NPS Photo
“On Patrol” Adjacent to the United Nations wall is a triangular "field of service." Here 19 stainless steel statues, the creation of World War II veteran Frank Gaylord, depict a patrol and evoke the experience of American ground troops in Korea. When reflected in the polished granite wall, the 19 soldiers become 38, representing the parallel that demarcates North and South Korea. Granite strips and scrubby juniper bushes suggest the rugged Korean terrain and vegetation, while windblown ponchos recall the harsh weather that tormented our troops and added to their misery. This symbolic patrol brings together members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines and portrays servicemen from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Models for the statues. Artist Gaylord says he intended to represent many nationalities in the sculptures, but since he was from Vermont, he had few non-Caucasian models with which to work. He did use several of his World War II comrades-in-arms as models, often working from their high school photos to recapture their youthful images. Some of the statues are based on men who fought in Korea. A few are anonymous. • Statue #1: This is the point man, an Army Lead Scout, Caucasian, carrying an M1 Garand. Based on Korean veteran, John Triano, the sculptor’s son’s father-in-law. • Statue #2: Army, Scout, Caucasian, carrying the M1 Garand rifle. • Statue #3: Army, Squad Leader, Caucasian, carrying an M1 Garand rifle. Based on Chip Wood, brother-in-law of Erdman, model for statue 19. Wood served 2 years in Korea. • Statue #4: Army, Automatic Rifleman, African American, equipped with a Browning Automatic Rifle (popularly known as the BAR). • Statue #5: Army Assistant Automatic Rifleman, Caucasian, carrying an M1 Carbine. This is a self-portrait of Frank Gaylord, sculptor and World War II veteran of Company C, 513th Infantry. • Statue #6: Army, Rifleman, African American, with the M1 Garand rifle. • Statue #7: Army, Patrol Leader, Caucasian, carrying an M1 Carbine. Based upon Colonel Robert C. Kendrick, Gaylord’s company commander during World War II. Kendrick also served in Korea, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic. • Statue #8: Army, Radio Operator, Caucasian, M1 Carbine. Based on Obel Wells, no further information. • Statue #9: Army, Medic, Hispanic, who is not armed. Based on Joseph Vitale, World War II veteran of Company C, 513th Infantry. • Statue #10: Army, Forward Observer, Caucasian, M1 Carbine. Based on Army General Richard G. Stilwell, Korean War veteran and later commanding general of US Forces in Korea from 1973 to 1976. • Statue #11: Air Force, Air-Ground Controller, armed with M1 Carbine. Based on Alan Noyes, no further information. • Statue #12: Marine Corps, Assistant Machine Gunner, Caucasian, .30 caliber machine gun tripod. Based on Adolph Martinez, WW II veteran of Co. C, 513th Infantry. • Statue #13: Marine Corps, Machine Gunner, Caucasian, .30 caliber machine gun. Based on James Smith, World War II veteran who served with sculptor Frank Gaylord in Company C, 513th Infantry. Smith was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action during on January 26, 1945 during a surprise ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on May 15,1999. Smith had carried a fellow serviceman, John Erdman to safety, after Erdman had been shot five times during the Battle of the Bulge. The Silver Star was presented by former Senator Bob Dole. Also in attendance was Col. “Butch” Kendrick, a company commander, as well as Frank Gaylord. • Statue #14: Navy, Corpsman (medic), African American, unarmed. • Statue #15: Army, Rifleman, Asian-American, M1 Garand. • Statue #16: Army, Rifleman, Caucasian, M1 Garand. • Statue #17: Army, Rifleman, Hispanic, M1 Garand. • Statue #18: Army, Assistant Patrol Leader, Caucasian, M1 Garand. This is the first soldier you see upon entering the memorial from the Lincoln Memorial path, adjacent to the UN wall. It is based on Col. William (Bill) Weber, who lost an arm, leg and vision in one eye while in Korea, but went on to serve his country for nearly 20 more years. • Statue #19: Army, Rifleman, Native American, carrying an M1 Garand rifle. This statue is based on John Erdman, World War II veteran of Co. C, 513th Infantry. Erdman was wounded five times during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. The field of service culminates at the triangular dedication stone at the base of the flagpole. The words on that stone remind us of the selfless duty which our veterans performed: OUR NATION HONORS HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND A COUNTRY THEY NEVER KNEW AND A PEOPLE THEY NEVER MET. |
Last updated: July 26, 2022