Duane Parks (1924-2015) was in Rockwell’s painting called “Homecoming Marine,” published in 1945 and called the Saturday Evening Post Editor called it, “The Best Magazine Illustration Ever Created.”
Towards the end of World War II, a uniformed U.S. Marine named Duane Parks had just returned to Vermont from boot camp when was approached by a tall, lean stranger at a square dance. Norman, who was collecting tickets, asked him if he would model for an oil painting. “I ain’t modeling for no darned artist,” Duane barked. His mother and sisters tormented him with demands that he agree to Mr. Rockwell’s request.
