Mardie Rees - Sculptor SOUL OF THE FORWARD AND FAITHFUL

WWII U.S. Marine Raider Memorial

SOUL OF THE FORWARD AND FAITHFULWWII U.S. Marine Raider Memorial

33" x 46" x 18" Bronze, National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, VA

www.MardieRees.com

All Photo credit: Scott Rees Design

Special thanks to: U.S. Marine Raider Foundation & Association, Chuck H. Meacham Sr., Chuck P. Meacham Jr., Lin Ezell, Doug Bailey, Owen Conner, Robin Bartel, Peter MacDonald, Tony Belot, Scott Martin, Elliot Gibson, Ron Pace, Julie Ruzanka, Dan and Pat Nelson.

Mardie ReesFigurative Sculptor

Detail of the War Dog Handler and bas relief depicting the palm trees of Bougainville Island.

SOUL OF THE FORWARD AND FAITHFUL

T he U.S. Marine Raiders, America's first elite force (Feb.1942), were created

to serve in the Pacific theater of WWII and strike back at the Empire of Japan. They are the grandfathers of today's Reconnaissance Marines, MarDet 1 Program, and the Critical Skill Operators of MARSOC. Equipped with greater firepower then a typical rifle/infantry unit, they were responsible for raiding enemy positions and many other types of unconventional missions. They were constantly deployed considerably "forward" of the main body of Marines in combat. To reach their remote objectives, Raiders pioneered insertion and extraction

methods that are still used by special operation units today.The sculpture presents a Marine Raider holding a Browning Automatic Rifle, a War Dog Handler with his German Shepherd and a Navajo Code Talker. In the background, four additional Raiders on patrol creep through the dense jungle, armed with a breadth of weaponry and gear. The spirit of "Gung-ho," of working in harmony, informs their movements and mutual support. It was with steadfast dedication to their specific roles and fellow Marines that Raiders helped the United States to once more protect and preserve the freedom we cherish.

WWII U.S. Marine Raider Memorial

The Navajo Code Talker relays code in his native language while holding his M-1 Carbine.

Portrait detail of Navajo Code Talker using his handheld mic. The TBY Radio is strapped to his back in a canvas pack.

The Navajo Code Talker wears Herringbone Twill Dungarees (HBT) and standard issue boondocker field shoes with leggings. The Ka-Bar knife hangs off his web pistol belt.

NAVAJO CODE TALKER

War Dog Handler and his German Shepherd Dog. The Handler holds the dog on leash and carries an M-1 Carbine. He wears the 1942 Pattern camouflage uniform and unique Bergmann Raider Boots.

Portrait detail of War Dog Handler.

DOG HANDLER

Portrait detail of War Dog on the move. German Shepherds were the preferred dog in the battlefield because of their calm demeanor. They were particularly good at detecting an ambush.

Marine Raider holding his M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR).A Gung-ho knife is tied to his suspenders along with the Raider Stiletto on his left hip. The Raiders were known to utilize greater “firepower” than a typical Marine combat unit.

Portrait detail of BAR Man. He wears an M-1 helmet with burlap cover and webbing commonly used by Raiders.

Detail of the BAR Man’s Bergmann Raider Boots. The Raiders were the only military organization to wear commercial loggers boot.

BAR MAN

Soul of the Forward and Faithful 33" x 46" x 18"

BIOGRAPHYMardie Rees

M ardie grew up in a family of fine

craftspeople, builders and artists. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Ecuador for three years. It was a catalyst for her artistic development. While there, she explored her growing relationship with art in a variety of ways. She produced oil and acrylic paintings, experimented with sculpture, and joined a team that painted twenty murals throughout the country.

Returning to the U.S., she honed her skills while attending Laguna College of Art and Design. The depth of expression possible in representative, figurative sculpture, took hold of Mardie. She graduated with honors as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2003. Since that time, Mardie has created life-size bronze sculptures for grand memorials and public spaces, as well as intimate pieces for private families.

She sculpts by hand, crafts from live models, and casts in bronze using the time-honored lost-wax method. She’s won accolades for her commissioned work and for her personal projects, which explore fundamentally human themes such as womanhood, faith, youth, struggle and hope.

In 2013, Mardie received an award for Exceptional Merit from the Portrait Society of America International Competition & Exhibition. From the same organization she received a First Honor award in 2010. She was a finalist in sculpture from the Art Renewal Center’s International Salon Competition in 2014, 2013 and 2010. Mardie was a Gold Medal of Honor winner in 2010 from the Allied Artists of America.

Mardie lives and works in Gig Harbor, Washington, with her husband and two children.

Cover: BAR Man and War Dog Handler

www.MardieRees.com

All Photo credit: Scott Rees Design

Detail from above of the BAR man and War Dog Handler. Both are wearing the M-1 Helmet but with different covers. Note the poncho folded and stuffed under the f lap of the USMC Model 1941 Pack.

Layout

DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTEDwww.usmarineraiders.org