FORT BENNING, Ga., (July 1, 2015) -- In 2004 Lt. Col. Steve Russell had an idea to erect a monument that would honor Soldiers of the 22nd Infantry Regiment who were killed in action. Russell was the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry "Regulars" Task Force commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom and his unit played an important role in the capture of Saddam Hussein. His idea for the monument came about while he was in command because he thought it was important to keep the memories alive of Soldiers who lost their lives in battle. On June 23, Russell, now a U.S. congressman, saw his plans come to fruition, as the memorial was unveiled at the National Infantry Museum's Memorial Walk of Honor.
Prior to the unveiling, a dedication ceremony was held on Inouye Field.
Bob Babcock, current 4th Infantry Division Association president and former president of the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society, said the monument stands 22 feet tall and weighs 22 tons, numbers symbolic of its designation.
Babcock was present when the monument was placed and said he felt it needed mementos of the regiment.
"Before they put the base on, I reached into my pocket and I pulled out a P-38 can opener. So forever honoring us Vietnam guys, that P-38 will be under the monument," Babcock said.
Babcock said the monument honors two regiments.
"In the War of 1812, we all know the story of the 'Regulars by God.' In 1966, our current regiment was named and continues to march today," Babcock said.
"Regulars by God" became the unofficial motto of the 22nd Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Chippewa when Brig. Gen. Winfield Scott's Brigade went into battle against the British wearing gray jackets and were mistaken for local militia. Maj. Gen. Phineas Riall, the British commander, quickly took note of the regiments military precision and exclaimed, "Those are regulars, by God!"
"Every one of those 2,954 names has a story. Everyone on it is important to their buddies, to their Family members and to those who want to honor Americans, Americans who know that freedom is not free," Badcock said.
Congressman Russell also spoke at the ceremony and explained his vision for the monument, which serves as the only national memorial for the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society.
"I made a promise to myself that we would have a place to remember the fallen, but I never dreamed that it would unite all veterans and all members of the 22nd Infantry," Russell said.
Russell said the concept for the monument started as a bronze Soldier and grew to also include an obelisk with 2,954 names and a regiment bench.
"We wanted to do something traditional, not something weepy or people kneeling down crying. Forget that nonsense. We need somebody guarding the honor of the names who faced the enemy and lost their lives so we can live free," Russell said. "Why? Because the names on the obelisk, they died facing the enemy. When I see (one of those kneeling down crying statues) I just want to go over and say 'Get up. Get back in the fight.' And our monument speaks to that."
The bronze Soldier was sculpted by Robert Summers, a sculptor known for his bronze renderings of John Wayne, Byron Nelson and John Chisum, as well as for the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Summers only asked the regiment society for the cost of materials, barely a tenth of what the sculpture is actually worth, Russell said.
The statue is modeled after Spc. Cody Hoefer, who served with 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, in Iraq and appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on March 15, 2004.
"I wanted to have one of our 'regulars'," Russell said. "I can't think of anyone greater."
Before the color guard lead the procession to the monument at the Memorial Walk of Honor, Russell shared some closing thoughts.
"Their laughter, their dreams, their Families, this monument serves as a reminder to them and also gives us a place to reunite for years to come. As we live out our lives, let's do it with the motivation to make good on the life we have been given, to honor those who never came home and made that life possible. May our deeds be a small way of saying thanks to the warriors represented on our memorial. We owe them that. Regulars, by God. Deeds, not words."
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