Dan
10-12-2005, 10:18
RELEASE NUMBER: 051006-03
DATE POSTED: OCTOBER 12, 2005
Bust of Special Forces legend unveiled at Special Operations Museum
Story by Spc. James P. Hunter
49th Public Affairs Detachment (Airborne)
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (USASOC News Service, Oct. 12, 2005) — The Airborne and Special Operations Museum here unveiled a bust of retired veteran Lt. Gen. William P. Yarborough, a famed World War II, Sept. 30.
Rudi Gresham, Special Forces retiree, believes a former preident's specific motto is the best way to describe the 93 year-old Yarborough.
Former President Ronald Reagan once said, "...there is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
Yarborough never minded who got the credit while he led Paratroopers in four successful combat jumps during World War II and helped modernize the U.S. Army Special Forces.
Special Forces Soldiers of the past and the present gathered to witness the unveiling of the bust.
The bust, a sculpture that represents the upper half of the body, stands tall in the museum, sitting upon a podium.
It replicates Yarborough from his uniform name tapes to the top of his Green Beret, featuring the peculiar knife known as the “Yarborough Knife” to his front, the Fifth U.S. Army patch on his shoulder and his master parachutist wings sitting proudly upon his chest.
Originally, Voight Gilmore, Special Forces retiree from Southern Pines, came up with the idea of developing a pair of statues of President John F. Kennedy and Yarborough from when the president made his visit here in 1961, which eventually led to the authorization of the green beret, said Edward Matney, retiree, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
"(Yarborough) convinced President Kennedy that the Green Berets were the answer to the problems in Vietnam," Matney said, "and he wanted to make them distinctive from the rest of the Army."
The idea for the bust came about when the original idea for the sculptures were turned down because of funding, said Matney.
"After the project was turned away because of funding," said Zenos Frudakis, "they wanted to abandon the project."
Frudakis read extensively about the retired general and his outstanding career in special operations and decided he wanted to continue with the sculpting and create the bust.
"It's not all or nothing. It's better to have something in the museum than nothing," he said. "He needs to be here. How can this museum be complete without him?"
Using photographs of Yarborough from the presidential visit in 1961, Frudakis was able to capture the sharp, aggressive and intelligent features.
"I wanted to make this a poetic biography," he said. "I wanted to give him eyes of a piercing falcon, meaning he has a goal that he is going to achieve."
Yarborough achieved a lot during his 36 year career, said Matney.
He was influential in forming airborne forces in the U.S. Army during the early 1940's, said retired Maj. Gen. Sidney Shachnow, former commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Yarborough led Paratroopers in four combat jumps during World War II into Sicily, Salerno and twice into North Africa.
The father of the Green Berets designed the jump wings that all Paratroopers wear today, said Shachnow. The "Yarborough Knife" that all Special Forces troops receive after earning their Green Beret is named after him.
"He was more than just a visionary," Shachnow said. "He was a hands on combat leader who led Paratroopers."
Speaking to a filled auditorium in the museums theater, Shachnow, recited a paragraph from a letter written by President Kennedy to the U.S. Army that approved the wearing of the Green Beret.
"Green Beret: a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction and the fight for freedom," Shachnow read.
Past, present and future Soldiers who wear the Green Beret can be grateful and thankful to Yarborough because of his efforts and dedication, he said.
-usasoc-
DATE POSTED: OCTOBER 12, 2005
Bust of Special Forces legend unveiled at Special Operations Museum
Story by Spc. James P. Hunter
49th Public Affairs Detachment (Airborne)
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (USASOC News Service, Oct. 12, 2005) — The Airborne and Special Operations Museum here unveiled a bust of retired veteran Lt. Gen. William P. Yarborough, a famed World War II, Sept. 30.
Rudi Gresham, Special Forces retiree, believes a former preident's specific motto is the best way to describe the 93 year-old Yarborough.
Former President Ronald Reagan once said, "...there is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
Yarborough never minded who got the credit while he led Paratroopers in four successful combat jumps during World War II and helped modernize the U.S. Army Special Forces.
Special Forces Soldiers of the past and the present gathered to witness the unveiling of the bust.
The bust, a sculpture that represents the upper half of the body, stands tall in the museum, sitting upon a podium.
It replicates Yarborough from his uniform name tapes to the top of his Green Beret, featuring the peculiar knife known as the “Yarborough Knife” to his front, the Fifth U.S. Army patch on his shoulder and his master parachutist wings sitting proudly upon his chest.
Originally, Voight Gilmore, Special Forces retiree from Southern Pines, came up with the idea of developing a pair of statues of President John F. Kennedy and Yarborough from when the president made his visit here in 1961, which eventually led to the authorization of the green beret, said Edward Matney, retiree, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
"(Yarborough) convinced President Kennedy that the Green Berets were the answer to the problems in Vietnam," Matney said, "and he wanted to make them distinctive from the rest of the Army."
The idea for the bust came about when the original idea for the sculptures were turned down because of funding, said Matney.
"After the project was turned away because of funding," said Zenos Frudakis, "they wanted to abandon the project."
Frudakis read extensively about the retired general and his outstanding career in special operations and decided he wanted to continue with the sculpting and create the bust.
"It's not all or nothing. It's better to have something in the museum than nothing," he said. "He needs to be here. How can this museum be complete without him?"
Using photographs of Yarborough from the presidential visit in 1961, Frudakis was able to capture the sharp, aggressive and intelligent features.
"I wanted to make this a poetic biography," he said. "I wanted to give him eyes of a piercing falcon, meaning he has a goal that he is going to achieve."
Yarborough achieved a lot during his 36 year career, said Matney.
He was influential in forming airborne forces in the U.S. Army during the early 1940's, said retired Maj. Gen. Sidney Shachnow, former commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Yarborough led Paratroopers in four combat jumps during World War II into Sicily, Salerno and twice into North Africa.
The father of the Green Berets designed the jump wings that all Paratroopers wear today, said Shachnow. The "Yarborough Knife" that all Special Forces troops receive after earning their Green Beret is named after him.
"He was more than just a visionary," Shachnow said. "He was a hands on combat leader who led Paratroopers."
Speaking to a filled auditorium in the museums theater, Shachnow, recited a paragraph from a letter written by President Kennedy to the U.S. Army that approved the wearing of the Green Beret.
"Green Beret: a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction and the fight for freedom," Shachnow read.
Past, present and future Soldiers who wear the Green Beret can be grateful and thankful to Yarborough because of his efforts and dedication, he said.
-usasoc-