not titled [the Americans are bombed up]

Accession Number AWM2020.205.40.27
Collection type Art
Measurement Sheet: 29.8 cm x 41.2 cm
Object type Work on paper
Physical description watercolour, gouache, pen and pencil on paper
Maker Cooper, Robert
Place made Australia
Date made 2011
Conflict Afghanistan, 2001-2021
Iraq, 2003-2013
Copyright

Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright

Description

Robert Cooper served in Afghanistan 2010-2011. He was deployed as an ASLAV gunner with 2 Cavalry Regiment as part of MTF-2 (Mentoring Task Force – Rotation 2), based in Uruzgan Province.

While on deployment, Cooper was able to sketch and write in his journal, and he also recorded footage of troop movements and the local Afghan people. Cooper was discharged in early 2011. Once home, he produced a sequenced set of 346 works on paper, referring back to the notes and footage he made in Afghanistan so that he could tell the story of his deployment with absolute accuracy. Cooper wanted to show people exactly what he had witnessed and experienced at war.

Trooper Cooper wrote the following description of the work in his diary:
"October 04 2010
The American's (sic) are bombed up - all sitting around waiting to push out from Forward Operation Base Mirwais into the Chora Valley
sitting

October 04 2010 [repeated]
The American's (sic) are bombed up - all standing - sitting around, waiting to push out from Forward Operation Base Mirwais into the Chora Valley
I'm having a chat to one of them next to the American's tent.
He is a Private Board (A) Troop / 1st Squadron of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and I told him I am Trooper Cooper 3 Troop C Squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment
At the end of our chat - I wished him "good luck"
He smiled and said "thanks"
And then stood up - grabbed his pack & weapon and left with his squad of about 20 soldiers"

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