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Memorial to Honor Fallen Task Force Ironhorse Troops
American Forces Press Service ^
| Feb. 20, 2004
| By Donna Miles
Posted on 02/21/2004 2:52:57 PM PST by Calpernia
A bronze statue of a soldier mourning a fallen comrade traveled from Tikrit, Iraq, to Fort Hood, Texas, this week to become the focal point of a memorial to the soldiers of Task Force Ironhorse who have died during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The statue arrived at Fort Hood's Robert Gray Army Airfield Feb. 16, along with the first 60 soldiers in the task force to redeploy from Iraq, said Capt. Charles Armstrong, secretary of the general staff for the rear detachment.
Armstrong said the statue will be moved today to a 4th Infantry Division storage site as preparations for the memorial continue. Groundbreaking is expected to take place within the next two weeks, he said.
Task Force Ironhorse soldiers donated the $18,000 to cover the cost of the statue, created by an Iraqi sculptor from the melted-down remnants of statues he had been forced to sculpt for former dictator Saddam Hussein, said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, public affairs officer for the 4th Infantry Division at its Iraq headquarters in Tikrit.
The 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood is raising private contributions to cover the $60,000 cost of the larger memorial project, Aberle said.
The Ironhorse statue depicts a soldier kneeling before a memorial of boots, rifle and helmet. With him stands a young Iraqi girl with her hand reaching out to touch the shoulder of the mourning soldier.
Army 1st Sgt. Glen Simpson, former first sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, posed for the picture used to create the statue.
"The memorial will recognize those brave Ivy Division soldiers that have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our nation during Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Ted Kostich, president of the Ironhorse Chapter of the National 4th Infantry Division Association of Fort Hood.
Aberle said 84 Ironhorse soldiers have been killed in Iraq.
To donate funds for the memorial, write: Ironhorse Chapter of the National 4th Infantry Division Association, PO Box 5009, Fort Hood, TX 76544.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 4thid; 4thinfantry; forthood; gnfi; iraq; ironhorse; majaberle; memorial; operationfreedom; saddamhussein; statue; taskforce; taskforceironhorse; texas
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A statue commissioned by Task Force Ironhorse will form a focal point for a new memorial to task force soldiers killed in Iraq.
1
posted on
02/21/2004 2:52:58 PM PST
by
Calpernia
To: MJY1288; Calpernia; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; Ernest_at_the_Beach; BOBTHENAILER; Jessamine; ...
Pro Military, Pro Coalition, Pro de-Baathification News!
The Ironhorse statue depicts a soldier kneeling before a memorial of boots, rifle and helmet. With him stands a young Iraqi girl with her hand reaching out to touch the shoulder of the mourning soldier.
Private Mail to be added to or removed from the GNFI (or Pro-Coalition) ping list.
2
posted on
02/21/2004 2:55:30 PM PST
by
Calpernia
(http://members.cox.net/classicweb/Heroes/heroes.htm)
To: Calpernia
Bump
3
posted on
02/21/2004 2:58:23 PM PST
by
SAMWolf
(Contrary to popular belief Hamas has nothing to do with ham. If you throw ham at them they get angry)
To: Calpernia
That is such a moving statue. I've seen other photos of it and the look on the child's face is incredible.
4
posted on
02/21/2004 2:58:53 PM PST
by
McGavin999
(Evil thrives when good men do nothing!)
To: Calpernia
Memorial to Honor Fallen Task Force Ironhorse Troops ~ Bump!
5
posted on
02/21/2004 2:59:13 PM PST
by
blackie
(Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
To: Calpernia
Someday I hope to see this statue and the memorial.
6
posted on
02/21/2004 3:15:28 PM PST
by
MEG33
(John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
To: Calpernia
bump
7
posted on
02/21/2004 3:16:33 PM PST
by
VOA
To: Calpernia; Ragtime Cowgirl
and they shall be led by a small child.
8
posted on
02/21/2004 3:26:54 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: Calpernia
Thank you for the ping. I heard about this statue a few days ago and have been eagerly waiting to see the picture.
9
posted on
02/21/2004 3:27:30 PM PST
by
djreece
To: MeekOneGOP; Flyer; Gracey
Texas FReeper ping.
Taps volly bump.
10
posted on
02/21/2004 3:38:08 PM PST
by
anymouse
To: Calpernia; anymouse; 1riot1ranger; Action-America; Aggie Mama; Alkhin; Allegra; American72; ...
*PING!*
As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.
11
posted on
02/21/2004 3:40:25 PM PST
by
Flyer
(Don't abandon our military - Re-elect President Bush!)
To: Calpernia; SandRat; timpad; Spc. Kibbey; MJY1288; xzins; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; ...
Thanks for posting this, Cal! Thanks for the ping, SandRat.
So cool they're moving the statue to Ft. Hood.
Toppling Saddam was, is, and always will be a most noble act.
Multiple readings, still a...
Blurry screen alert!.
(Freeper) Spc. Kibbey, 4ID, original w/ a few more pics:
8 Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers ~ Killeen Daily Herald | 12/23/03 | Spc. Benjamin R. Kibbey
12
posted on
02/21/2004 3:48:02 PM PST
by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("(We)..come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - B. Taylor, US Marine, 2/28)
To: Calpernia
God Bless those Eighty-Four and all the rest, the living and the dead. They are my Brothers and Sisters. I will sleep safely tonight because of them and their sacrifices.
13
posted on
02/21/2004 4:12:17 PM PST
by
JOE43270
(JOE43270)
To: anymouse
14
posted on
02/21/2004 4:14:45 PM PST
by
MeekOneGOP
(The Democrats believe in CHOICE. I have chosen to vote STRAIGHT TICKET GOP for years !!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks for the ping, one day I hope to get down to Killeen and see the monument.
15
posted on
02/21/2004 5:04:51 PM PST
by
timpad
("We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail" - Texan)
To: Flyer; anymouse
Thanks for the ping, Flyer. And thanks for the email, Anymouse. BEAUTIFUL isn't it? I'm sooo proud of our troops!
16
posted on
02/21/2004 7:53:02 PM PST
by
Humidston
(Two Words: TERM LIMITS)
To: Calpernia
".......created by an Iraqi sculptor from the melted-down remnants of statues he had been forced to sculpt for former dictator Saddam Hussein..."
The Iraqi artist has stated so much with this sculpture. It is beautiful and moving.
17
posted on
02/21/2004 8:22:31 PM PST
by
windchime
(Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
18
posted on
02/21/2004 8:33:11 PM PST
by
windchime
(Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))
To: Calpernia
Bump!
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thank God for our heroes and their loved ones!
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