Soul of the Forward and Faithful
Collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps,
Triangle, Va.
On view at the Pentagon, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller
commissioned by the WWII U.S. Marine Raider Foundation
Bronze, 2014
33" x 46" x 18"
"For the Soul of the elite force unit is its men. And if there is one thing the Raiders didn't lack, it was soul." -- Robert A. Buerlein from 'Our Kind of War'
The memorial presents a group of U.S. Marine Raiders tackling a sloped terrain in the jungles of the Pacific. At right, a Navajo code talker quickly relays information on forward operations before his radio signal is picked up by the Japanese. Ahead, a marine and his German shepherd scout the dense foliage to avoid a potential ambush. At the ready, the Marine Raider holds his Browning Automatic Rifle close to his chest while keeping an eye out for snipers hidden in the trees. The panel behind the three men serves to provide a visual context of place with additional Raiders visible through the vegetation. The work embodies the Marine Raiders working together with conviction, cooperation, and commitment to succeed in their mission.
Awards Received:
“Colonel John W. Thomason, Jr. Award", Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Soul of the Forward & Faithful, 2016
“2nd Place, Sculpture", Art Renewal Center Int’l Salon Competition, Soul of the Forward & Faithful, 2015
“2nd Place, Sculpture”, Portrait Society of America's Members Only Competition, Soul of the Forward & Faithful, 2014
“Honorable Mention, Sculpture” Art Renewal Center Int’ l Salon Competition, Soul of the Forward & Faithful, 2014
Read more about the WWII Raider Memorial HERE
The process on my BLOG