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Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers
Killeen Daily Herald ^ | Dec. 23, 2003 | Spc. Benjamin R. Kibbey

Posted on 12/24/2003 7:22:09 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: forthood; iraq; memorial; oif; sacrifice; souvenirs; statue
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1 posted on 12/24/2003 7:22:09 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl

SAVING YOUR ASS
Like it or Not

2 posted on 12/24/2003 7:22:48 AM PST by Hildy
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
May our HEAVENLY FATHER protect and keep our soldiers safe!! GOD BLESS THEM!!
3 posted on 12/24/2003 7:24:25 AM PST by RoseofTexas (r)
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To: archy; SandRat; Coop; VOA; TexKat; MJY1288; Calpernia; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; ...
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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fourth Infantry Division veering off The Plan, ping~Y
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blurry eyes alert.

4 posted on 12/24/2003 7:28:56 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ( "Our military is full of the finest people on the face of the earth." ~ Pres. Bush, Baghdad)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Picture here
5 posted on 12/24/2003 7:32:31 AM PST by mitchbert (Facts are Stubborn Things)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl; MeeknMing; Salem; JohnHuang2; SJackson
"Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers."


6 posted on 12/24/2003 7:32:36 AM PST by Happy2BMe (2004 - Who WILL the TERRORISTS vote for? - - Not George W. Bush, THAT'S for sure!)
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To: mitchbert
Thanks!
7 posted on 12/24/2003 7:34:11 AM PST by OXENinFLA (Tell 'em we'll have punch and pie.)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
What a wonderful story.Those who have given all receive my humble gratitude.God bless the sculptor for his work,the soldiers and others who contributed to this memorial.
8 posted on 12/24/2003 7:34:24 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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To: mitchbert

9 posted on 12/24/2003 7:35:12 AM PST by OXENinFLA (Tell 'em we'll have punch and pie.)
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To: OXENinFLA
Beautiful,Thank you for posting this.
10 posted on 12/24/2003 7:37:51 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers ~ Bump!
11 posted on 12/24/2003 7:41:19 AM PST by blackie
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To: Happy2BMe
The photos at #6 are of the Baghdad statue that was torn down the day U.S. troops entered the city. The two statues that were melted down to make the U.S. soldier memorial were from a palace in Tikrit.
12 posted on 12/24/2003 7:41:32 AM PST by Rebelbase
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump
13 posted on 12/24/2003 7:44:49 AM PST by SAMWolf (My boss says I do the work of 3 Men...Moe, Larry & Curly)
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To: Rebelbase
"The two statues that were melted down to make the U.S. soldier memorial were from a palace in Tikrit."

I know. Do you have any pics of it?

14 posted on 12/24/2003 7:46:46 AM PST by Happy2BMe (2004 - Who WILL the TERRORISTS vote for? - - Not George W. Bush, THAT'S for sure!)
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To: OXENinFLA; Rebelbase
Ahhh... thanks so much, OxwninFlA!

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.

15 posted on 12/24/2003 7:48:59 AM PST by Happy2BMe (2004 - Who WILL the TERRORISTS vote for? - - Not George W. Bush, THAT'S for sure!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I'm crying so hard, I can hardly breathe.

What a beautiful memorial to our warrior heroes.

I'm going to print out this thread on my friend's inkjet and take them with me to Walter Reed tomorrow. They need to see this - out of the horror and abuses of Hussein's reign comes a memorial to a fallen soldier.

Thanks for the ping, RC. Glad to see you back!
16 posted on 12/24/2003 7:50:48 AM PST by TruthNtegrity (God bless America, God bless President George W. Bush and God bless our Military!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I think this was the statue.


17 posted on 12/24/2003 7:53:30 AM PST by OXENinFLA (Tell 'em we'll have punch and pie.)
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To: OXENinFLA; Truelove

awesome
bump
18 posted on 12/24/2003 7:59:35 AM PST by MudPuppy (Young Marines - Strengthening the lives of America's Youth)
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To: Happy2BMe; mitchbert
Thank you!

Merry Christmas Everyone

Welcome to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) 

The Army's First Digitized Division

http://www.hood.army.mil/4id/


19 posted on 12/24/2003 8:02:06 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ( "Our military is full of the finest people on the face of the earth." ~ Pres. Bush, Baghdad)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I just e-mailed this to FNC co. Special Report.

Hopefully FOX will run this!
20 posted on 12/24/2003 8:04:21 AM PST by OXENinFLA (Tell 'em we'll have punch and pie.)
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