Statue honors Alabama WWI soldiers
Monday, a bronze sculpture of the Rainbow Soldier, designed by acclaimed British sculptor James Butler, R.A., was inaugurated at Montgomery’s Union Station. The statue honors soldiers from across the state who fought alongside the French in World War I – commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 167th U.S. Infantry Regiment’s departure from Alabama to the front lines.
The monument stands in honor of nearly 4,000 Alabamians who left Montgomery’s Union Station to serve their country in the war Aug. 28, 1917. These men composed the 167th U.S. Infantry Regiment of the famous 42nd Rainbow Division, and their contributions in multiple battles were vital to winning the war. Known as “The Immortals,” these heroic soldiers, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice, were revered for their unwavering courage in the face of unrelenting enemy attack. Their bravery in fighting alongside the French at the Battle of Croix Rouge Farm helped push back the Germans at the Ourcq River, one of the most critical points of the war. Success there came at a high price, as the Battle of Croix Rouge Farm remains the second deadliest battle in Alabama history.
Among soldiers honored for their heroism were George Brewer, Jasper Dodd and Claud Thompson of Russellville.
The sculpture was a gift to the City of Montgomery from the Croix Rouge Memorial Foundation, made possible through the generosity of longtime business and community leader Nimrod T. Frazer. A military hero himself, having earned the Silver Star for his service in Korea, Frazer has dedicated much of his life to ensuring present and future generations understand the legacy of the 167th. Author of Send the Alabamians: World War I Fighters in the Rainbow Division, which tells the remarkable story of these soldiers, Frazer commissioned the Croix Rouge Farm Memorial in 2011. Located to the south of the French city of Fère-en-Tardenois on the site of the Battle of Croix Rouge Farm, the memorial is a bronze sculpture that stands in honor of the 42nd Rainbow Division. The Montgomery sculpture will be a second casting of the one in France.
The Alabama statue’s French counterpart stands in Fère-en-Tardenois.
For more information visit www.croixrougefarm.org.
