Cheyenne Auctioneers LLC Is Honored to Present These Rarely Seen Offered to the Public; Historic & Powerful Art Works By Listed Artist Maj. Theodore W. Gostas.
Theodore "Ted" Gostas (American, 1938-2023) "Untitled" Oil on Canvas, Original Art Work, Signed & Dated 2004, Measuring 28" Tall x 22" Wide, This piece like many others is Directly Correlated with His Time in Solitary Confinement
Theodore William Gostas was born December 13, 1938 in Butte, Montana to a Czechoslovakian mother and Greek father. In 1941, the family moved to Bayard, Nebraska, and two years later, settled in Cheyenne, WY. He studied English Literature at the University of Wyoming and enrolled in ROTC.
Veteran & Prisoner of War Ted Gostas was working with the 135th Military Intelligence Battalion Provisional, in the northern part of South Vietnam during TET '68 when Hue came under siege. He and 11 others were captured and taken as Prisoners of War by the North Vietnamese on February 1, 1968
Upon his capture, the Vietnamese discovered that Gostas was a counter-intelligence officer through an article in the Stars & Stripes. His treatment greatly suffered as a result.
While in captivity, Ted had suffered horrific torture, been severely beaten, kicked in the head and stomach, and hung from a rope for extended periods. He was often denied food and water and was struck in the head with an AK 47. Ted also suffered from severe intestinal problems and numerous abscessed teeth throughout his ordeal. “But,” said Ted, “It was the 4 1/2 years in solitary confinement that did the worst damage.” The Vietnamese had learned from an article in the Stars & Stripes that Ted was a counterintelligence officer. His treatment was more brutal as a result, and he was one of only five Americans to serve more than four years in solitary confinement.
After spending 1,871 days in captivity, Ted was released during Operation Homecoming on March 16, 1973
He retired from the Army with the rank of Major, being awarded the Bronze Star and 2 Purple Hearts and the POW Medal.
Although he suffers from many health related problems as a result of his
torture and captivity, he continues his work as a "war artist" and has
raised several thousand dollars in college scholarships for the children of
indigent veterans. He donates 100% of the proceeds of his art work and book-sales to the scholarship fund. "Prisoner" was written and illustrated by Ted in 1974 and is still available. His artworks are listed in the U.S. National Archives
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