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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.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Luxembourg - Battle of Bulge
23 December 1944 - D+201
The enemy's front lines extended generally from the vicinity Waldbillig, Mullerthal, Melickschech, Osweiler, Dickweiler, thence southeast to the vicinity of the Sauer and Moselle junction. The enemy employed its hastily constructed defenses to prevent our throwing back its penetration.
The weather was cold and clear. The attack by the 10th Infantry Regiment was continued, supported by elements of the 12th and 22nd Infantry Regiments. Aircraft from the XIX Tactical Air Command bombed and strafed enemy troop concentrations and succeeded in destroying a number of bridges the enemy had established across the Sauer river.
The 12th Infantry continued to defend and supported the attack of the 10th Infantry Regiment with fire. The enemy launched no attacks but heavy concentrations of artillery and mortar fire continued throughout the sector and at 1100, the 2nd Battalion reported Nebelwerfer fire.
The situation in CT 22's zone of action remained static. Enemy activity consisted of moderate artillery fire on the 2nd Battalion's rifle companies and heavy mortar-rocket barrages on Osweiler.
Regimental Combat Team 10 resumed its attack at 0745 with two battalions abreast and stiff resistance was met immediately. The enemy defended from positions favorably situated and well dug in. Little progress was made.
The 8th Infantry reported little or no aggressive enemy action and only a few rounds of artillery fire.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I can't thank you enough for your updates. I went through my former husbands 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam with so little support from anyone as I gave birth to our son & had to be a single parent to 2 children. He was an Artillary Officer & Green Beret. It would take weeks to get letters from my husband & the news was also very delayed. I have to say for me it is equally hard to have my son deployed but the e-mails from him & your daily updates help tremendously. I wish there was someone like you to update us on what's going on with the 173rd. My son, an Infantry Officer, is part of the 4th ID as he serves with the 173rd ABN BDE near Tikrit..... I was so thrilled to hear that Time Magazine chose the American Soldier as their person of the year. I'm sure all our soldiers will be happy to hear that good news. They are very deserving of this honor. God Bless you & your family this Holiday Season & in the New Year.
Thankfully Yours, Army daughter as my Dad fought in the South Pacific, Army wife for 25 years & now an Army Mom.
2) Thank you so much for your daily support and please send a special thank you to that special grandmother. Her words were beautiful and hit so close to home. I take deep comfort in her patriotic words about her grandson and her country. It seems all too often we do not hear someone speak of their country and the service of our soldiers so proudly. At times I feel that proud, patriotic, American people that bleed red, white, and blue are getting to be the minority. Few people these days seem to concern themselves with sacrifices of the American soldier and the future of our American way of life. It is hard to see other countries say things about our country and our people but almost unbearable to hear our own brothers and sisters speak out against us. I hope that many Americans will make special prayers this Christmas and be truly grateful for the blessings we have as Americans.
3) I would like to share a little news of joy. My son and his wife just celebrated their first anniversary on Dec. 20 and he sent her flowers from Iraq. My son had emailed me and ask would I get his wife address where she works so he could surprise her, no problem in the getting the address because she was expecting our Christmas gifts for the kids and I told her I would send them there. When she received the flowers she cried with joy when she called me to let me know what she had received. She also thank me and my husband for raising a son as sweet, thoughtful and romantic as my son. Those where kind words to hear from a daughter-in law. So I would like to say to all mother-in-laws out their support your your daughter-in laws/son-in laws and grandchildren because they need our support and they have become a part of the family.
4) Hi Bob this is in response of the Grandmother's letter and of course it brought tears to my eyes.
One of the things I wanted to share is my Son was home for 2 weeks and he had his uniform hanging mixed upon his "civilian clothes" in the closet and his boots all dusty sitting in the hallway...as I walked by his uniform and boots several times I decided to take pictures of his uniform hanging in the closet...pictures of his empty boots on the floor...now I knew my family would think I had lost it...but when I got the pictures back...it seemed like everyone understood..and I noticed (which I didn't when I took the picture)I could see my Son's (last)name on the inside of his boots...seeing his name made me even prouder of him...these pictures will be used in the scrapbook I am putting together for him and his future family.
Also the night before he had to leave I washed his uniform and my husband asked if we should be downey softener in the wash and I said yes of course...my husband thought his uniform would smell "too good" but I told him at least for a day or two he could be reminded of home when he smelled the downey on his uniform. We made sure it was wrinkle free, hung and ready to go back on the Man who was ready to go back and finish his job.
I have a lot of respect for all the men and women who proudly wear their uniforms and commend Time magazine for recognizing our soldiers and naming them People of the Year!
5) Our son (1-67 AR) was able to get some R&R in Qatar this past week. The wonderful news is that he called home, and his brother who is stationed with the 58th Engineering Company at Ft. Irwin was home for the holidays. They had the opportunity to talk for over an hour (it's been over four months). I can't wait until they are both home together again! We had an early Christmas present!
6) On Saturday, I heard from my brother who is in Germany for medical reason. In spite of his medical problems his is still thinking about his fellow soldiers left back in Iraqi. I told him he needs to think about himself and get better – I guess they never stop being a soldier. Today he called to say he would be returning to the states for further treatment. He sounded much better today. It’s hard to believe that in a couple of days my brother will be back in the states and safe. Walter Reed is only a few hours away and we will be able to see him. I would like the circumstances to be different as recovery will be difficult but I don’t care as long as I have my brother home. Proud Sister of a 733rd TC Army Reservist.
