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The Three Soldiers

The Three Soldiers, also known as The Three Servicemen, is a bronze statue on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., commemorating the Vietnam War. It depicts three young men in Vietnam-era uniforms and with weapons, identifiable as Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic. Designed by Frederick Hart, the sculpture was created to complement the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by adding a more traditional element. It was unveiled on Veterans Day in 1984. Hart described the figures as standing vigil beside the wall, reflecting the human face of sacrifice. The statue is positioned to interact with the memorial wall, where it appears to overlook the names of fallen comrades.

The Three Soldiers bronze statue with three wet-looking soldiers standing outdoors among trees.
The Three Soldiers stands outdoors, its bronze figures appearing rain-soaked against a backdrop of trees.
August 2017 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Three Soldiers bronze sculpture standing in a park with trees, grass, and flowering bushes nearby.
The Three Soldiers sculpture stands outdoors in a landscaped park setting.
January 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Three Soldiers bronze sculpture showing three solemn young men in military attire.
The Three Soldiers bronze monument depicts three young servicemen in solemn poses.
October 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close-up of the Frederick F. Hart inscription on the dark, textured base of The Three Soldiers, partly covered by thorny foliage and red berries.
The inscription on the base of The Three Soldiers is partially obscured by surrounding foliage.
November 2013 © · CC0
A man speaks at a podium beside a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund sign, with a framed display of The Three Soldiers statue on an easel decorated with flowers and flags.
A speaker stands beside a display honoring The Three Soldiers at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund event.
© Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden · Public domain

Identification

TitleThree Soldiers
Alternative titlesThe Three Servicemen; Los Tres Militares; Los Tres Soldados; Die Drei Soldaten; Les Trois Soldats
TypeBronze statue
Sculpture groupThree figures

Historical context

Commemorated eventThe Vietnam War
PurposeA more traditional complement to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, created to preserve and enhance its minimalist design and to evoke the experience and service of the Vietnam veteran
Associated memorialVietnam Veterans Memorial
Associated memorial date1982

Creator

Design supportDesigned to respond to negative reactions to Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall
Competition resultHart placed third in the original competition for the design
Design date1984
Assistant sculptorJay Hall Carpenter
ArtistFrederick Hart

Discovery and provenance

Basis for figuresBased on seven actual young men
White figure modelJames E. Connell III
African-American figure modelsTerrance Green, Rodney Sherrill, and Scotty Dillingham
Hispanic figure modelsGuillermo (Willie) Smith De Perez DeLeon and Rene Farkass
Military status of modelsTwo of the models for the white and African-American figures were active-duty Marines when the sculpture was commissioned

Physical characteristics

HeightLife-size figures, each 2 meters tall; granite pedestal 1 meter high
Number of figuresThree
BaseGranite pedestal

Materials

MaterialBronze

Technique

TechniqueLost wax technique

Appearance

Depicted subjectThree young men dressed and armed in Vietnam War-era military uniforms and equipment
Figure positionsHispanic on the left, White in the center, African American on the right
Visual interactionThe soldiers appear to be solemnly looking toward the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall
OrientationFacing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall
Ethnic representationOne Hispanic, one White, and one African American soldier

Iconography and meaning

Artist's interpretationHart compared the wall to an overwhelming sea of sacrifice, placing the figures on its shore to stand vigil and reflect its human face and heart
Thematic contrastThe contrast between their youth and their weapons emphasizes the poignancy of their sacrifice
Symbolic meaningTheir physical contact and unity represent bonds of love and sacrifice in wartime, while their loneliness, strength, and vulnerability express true heroism as loyalty in the face of vulnerability
Historical accuracyThe portrayal of the figures is consistent with history

Location and ownership

Installation intentionTo create the effect of the soldiers looking over the fallen and interacting with the Wall
Unveiling occasionVeterans Day
Unveiling dateNovember 11, 1984
Placement relative to wallSet a distance away from the memorial wall
Intended placement effectPlaced to appear as if the soldiers were looking over the sea of the fallen
Placement processA large life-size model of the soldiers was moved around the memorial until the site was found
Part ofVietnam Veterans Memorial
LocationNational Mall, Washington, D.C., United States

History and restoration

CopyrightHart and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

Significance

Historical significanceOne of the first representations of an African American in public sculpture in the United States; included the first representation of an African American on the National Mall
Artist significanceHart's first major work in bronze

Other

Related salesReproductions were sold on memorabilia such as t-shirts, keychains, and snowglobes
Profit useHart's share of profits was donated to a nonprofit that provides name rubbings to families of veterans