I Am an American Fighting Man [Signed by the Artist and 4 POWs]

[Washington, DC]: [U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series]. [1985]. Number 36 in the U.S. Airforce Lithograph Series. Two images of an American aviator with a stylized map of Vietnam between the two. In the image on the left, the flyer is in uniform; on the right he is dressed in the garb of a POW. "I am an American fighting man" are the first words to the Code of Conduct for the U.S. Fighting Man. Much of that code of conduct concerns what his behavior will be if he becomes a prisoner of war. Number 201 of 500 copies signed by the artist, Jay Ashurst. The artist's printed signature is on the lithograph; the numbered edition has the actual signature in addition. This copy is also signed by four high-profile Vietnam POWs: Brigadier General Robinson "Robbie" Risner, USAF; Colonel Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, USAF; Captain Eugene "Red" McDaniel, USN; and Colonel Warren "Bob" Lilly, USAF. All four were aviators who were shot down and captured and served long terms in North Vietnamese prisons -- three of them over seven years, the fourth just under six. Despite the relatively large limitation, we have found little evidence of copies being available; a copy such as this, signed by four prominent, high-ranking former POWs, is by all appearances exceedingly scarce. The provenance and the names of the POWs have been detailed on the verso. 16" x 20". Very small, shallow stain top margin, one nick along bottom edge, else fine, in original mailing envelope that now bears a bookseller's mailing label. Unless otherwise noted, our first editions are first printings. First Edition. No Binding. Near Fine.