Three Soldiers (statue) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Three Soldiers
Three Soldiers in 2018
Location	National Mall Washington, D.C. United States
Established	1984
Governing body	National Park Service

The Three Soldiers statue, also called Three Servicemen, is a bronze sculpture created by Frederick Hart. It was shown for the first time on Veterans Day, November 11, 1984. You can find it on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This statue is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which remembers the Vietnam War. It was also the first time an African American person was shown in a statue on the National Mall.

History of the Statue

How the Statue Was Made

Three Soldiers statue

The original design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall was made by Maya Lin. Some people did not like her design. Because of this, some members of Congress complained. The Secretary of the Interior, James G. Watt, even refused to give permission to build it.

To make everyone happy, Frederick Hart was asked to create a sculpture. He was a highly ranked sculptor in the design competition. This sculpture was meant to add a more traditional look to the memorial.

A Vietnam veteran named Tom Carhart wrote in The New York Times that the wall needed a heroic statue. He felt that without it, the memorial would focus too much on sadness. Maya Lin was very upset that her design was changed. She called the decision to add Hart's statue "a coup." She said it had nothing to do with what veterans thought of her design. Lin also stated that she had not received any negative letters from veterans.

Hart's statue was placed a bit away from the memorial wall. This was done to keep the main effect of Lin's design. Hart said his job was to "preserve and enhance" the simple beauty of the wall. He also wanted to create a sculpture that showed the experience of Vietnam veterans.

What the Statue Looks Like

The statue shows three soldiers. They represent the main groups of people who served in the U.S. military in Vietnam. One soldier is European American (in the middle). Another is African American (on the right). The third is Latino American (on the left).

These three figures were based on seven real young men. Two of them were active-duty Marines when the statue was planned. The white soldier was based on James E. Connell III. The Black soldier was based on Terrance Green, Rodney Sherrill, and Scotty Dillingham. The Hispanic soldier was based on Guillermo (Willie) Smith De Perez DeLeon and Rene Farkass.

The statue was made using a method called lost wax casting. This is how the bronze sculpture was created. It was Frederick Hart's first big work made of bronze.

Meaning of the Statue

The architect of the memorial, Frederick Hart, explained his idea for the statue. He saw the memorial wall as a huge "ocean" of names. It represents all the sacrifices made, which are almost too many to understand.

Hart placed the soldiers on the "shore" of this ocean. They look at the wall, watching over it. They show the human side of the memorial. The soldiers wear their uniforms and carry their gear. They are young. This contrast between their youth and the weapons shows how sad their sacrifice was.

The soldiers are touching each other, showing their strong bond. This connection represents the love and sacrifice among soldiers in war. Yet, each soldier also seems to be alone. Their strength and their weaknesses are both clear. Their true bravery comes from their loyalty to each other, even when they know the dangers.

The statue and the Wall seem to work together. The soldiers look at the names of their friends who died. Jay Hall Carpenter, who helped Hart, said they carefully chose the spot for the statue. He explained, "The sculpture appeared to be looking over a sea of the fallen."

Frederick Hart was very proud of his work on Three Soldiers. He once said the details of the soldiers' uniforms were as good as any old carved angel.

Merchandise

Frederick Hart and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund owned the design of Three Soldiers. This meant they controlled how it was used. Copies of the design were sold on many items. These included t-shirts, keychains, and snowglobes. Hart gave his share of the money from these sales to a group that helps families get name rubbings from the memorial wall.

Replica Statue

A smaller copy of the Three Soldiers statue was made. It was officially shown on July 12, 2008. You can find this replica in Apalachicola, Florida.

See also

In Spanish: Los Tres Soldados para niños

• Iron Mike
• List of public art in Washington, D.C., Ward 2

Images for kids

• Fact sheet and press release for the dedication of ''Three Servicemen'' at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on November 11, 1984