29 July 2004, 13:12
NickuduIraqi Tribute
This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace, now home to the 4th Infantry division. It will eventually be shipped home and put in the memorial museum in Fort Hood, Texas.
The statue was created 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.
Kalat was so grateful for the Americans liberation of his country; he melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers and their fallen warriors. Kalat worked on this memorial 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.
Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy. The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect that a flashed breast or controversy of politics does. But we can do something about it. We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military making a difference.
29 July 2004, 13:49
sheephunterthanks for posting these news.
It is almost theatrical :he melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam ...
very touching.History is fluid and sometimes just.In its wake it leaves pain.
sheephunter
29 July 2004, 14:12
M1TankerA friend of mine I was in 1st CAV with, who is now in the 4th ID, was present for the presentation of the statue. According to him there werent very many dry eyes in the place.
Hate to say this Nickudu, but this statue was COMISSIONED by the soldiers ie. they paid him to do it. It was not a freebee as some might lead you to believe.
Peter.
PS. Welcome back. I saw a thread earlier that said you had gone!
Sentamentaility aside, Nickudu has it right when he says there should be more positive advertising.
If Bush were running a business all we'd hear is how shit the products are and how much right the other business has to beat him.
In short he would go fucking broke.
Karl.
30 July 2004, 02:14
Russell E. TaylorWell, commissioned or not, it's damn nice to see.
Russ
30 July 2004, 02:24
ChuckWagonAlong this line has any one else seen the proposed public statue for the Green Berets ? Apparantly there is not a single statue for public viewing in the US honoring any special forces unit. I believe the statue is of a Green Beret on horseback with the horse on two legs. I know there is some signicicance to the horse being on its hind quarters only. I can't remember if is signifies wounded or dead in the battle.
If the soldiers commissioned this one then they just deserve that much more credit for forking over their hard earned green backs.