Artist bio
Gabriel White’s story began in the Northern California town of Sonoma Valley. Gabriel spent his youth hiking and exploring the hills and vineyards that surrounded the property where he grew up. Born into a modest, hard-working family, Gabriel developed the tools and aspirations needed to persevere and conquer any obstacle set before him. With his father a master builder, and mother an artist, Gabriel developed natural abilities in the areas of industrial arts, music and writing. As his coming of age neared, he was faced with figuring out the right trail to take following high school. Upon graduation, Gabriel was presented with the Bank of America Industrial Arts Award and a full private scholarship to the San Francisco Academy of Arts. Although this seemed to be the path his loved ones insisted was best, in his heart there was a deep desire for adventure— adventure that he knew he wouldn’t experience in art school. With both of his grandfathers being US Navy veterans of WWII, and one of them a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he considered an enlistment in the Navy, but after speaking to the Marine Corps. recruiter, he was sold. Though the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had just began, Gabriel was headstrong that he was going to travel the world and if war came, he would fight and survive. So, in 2003, Gabriel enlisted into the Marine Corps. infantry and graduated School of Infantry as a Rifleman (0311) on the honor roll. At the age of 19, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in late 2004 with a rifle platoon. Shortly after arriving in Iraq, Gabriel was among the first group of Marines to storm the city of Fallujah during the bloodiest battle since the Vietnam War. The objective of the assault on the city (Operation Phantom Fury) was to search every house for enemy personal and weapons, and secure it for the first Democratic election. To this day, that battle is still one of the most defining experiences of Gabriel’s life.
“The price of capturing Fallujah was over 100 KIA, 600 wounded, and over 1,500 enemies killed in nine days. Things that take place in modern urban warfare are unimaginable unless you’ve experienced it. So many emotions and feelings come to light that you never knew existed” - Gabriel White
On November 11th, 2004, Gabriel’s platoon commander and friend, Lt. Blecksmith, was shot in the chest on a roof top of a three-story building. Gabriel’s squad did not have a Corpsman with them, so Gabriel rushed to his aid. Gabriel was able to keep Lt. Blecksmith alive as Corpsman arrived, and helped them perform CPR by breathing for Lt. Blecksmith via mouth to mouth. Lt. Blecksmith came to for a moment, took a gasp of air and looked at Gabriel, then was gone. Gabriel and three other members of his squad carried their Lt. under heavy gunfire down the three sets of stairs, over a seven foot tall wall, and down the city block to regroup.
Throughout the rest of the battle, Gabriel did as he was instructed, no matter the fear or situation. He was involved in multiple gunfights, helped during medical evacuations, and took shrapnel twice.
“Living with the acceptance of dying cannot prevent you from doing your job in combat“ - Gabriel White
Upon returning home, his battalion was informed that they were scheduled to return to the war within 9 months. They were slotted to safe guard a huge rural area in the villages and farmlands along the Euphrates River and Southern Fallujah. Gabriel knew of the extreme dangers and threats that the area had to offer, and felt that he could better serve his unit in the battalion’s Scout Sniper Platoon. He felt that the safety of his friends and battalion relied much on the Scout Snipers to deliver reconnaissance, long range marksmanship, and air support against the I.E.D.s implacers and guerrilla fighters that would conduct surprise attacks on the US forces and Iraqi citizens and soldiers.
Prior to deploying, Gabriel began the extremely grueling and difficult process of becoming a Scout Sniper. In July 2005, Gabriel volunteered and participated in the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines Scout Sniper indoctrination/screening process. After being 1 of 7 (out of 64) completing the indoctrination, Gabriel and his comrades took part in a USMC Scout Sniper Platoon spin up, where under extreme mental and physical demands, he accomplished and developed the skills and physical training necessary to operate as a USMC Scout Sniper team member. Then, it was onto Pre-Sniper School to prepare for USMC Scout Sniper School.
Following Pre-Sniper School, Gabriel was selected and volunteered to attend and complete the best and highest respected special operations Sniper School in the world. At the end of 2005, Gabriel completed the course and was recognized with two awards: one award for accumulating the highest scores in camouflage and concealment, the other was the “Instructor’s Choice Award” for being the graduating sniper who showed the highest amount of skills and leadership during USMC Scout Sniper School. This was no easy task with an overall attrition of students being 80%. Gabriel’s award was voted for unanimously by his Sniper Instructors. His unanimous nomination for the Instructor’s Choice Award was the first in history and his name was added to the Instructor’s Choice Plaque that still hangs at the Scout Sniper School on Camp Pendleton CA. under class 1-06.
