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 in a tender moment of comfort and compassion.
Commissioned by the 4th Infantry Division,Iraqi artist/sculptor, Khalid Alussy (whose first name is also rendered in English as 'Kalat') worked night and weekend labor for four months to complete his assignment, and the statues were installed in an entranceway inside the 4th Infantry Division's headquarters in Tikrit.
Twin statues of Saddam Hussein on horseback were cut into pieces by the 555th Engineer Group and shipped to Kalat who reshaped the melted down chunks of bronze into the likeness of an American Soldier and a small Iraqi girl.
“The likeness was fashioned from a photograph of 1st Sgt. Glen Simpson, the former HHC first sergeant, who knelt for a picture that has become an immortal portrait in bronze”, said Command Sgt. Maj. Chuck Fuss, 4th Inf. Div. command sergeant major.
In February 2004 the statues were flown to the 4th Infantry Division Museum at the unit's home base of Fort Hood, Texas and will become the center theme of a larger memorial being constructed.
Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Fuss, the division's top enlisted officer, spearheaded the project, raising $18,000.00 from enlisted soldiers to pay Kalat for his work.
The Bronze Statue Memorial is destined to become an enduring symbol of emotional tribute to the brave military men and women in the service of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
To donate funds for the memorial, write: Ironhorse Chapter of the National 4th Infantry Division Association, PO Box 5009, Fort Hood, TX 76544.

Sources:

Dreazen, Yochi J. "In This Monument to Dead, the Medium Really Is the Message."
The Wall Street Journal. 8 March 2004 ? (p. A1).

Kibbey, Spc. Benjamin R. "Changing Faces: Statue Honors Fallen Heroes."
Army News Service. 6 January 2004.

Miles, Donna. "Memorial to Honor Fallen Task Force Ironhorse Troops."
American Forces Press Service. 20 February 2004.

Click on the image to enlarge >