Statue of the American Soldier in Iraq

www.usstopekaclg8.org ^ | 4/1/04 | Bob Ohm

[ovrtaxt]

This picture of the statue was made by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad. This artist was so grateful that the Americans liberated his country, he melted 3 of the fallen Saddam heads and made a memorial statue dedicated to the American soldiers and their fallen comrades. Kalat worked on this night and day for several months. To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms. It is currently on display outside the palace that is now home to the 4th Infantry division. It will eventually be shipped and shown at the memorial museum in Fort Hood, Texas.

Origins:   According to the Army News Service (ARNEWS), the text reproduced above is a relatively accurate description of the statue shown in the photograph accompanying it.

In July 2003, two statues of Saddam Hussein, which an Iraqi sculptor named Kalat had a hand in creating, were removed with explosives from outside a palace complex in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, Iraq, where the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division headquarters group is located. The 555th Engineer Group cut up the bronze statues and shipped the pieces to Kalat, who using a photograph of 1st Sgt. Glen Simpson as a model spent several months fashioning them into a likeness of an American soldier kneeling to mourn a fallen comrade, while a young girl reaches out to comfort him in his time of grief.

According to ARNEWS:

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 hiss hand. Behind and to his right stands a small Iraqi girl with her hand reaching out to touch his shoulder.

The statue evokes emotion. The girl was added to the statue to remind people of why the sacrifice was made, [Command Sgt. Maj. Chuck] Fuss said.

"It's about freedom for this country, but it's also about the children who will grow up in a free society," he said.

The statue will eventually be flown to the 4th Infantry Division museum at Fort Hood, Texas.

Submitted by Bob Ohm

[BabyRepub]

Who said anything about the Iraqis? It is a beautiful statue, it doesn't matter if an Iraqi artist made it or an American one. Appreciation for a piece of art does not mean that we side with those animals who killed and desecrated the American civilians in Fallujah.

[wolicy_ponk]

Take a hint.

[Toespi]

Ditto to you comment! They are paying honor to our fallen soldiers and that alone should make it worthwhile.

[NewRomeTacitus]

[ovrtaxt]

The Vietnam memorial wall was designed by a Vietnamese woman, IIRC. She knows just as well as the soldiers what happened over there, and this guy knows about our soldiers in Iraq. You're making jackass comments.

These men gave their lives for the good of the Iraqis and one of them actually gets it. He makes this statue out of the melted remains of Saddam's statues. I agree with Danny, this should stay in the center of Baghdad.

Don't get me wrong, a tactical nuke in the center of Fallujah would make a great sunset, but give this guy his due.

[rageaholic]

Who said anything about the Iraqis?

uhh, the article.

It is a beautiful statue

My neighbor has a cast iron midget holding a lantern you'd probably like.

[ovrtaxt]

[rageaholic]

Agreed, that's a nice memorial and this is a good sculpture by a compitent artist.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

It's a wonderful story, a beautiful tribute to our fallen troops.

Statue was recently moved to Ft. Hood as a permanent tribute to the 4ID Soldiers who removed Saddam from his spiderhole.

[ovrtaxt]

[texasflower]

Anyone with such a stupid, childish website as yours, is hardly qualified to judge art.

My 10 year old nephew has a similar homepage.

I urge everyone to take a look at his site. You can access it on his homepage under "contact".

It must be seen to be believed.

[Travis McGee]

Scott Helvenston, Navy SEAL. R.I.P.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Vietnam memorial wall was designed by a Vietnamese woman, IIRC.

Actually, the Vietnam Memorial was designed by Maya Lin, an American of Chinese descent born in Athens, Ohio in 1959.

[ovrtaxt]

A friend of yours?

[Jim Noble]

I think it's great. But I think it should stay in Iraq

Right on, brother.

Except the Iraq you want it to stay in is imaginary.

rageaholic-these are not bad people you are fussin' with, they really want to believe that the imaginary Iraq where a beautiful statue like this would be put up and protected by a grateful populace.

Be sad for them, don't be angry.

Save your anger for the Arabs of Fallujah.

[ZinGirl]

This artist was so grateful that the Americans liberated his country, he melted 3 of the fallen Saddam heads and made a memorial statue dedicated to the American soldiers and their fallen comrades.

well, look what he had to work with, for heaven's sake.

IMHO, his desire to show his gratitude makes his work even more beautiful.

[MizSterious]

From the page in question:

"page created with Easy Designer"

Apparently not easy enough? LOL! Looks like a page some pimply faced 14-year old would create. Very juvenile.

[MizSterious]

Just compare the sentiments shown in the statue with the "sentiments" shown on the critic's home page (url is in his "contacts" section). The Iraqi Kalat shows a beauty of the soul, the other...well...mostly a lack of maturity, I guess.

[Mamzelle]

I'm sorry--I don't think this is a good idea, however much the honor is deserved. It'll just be something to desecrate...

[Mamzelle]

Wait--it's coming stateside, not being erected in Iraq? Sorry--misunderstood.

Never mind previous post

--thanks and gratitude to the artist