Three weeks after graduating Scout Sniper School, Gabriel deployed back to Iraq. This time as a Scout Sniper in the rural village scattered area along the Euphrates River. For the majority of the combat deployment, Gabriel and his teammates conducted over 100 missions into enemy territory-sometimes lasting multiple days, hiding in houses or other structures within the towns or in river canals, palm groves or farmlands. Gabriel and his teammates were responsible for the saving of many U.S. Service Members lives and countless lives of Iraqi civilians and Iraqi Service Members. By ways of gathering intelligence on future enemy attacks as well as eliminating I.E.D. implacers and enemy fighters who posed an immediate threat. Gabriel was recognized for heroism and bravery, and awarded for Valor for his selfless dedication to his fellow Marines, for intentionally exposing himself in direct enemy fire in order to eliminate two gunmen who were attacking their position.
“It was a very mentally draining deployment, but I would live it all again. We lost some very amazing friends, had good times and bad, and did some crazy things...” - Gabriel White
When Gabriel returned after now serving 14 months in war, his Sniper Platoon lost all but 4 Scout Snipers due to their service time ending. Gabriel and three of his comrades were now tasked with building a new Scout Sniper Platoon. Gabriel was promoted within his platoon to the billet of “Platoon Chief Scout.” He spent his next year of service training and giving his knowledge and wisdom as a combat experienced sniper to his newly selected Scout Sniper Platoon.
Toward the end of his active time in the Marines, when he knew he wasn’t heading back overseas, he decided to ask for his girlfriend’s hand in marriage, whom had stayed by his side and supported him throughout the years. Before his service ended, he put on his Dress Blue Uniform and married his beautiful wife, Kathryn White, who is a published photographer and entrepreneur.
As he transitioned from active military to the Marine Corps. Reserve Service, he was quickly recruited to a different entity of service. He graduated at the top of his academy class of 60 recruits, and was awarded for doing the best overall in every category of training.
It was also around this time that his first child was born. Gabriel was now 23 with a healthy and handsome baby son to provide and care for. Gabriel spent the next five years moving up in seniority in a high stress environment. He quickly became a member of both the Emergency Response Team and Field Force Team. Towards the end of his service there, he became a Firearm’s Instructor and Less Lethal Weapons Instructor. Towards the end of his time of service, he and his wife had their second child, a beautiful baby girl.
Though highly respected by his peers and leadership, Gabriel felt unsatisfied; as though there was joy missing in his life. Once again, he sought a different kind of adventure. Gabriel reconsidered his life and felt a calling for traveling the world, so he decided to walk away from his career. He (along with a friend and fellow Marine comrade) began forming a guided backpacking school for people suffering from PTS. The plan seemed fulfilling and promising, but before it launched, Gabriel’s business partner was involved in a tragic and fatal car accident. Gabriel, devastated by the loss of one of his greatest friends and confidants, could no longer envision the mountaineering course. With a family to provide for, Gabriel reset his vision and began researching the arts again when one day, he came across a glass flame worker in the window of a storefront; it was in that moment that he knew he wanted to do the same thing. Following that, he began noticing all things glass and would build them in his mind. He approached the Department of Veteran Affairs grant program to cover equipment and training cost, but was turned down. Knowing that this was a goal that he was going to accomplish, he found a glass studio in Northern California offering a 10 hour torch safety course. At the end of the course, Gabriel bought the bare essentials necessary to begin melting and shaping glass at his home. He converted an old wood stove workshop on his mountain property into a rough art studio and office. He worked with the glass for hours on end, slowly developing the skills to make store-ready items. He began traveling from shop to shop, selling a little at a time and gaining knowledge and experience in sales.
Gabriel’s talents led him to public events, festivals and concerts, where he would set up an exhibit and melt glass in front of crowds of spectators.
As the years passed, Gabriel began making larger and finer pieces of art; his talents and love for the arts continued to shine in many different areas. Today, Gabriel spends his time as a dedicated father and husband. He is a proud member of the Marine Memorial Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization, and portions of all his sales are donated to these institutions. He was previously the Senior Vice Commander of his local VFW post, and currently elected as a Trustee. He has slowed down since his youth, mainly from injuries sustained from his time in combat, but continues to dedicate himself to other veterans in need of a hand.
Gabriel’s artistic abilities also continue to shine through his work. As he now dedicates much of his time cleaning up the rivers in the California Gold Country of broken glass and melting it into his sculptures, Gabriel finds his peace in trying to make the world better, whether it’s lending an ear or a helping hand, planting trees, cleaning up the rivers of dangerous glass or building beautiful art.
“If you can be an example of good around you, then those around you may do the same. Slowly the world can get better; you have to be the example.” - Gabriel White