7) In regards to the Mother-In-Law who received a call from her son-in-law yesterday (B. CO 2/8)...I just want to say that you are amazing. Usually it is the wife and in a few cases the husband holding up the homefront while their loved one serves overseas. I know the scenerio you are in as I am friends with your daughter. I can only imagine how settling it is for your daughter and son-in-law to know that their son is in the best hands while they are away protecting his freedom. You are truly amazing, you should be proud not only of them, but of yourself!!
8) Today I received a Christmas card from my daughter 46th Chemical Company
2nd Chemical Battalion who is also part of the 4 ID. She wrote on her card: I guess I won't get to come home for Xmas; we have to cover for all the people that are on leave. I detected her to be depressed the last time she called, but she said she was happy that the other soldiers will get a chance to visit with their kids for the holidays. She has guard duty working the graveyard shift 12:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Her brother who went to Desert Strike BRAVO BTRY 4-5 ADA is happy that our troops are getting a lot more support than they did. How lucky am I to be a military mom? I feel blessed and very proud to be the mother of two soldiers. As you celebrate having your Christmas Dinner, please do not forget to say a prayer for our fallen heros and for the soldiers who didn't get the opportunity to be with their families for Christmas.
9) Hi Bob, we got an email from our son (1-10 Cav C-Troop) last week and he said,"I can't believe that a year ago today I was standing in the gym at Ft. Knox and then I was home that night. It seems like a long time ago." We were really missing our soldier and reminiscing about his graduation and his Christmas break. We went to do some shopping and in a store we saw a young soldier in his Class A uniform. We said hi and told him that we had a son in Iraq. He said that he had just completed his basic training at Ft. Knox and was on a 2 week holiday leave. We shook his hand and thanked him for his service. He said, "I've always wanted to serve my country." For a moment, it made us feel like our son wasn't half a world away. All of the soldiers are our sons and daughters. May they come home soon, safe and sound. Happy Holidays.
10) Being the wife of a soldier is not always as it may be. There are always the good times and the bad and I think God created certain ones of us to be devoted to our soldier. Not everyone understands the pain of having your husband go off to war 17 days before your first child is born, or the pain of having them come home on 15 days of R&R only to have a torn child when Daddy isn't there to kiss them good-night. It is not only children that we have to kiss away the pain, but our own. We have to lick our wounds and carry on as strong as ever. It is not easy when my husband is away but I look at every day as one day closer to having him home to hold me at night when I cry, just glad that he is ok and that he is there to watch our son grow up. Or cry for the friends that we have lost over there. WE the wives of the soldier carry the hardest part of all....WE are the ones that worry about our husbands, WE are the ones that have to tuck the little ones in bed and let them know that Daddy will be home, WE are the ones who pay the bills and keep up the house. A lot of people think it is an easy job and it is not. I could go on for hours of all the pain that we go through and the tears that we cry when we hear of an Apache or Chinook go down or just the long weeks of not hearing from our husband.... But I see it as a learning experience to know that I can and will do everything I need to to get through the long year of deployment. It is no cakewalk, it is no free ride. Being a Soldier's Wife is the hardest job of them all. As they say to the soldiers, "Suck it up and move on." It takes a lot of Faith, Love, Devotion, and PRIDE to be the women we are!!!
11) My husband called bright and early to wish me a Happy 9th Anniversary. It was so good to hear from him, and I am so proud of what he is doing. That morning, my friend came over to bring me a HUGE bouquet of flowers. She had signed the card from my husband. She also got me an ornament, a beautiful framed print, a cake and a sweet card. In addition she took me to lunch and the kids and I to dinner. I told her my husband has a lot to live up to next year when/if he is home! I only hope that other spouses have such a wonderful and amazing friend helping them through this deployment!!!!!
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Families Share R&R Experiences:
1) I just wanted to finally share my R&R experience with you. My husband (HHC 1-12) went back to active duty from the Navy reserve into the Army in August 2002. So he had to redo basic training and AIT. Right after AIT he was shipped off to Iraq. I found out I was pregnant a week after he had left for basic training. He missed my whole pregnancy, the birth of our son April 8th and will miss the whole first year of his life. So this mid-tour leave was an answer to our prayers and truly a wonderful Christmas gift from God! We have two daughters also that have missed their daddy so badly. (They were ages 5 & 9 when he first left us, now they are 7 & 11). He came home November 29, but I told the girls we were just picking someone up from the airport as a favor. They were so surprised to see him coming from the terminals. My oldest started to cry she was so happy! Then we had our precious 15 days together. Father and son bonded immediately as if they had never been apart. The day he had to leave us, was when the news about Saddam's capture hit. If we had to part again that was the way to do it. It gave us hope and more determination in all of this. Now he is back in Iraq and we are again counting the days until he comes home for good. Hopefully it will be in time for our son's first birthday.
2) I just spent three wonderful days visiting with my son who's home on Christmas R & R leave from Iraq. My son is a medic with the 1/68 AR stationed around Balad. He hadn't planned on coming home, as lower ranked soldiers were a higher priority on the list. Thanks to the generosity of two very selfless, single soldiers, my son is spending Christmas with a grateful wife and two beautiful daughters (ages 6 & 4). These two young soldiers gave up the opportunity to come home for Christmas so that my son could be with his family. They opted instead for a 4 day R & R in Quatar. My family will forever be indebted to these men. They truly reflect the spirit of love found within the hearts of our American troops. God bless them and God Bless America. A proud dad of a 4th ID, 1/68 AR soldier
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