Statue for fallen heroes

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2004-02-16 08:15pm

http://www.hood.army.mil/4id/Iraqi/news ... statue.asp

FORWARD OPERATING BASE, Tikrit, Iraq – When he was forced to fashion statues of Saddam Hussein on horseback, the Iraqi sculptor had no idea that someday he would melt them down to create a memorial for American soldiers.

The two original statues, which adorned a gate at the palace complex where 4th ID’s headquarters group is located were removed with explosives in early July, said 1st Sgt. Mark Anderson, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company first sergeant and Roseland, La. native. Anderson has monitored the memorial project’s progress since the end of July.

The toppled statues were cut up into pieces by members of the 555th Engineer Group and spirited quietly to the artist, Kalat, who reshaped the chunks of bronze into a likeness of an American soldier being comforted by a small girl as he mourns a fallen comrade.

In July, 1st Sgt. Glen Simpson, former HHC first sergeant, knelt for the picture that has become an immortal portrait in bronze, said Sgt. Maj. Chuck Fuss, the division sergeant major who resides in Killeen, Texas.

The artist, who fears retaliation from former regime loyalists for his work with the Coalition, spent several months sculpting and casting the statue. Though he created the original statues of Saddam along with another artist, he created the 4th ID memorial through his own design, said Anderson.

The sculpture is based on a scene many in Iraq have witnessed in one form or another. A soldier kneels before a memorial of boots, rifle and helmet – his forehead resting in the hollow of his hand. Behind and to his right stands a small Iraqi girl with her hand reaching out to touch his shoulder.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-02-16 11:33pm

Very cool.

Shaidar Haran · Post by **Shaidar Haran** » 2004-02-16 11:54pm

I give it a week before this turns into a huge politcal brawl.

Fire Fly · Post by **Fire Fly** » 2004-02-17 12:57am

I personally love statues; they're a great way to culturally enhance a city's image and to give it some history. I particullary love horse statues...something romantic about it. Beats me.

But that's just me.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-02-17 01:09am

Very good news. The Iraqis might like the statue too.

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2004-02-17 09:24am

Let's see how long it takes before it is demolished by partisans in the night.....

GySgt. Hartman · Post by **GySgt. Hartman** » 2004-02-18 06:49am

evilcat4000 wrote:Very good news. The Iraqis might like the statue too.

What makes you think that?

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-02-18 07:42am

GySgt. Hartman wrote:
evilcat4000 wrote:Very good news. The Iraqis might like the statue too.
What makes you think that?

The Iraqis who toppled Saddams statue might like this statue since it represnts forces that defeated Saddam.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-02-18 07:48am

That is a very touching scene. The little girl comforting the soldier really starts the waterwoks to open up. I spent about 30 seconds looking at it before I couldn't anymore.

GySgt. Hartman · Post by **GySgt. Hartman** » 2004-02-18 08:05am

evilcat4000 wrote:
GySgt. Hartman wrote:
evilcat4000 wrote:Very good news. The Iraqis might like the statue too.
What makes you think that?
The Iraqis who toppled Saddams statue might like this statue since it represnts forces that defeated Saddam.

Yes, for some of those that's true; but, as always, there are those of different opinion.
It'd be more correct to say that some Iraqis might like it; but there will sure as hell be a lot who don't. Not all those who opposed Saddam want the Americans to stay, and even some of those who do might take offense at the placement of a statue to the fallen US soldiers, when so many of their people have died.
Putting this statue up in the US is ok, they have every right to do it.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2004-02-18 12:46pm

You have to see it from their point of view. Regardless of how they felt about their former government, the Coalition still attacked them. Iraq suffered heavy casualties, far more than we did. I think we could curb a lot of potential hostility over this by finding some way to honor the Iraqis (military and civilian) as well. Otherwise I know I sure wouldn't like it if I was in their position.

GySgt. Hartman · Post by **GySgt. Hartman** » 2004-02-18 12:49pm

Since it's going to be put up in the US, there shouldn't be any trouble.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2004-02-18 12:54pm

GySgt. Hartman wrote:Since it's going to be put up in the US, there shouldn't be any trouble.

Where does it say that?

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-02-18 12:59pm

Lazy Raptor wrote:
GySgt. Hartman wrote:Since it's going to be put up in the US, there shouldn't be any trouble.
Where does it say that?

Um, it says its going to Ft. Hood after the rest of the 40k dollar memorial there is completed.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2004-02-18 01:06pm

Woops.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-02-18 05:47pm

Lazy Raptor wrote:You have to see it from their point of view. Regardless of how they felt about their former government, the Coalition still attacked them. Iraq suffered heavy casualties, far more than we did. I think we could curb a lot of potential hostility over this by finding some way to honor the Iraqis (military and civilian) as well. Otherwise I know I sure wouldn't like it if I was in their position.

A statue of an american soldier performing some benevolent action to a civilian, or shaking hands with one of the new Iraqi police or something like that would be good.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2004-02-18 07:31pm

Nathan F wrote:A statue of an american soldier performing some benevolent action to a civilian, or shaking hands with one of the new Iraqi police or something like that would be good.

Yup. That's pretty much what I had in mind. Downplay the "heroic foreign liberator" notion. It's too easy a target for those who want to take it the wrong way. As for the statue in question, since it's coming back to the States (yeah) I don't think it will be a problem.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-02-18 08:05pm

Nathan F wrote:
A statue of an american soldier performing some benevolent action to a civilian, or shaking hands with one of the new Iraqi police or something like that would be good.

People would dismiss such a thing as blatant propaganda.

GySgt. Hartman · Post by **GySgt. Hartman** » 2004-02-19 07:21am

Lazy Raptor wrote:
Nathan F wrote:A statue of an american soldier performing some benevolent action to a civilian, or shaking hands with one of the new Iraqi police or something like that would be good.
Yup. That's pretty much what I had in mind. Downplay the "heroic foreign liberator" notion. It's too easy a target for those who want to take it the wrong way.

Anything is an easy target for those who want to take it the wrong way. Especially anything American in the middle east.