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Carver turns art to aid of soldiers

Jul-27-2005 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT

Raffle will help troops now in Iraq

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By THERESA HOGUE, Gazette-Times

CORVALLIS — When retired Army Col. John Komp looks at a piece of wood, he sees more than just the subtle colorations and swirls in the grain. He sees smiling faces, wide eyes and hooked noses, cascades of hair and the fringe on a cowboy's chaps.

Komp, 82, is a wood craftsman whose steady hands make wood come alive under the steady pressure of his blades. Whether it's a one-sided relief of an American Indian or a fully three-dimensional sculpture of a swaggering Viking warrior, Komp has learned to bring out the life hidden in the depths of the wood.

Now, Komp is combining his passion for wood carving with another passion, the support of American troops. Komp is currently the honorary colonel of the First Battalion 24th Infantry of the First Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, including soldiers from all over the country. While his role is largely ceremonial, he takes a keen interest in the lives of the 1-24th soldiers, who are currently serving in Iraq.

The regiment will be returning in early October, and their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Michael Kurilla, wants to throw them a welcome home ball. However, the cost will be quite steep, and Komp hopes to raise some of the ball funds by raffling off a piece of his work, a piece he calls "Buffalo Hunter." [...]

Retired Army Col. John Komp is selling raffle tickets at $10 apiece or three for $25 to raise money for a ball to honor soldiers in the First Battalion 24th Infantry of the First Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division. The ball will be held at Fort Lewis, Wash., when the soldiers return in the fall. To purchase raffle tickets from Komp, call him at 758-6702.


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