Talk:Three Soldiers (statue)

Untitled

Who is "Lin"? His name (last name, presumably) seems to randomly appear as the "original" designer of the "first" design. I suspect (perhaps) word-for-word plagiarism that may not have provided context for the name. I hope not :( Cheeser1 01:54, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

That would be Maya Lin, who designed the main part of the memorial. Raul654 02:01, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

Does this article really need the huge rambling boring military sperg about the model numbers of what gun holster they're wearing? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.210.245.6 (talk) 03:00, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

Uncited material in need of citations

I am moving the following material here until it can be properly supported with reliable, secondary citations, per WP:V, WP:NOR, WP:IRS, WP:PSTS, et al. [ This diff] shows where it was in the article. Nightscream (talk) 03:44, 28 February 2018 (UTC)

Design and symbolism

While the military attire is meant to be symbolic and general in nature, the combat equipment displayed represents the figures as serving in either the U.S. Army or U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

Middle figure

Of the three men, the lead figure (in the middle) represents a U.S. Marine, as he wears a Type M-1955 body-armor vest, which was worn exclusively by Marines in Vietnam. He is armed only with a Colt M1911A1 .45 caliber automatic pistol, which is carried in a Government Issue (GI) M-1916 leather pistol holster, positioned on the right hip. The M-1916 holster is attached to an M-1956 GI pistol belt, and a small GI .45 pistol magazine pouch is carried on the belt's left front. The Marine wears a body-armor vest (but no shirt), along with Tropical Combat trousers and boots; he wears no headgear. Like his comrades, he carries a pair of plastic GI 1-quart canteens, carried in two M-1956 canteen covers that are attached to his pistol belt, and situated at the rear center hip.

Figure on right

The man on the right wears combat equipment consistent with a U.S. Army Soldier, and specifically, a Type M69 body-armor vest, which was the primary armor vest used mainly by U.S. Army personnel in Vietnam, from about 1967 on. His M69 armor vest is unsecured, and worn fully open at the front, which was a typical fashion of troops in Vietnam, as a measure in which to promote ventilation (in spite of reducing the vest's overall protective levels). Draped around the collar of his M69 vest and hanging on his chest front, this Soldier carries a GI towel, which served to absorb sweat and cushioned heavy loads, and was a common practice of many Soldiers in Vietnam. In his left hand he carries an M16A1 rifle, the main battle rifle for both Soldiers and Marines from about 1967 on. His uniform consists of the Tropical Combat Uniform (jacket and trousers) and "jungle" boots. As was typically done by U.S. combat personnel fighting in the oppressive tropical environment of Vietnam, the uniform jacket's sleeves are rolled up. In his right hand, this Soldier holds an M1 steel helmet covered with a camouflage cover, that is secured over the helmet with an elastic headband (which itself retains a small bottle of GI insect repellent on the right side). He also wears an M-1956 GI pistol belt over the waist of his uniform jacket, and it retains a GI 1-quart canteen and M-1956 canteen cover, situated at the left rear hip. Lastly, on a GI neck-chain set, he wears a pair of GI Identification Tags (i.e. "dog tags"), which are visible on his bare chest, seen through the open front of his uniform jacket and armor vest.

Figure on left

The man on the left is slightly less specific in the service representation of his gear and uniform, but he appears to be a U.S. Army Soldier, as he wears a Tropical ("Boonie") Hat, which was widely worn by Army combat personnel in Vietnam (particularly towards the latter part of the war), and to a much lesser extent by Marines. His uniform consists of the Tropical Combat Jacket and Trousers, and "jungle" boots. Like his comrade on his far left, his uniform jacket's sleeves are rolled up. This man wears no body armor, is armed only with an M60 machine gun, and carries two separate belts of 7.62mm machine-gun ammunition, draped and criss-crossed over his torso. He is also wearing an M17 Protective (Gas) Mask carrier on his left thigh, although U.S. troops infrequently wore or used gas masks in Vietnam. (They were used primarily when tear gas (CS gas) was employed in combat, such as by tunnel rats, and by troops engaged in urban/city combat, such as the Marines in Huế City in January and February 1968). Under his uniform jacket, he also wears a GI M-1956 pistol belt, with two M-1956 canteen covers that are attached, each carrying a GI 1-quart canteens, and situated at the right rear hip.

Title of sculpture

I hesitate to move this article since the title Three Soldiers seems to be in common use, and it does appear on the late artist's website. Official sources, though, have the title as Three Servicemen:

• National Park Service — Three Servicemen
• Department of Defense — Three Servicemen
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund — Three Servicemen
• Visiting DC — Three Servicemen
• Frederick Hart official site — Three Soldiers

Should this article be moved from Three Soldiers (statue) to Three Servicemen (statue)? — WFinch (talk) 16:50, 11 April 2023 (UTC)

Three Soldiers, the ngrams seem pretty conclusive, and per the sculptor's name for his artwork. Randy Kryn (talk) 22:20, 11 April 2023 (UTC)

The artist died in 1999, and I haven't found contemporaneous documentation of his own title for the work. The 1984 press release and fact sheet from the dedication title it Three Servicemen, but the work's title is buried rather deeply in both documents. I've been looking for news stories that reference any title. — WFinch (talk) 22:53, 11 April 2023 (UTC)

Here's another seemingly conclusive ngram using the formal name The Three Soldiers. Randy Kryn (talk) 23:28, 11 April 2023 (UTC)

Copyright for the sculpture Three Soldiers (1982) was registered by Frederick E. Hart & Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund on November 8, 1983 (registration number Au000053504). — WFinch (talk) 23:46, 11 April 2023 (UTC)

Meanwhile, I've redirected Three Servicemen‎ to this entry. Thanks! ---Another Believer _(Talk) 17:12, 13 April 2023 (UTC)

Meanwhile, what a great idea! — WFinch (talk) 19:27, 13 April 2023 (UTC)

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