said. “The purpose of the mural is show that we’ve been transforming the entire time – it’s one of our ongoing missions in the Army.”

Divided into three panels, the first covers “The U.S. Army Transforming to Defend Freedom,” from WWII to the Cold War from 1939-1960. The panel uses photographs and graphics to depict Soldiers in Europe and Korea. During this time, the Army created parachute, glider-borne assaults with the formation of the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd and the 101st airborne divisions.

The second panel entitled, “Flexible Response to Army of Excellence” covers 1960 to 1991. It depicts the Army transforming to meet worldwide commitments, from the formation of Special Forces to its participation in Desert Storm.

The last panel is dedicated to future combat systems and the Warrior Ethos. Titled “Train as you fight,” it spans Desert Storm to the 21st Century, or 1991 to 2020. The current transformation will see the complete replacement of 40-year-old equipment designed to defeat Cold War enemies.