Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers

Killeen Daily Herald ^ | Dec. 23, 2003 | Spc. Benjamin R. Kibbey

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers

By Spc. Benjamin R. Kibbey
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

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 U.S. soldiers.

The two statues, which adorned a gate at the palace complex that houses Fort Hood's 4th Infantry Division headquarters group, were removed with explosives in early July, said 1st Sgt. Mark Anderson with Headquarters and Headquarters Company. The Roseland, La., native has monitored the memorial project's progress since the end of July.

The toppled statues were cut into pieces by members of the 558th Engineer Group and taken quietly to the artist, Kalat. He 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, the former headquarters' company first sergeant, knelt for the picture that has been turned into a bronze, said Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Fuss, the division's command sergeant major.

The artist, who fears retaliation from former regime loyalists for his work with the coalition, spent several months sculpting and casting the statue.

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.

The little girl portrays, in her eyes and presence, a sympathy mixed with gratitude. She was added to remind people of why the sacrifice was made, 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.

Sitting in Saddam's former palace in his hometown, the statue will soon be shuttled to Fort Hood, where it will become part of a larger memorial project at the 4th Infantry Division Museum. There, plaques will be hung in memory of those Task Force Ironhorse soldiers who have given their lives in Iraq.

The memorial planned for the Fort Hood museum is projected to cost between $30,000 and $40,000, and is scheduled to be completed in July. It is being paid for partly through donations from soldiers of Task Force Ironhorse and private contributors.

The cost of the new statue, which is about $18,000, was paid for through small donations from the soldiers of the 4th Infantry, Anderson said.

Fuss and Anderson credited the soldiers' generosity and Simpson's vision for the memorial.

"I think this is the best way we can honor their families and their memories," Fuss said.

[OXENinFLA]

Kalat, a local Iraqi artist, pauses to look at a memorial he has been working on to honor the fallen soldiers of 4th Infantry Division. The new statue stands in a former palace of Saddam Hussein that currently serves as the 4th ID headquarters at Forward Operating Base Ironhorse.

[TheSpottedOwl]

The artist, who fears retaliation from former regime loyalists for his work with the coalition, spent several months sculpting and casting the statue.

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.

The little girl portrays, in her eyes and presence, a sympathy mixed with gratitude. She was added to remind people of why the sacrifice was made, 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.

What a beautiful memorial. It's not only for our soldiers and Iraqi children, but also people like the sculptor who created this memorial.

[TheSpottedOwl]

The most touching of all of the scences coming back from Iraq have been those of the faces of the Iraqi children being liberated from Saddam's torturous hell.

Thanks for the great pics! Speaking of pics, you don't happen to have the one where we liberated a children's prison? I had it saved on my now dead pc. That picture should have made the front page of every newspaper.

[Valin]

Bump

[Lockbar]

I saw this sculpture on Fox News last week. The Iraqi guy did a real nice job. Very talented.

[CGVet58]

your pc may not be entirely dead - the hard drive may yet have a breath in it. Slave it on another PC (easiest way is to temporarily disconnect the CD rom drive - when you reboot, accept the new config now identifying the additional hard drive) and scan for the pics or any other files you need, then copy all to the C drive on that computer.

CGVet58

PS: and send me a copy of the liberation pic as a consultation fee! :-)

[New Horizon]

The toppled statues were cut into pieces by members of the 558th Engineer Group and taken quietly to the artist, Kalat.

What an absolutely perfect way to create a memorial to our soldiers. Beautiful!

[null and void]

Wonderful!

[Paul Ross]

Bump!

[MeekOneGOP]

Great pics !

[LibertyLight]

Christmas tears and Gratitude.

[onyx]

All gave some. Some gave all.

God Bless All.

[anymouse]

Tear jerker of a memorial. Thanks for posting the photo.

Taps bump.

[McGavin999]

That is beautiful, did you see the picture, it'll make you weep.

[No Truce With Kings]

It is gestures like this one that make me feel that the sacrifices we made in 2003 were really worth it. Not just in terms of how much safer it made the United States -- but how much better we made life for millions of innocent Iraqis.

After all, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

[Happy2BMe]

"Speaking of pics, you don't happen to have the one where we liberated a children's prison?"

I'll try and find it - Merriest of All Christmases to You and Yours!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[CHICAGOFARMER]

TO OxwninFlA

Thanks much this picture is worth a 1000 words.

Bless our troops.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

So you think you are happy??

Mohmamed says his profound most sincere thank you.

Note two meg file but well worth it.

*Mohammed says thank you*

http://www.rustfreetrucks.com/stuff1/Iraqilawyermohammedgohome.mp3

cut and paste