Photo By Sgt. Zach Zuber | This marble carving of the emblem for 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry...... read more read more
Subscribe
DIYALA, Iraq — It all started with grief. Three men lost their lives, and another was left with the terrible memory of such a loss. Many people could feel the heartache this situation brings, but this particular case affected Charles Wagner, a mechanic for General Dynamic Land Systems, who was working in Mosul, Iraq.
In an effort to relieve the pain felt from the passing of his friends, Mr. Wagner began shaping marble stones into crests, crosses, or hearts. Since that time, he has created many works of art to escape from the stress that comes during deployment.
“This started out as a way to displace myself from what’s going on over here, working during off hours to focus on other things,” said Mr. Wagner, a native of Rainier, Wash. “I lost three Soldiers on one mission, and it was a way to connect for me to create a heart, crucifix, and a lancer for each one of their parents.”
During that first tour, in 2004 and 2005, he carved a full-size lancer for 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. Then, during the 2006-07 tour with 3 SBCT, 2 ID, he created a replica of the Indian-head shield that represents 2nd Infantry Division. When he traveled with the Arrowhead Brigade to Iraq last August, the request was made for the 3rd Stryker Brigade crest, which includes the 2nd ID shield on top of an arrowhead, with the number three located above the shield.
The piece, carved from nearly fifty pounds of marble, is a chance to leave a permanent personal memento with the brigade, said Mr. Wagner.
“I was born at Madigan Army Hospital [at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.], so I kind of share the pride of the brigade. And for the Soldiers, this is my gift back because of what the military has done for me,” said Mr. Wagner. “It’s a lot of pride for me to be asked to do this, and to offer it to the Soldiers of the brigade.”
This is not the only contribution he has made to Soldiers from the Arrowhead Brigade. When they bring in vehicles for him to repair, some see the stone carvings he has laying around. If a curious individual asks about them, Mr. Wagner gladly shows them how they can create their own escape from a simple block of stone.
“If you give someone a square block, they can take a saw to the corners and round it off with a washer to make a perfect circle,” said Mr. Wagner. “That’s what I show to Soldiers I meet to help them take their mind off of what’s going on and let them drift somewhere else.”
After they are taught basic carving techniques, the Soldiers then have the opportunity to enlighten the teacher.
“I can’t understand why people do what they do just from looking in their eyes, but when I see what they make I see different creative views,” said Mr. Wagner. “Everybody has a different opinion of how life is, and you can see that when someone is given a piece of stone and turns it into a unit crest, a shot glass, or even just a ball.”
By spending time here just like Soldiers do, he understands how they feel about being away from home, said Mr. Wagner. His hope is to offer those willing to listen some of the knowledge gained through years of life experience.
“Our main thing here is to help Soldiers,” said Mr. Wagner. “The main thing is to at least make the time here seem shorter.”
Since he started working with stone over seven years ago, he has provided over 100 Soldiers with a piece of marble and the proper tools to shape it. When the time comes this summer for him to provide a stone to the Arrowhead Brigade, many will know that it represents a piece of his heart.
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2010 05:15 |
| Story ID: | 51648 |
| Location: | DIYALA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 581 |
| Downloads: | 511 |
This work, A Man with a Heart for Stone, by SGT Zach Zuber, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
