Blumberg said he didn't want the soldier to look like a “hobo on a horse”.īlumberg’s first bronze casting was 18 inches tall and weighed 70lbs. As he updated his sculpture to be more accurate, he built a few special details into the image - like a barely-visible wedding ring (all but one of the Green Berets on ODA 595 were married with at least 2 kids) and decided not to have the soldier bearded despite the reality of teams in Afghanistan to this day (Green Berets get special permission to grow facial hair well beyond what’s allowed in Army regulations in order to fit in with Afghan tribal leaders). Not long after beginning, Blumberg was spotted working on the project at an art show by a Vietnam era Green Beret, who eventually introduced him to the team he had seen on television, who’d just returned home.īlumberg met the members of ODA 595 and got to find out personally what their equipment looked like - and not just the gear on the soldier but the gear on the horse as well. Blumberg began the project of his own accord with a very limited knowledge of Green Beret equipment at the time, but with what you can imagine was an expert’s knowledge of horse physiology. In an article for the Special Forces Association’s The Drop magazine, Blumberg explained he first started the monument based on a grainy photograph shown by then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in late 2001 that showed Green Berets from Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 595 riding on horseback with the Northern Alliance in the Darya Suf Valley. The sculptor is Douwe Blumberg, a Lexington, Kentucky based artist with over 200 private and public commissions, who also spent 18 years as a horse trainer. The monument is placed up high, supposedly overwatching the 9/11 Memorial, but it’s hard to know it’s there unless you’re looking for it. The imposing 16-foot bronze statue itself is hidden behind an as-yet-unfinished Greek Orthodox shrine that was destroyed in the attacks, at the back of a small park, just southwest of the 9/11 Memorial South Pool. Built from inspiration and gradually-gained knowledge, it’s a unique monument. The America’s Response Monument - also known as the Horse Soldier - located just steps from where the World Trade Center stood, has an interesting backstory. As we come up on the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks - an event that fully shaped my life for well over a decade - there’s a substory that’s worth looking at. It’s got an interesting backstory, and from the media released over the past few years, you may already know some of it.īrady here. It’s placed up high, supposedly overwatching the 9/11 Memorial, but it’s hard to know it’s there unless you’re looking for it. Built from inspiration and gradually-gained knowledge, it’s a unique monument among war memorials. The first 10 who reserve a spot will also receive a custom Horse Soldier® Bourbon glass.(This week’s report is a short 6 minute read - more next week)īLUF: The America’s Response Monument - also known as the Horse Soldier - has the significance of being the first and only Special Forces monument accessible to the general public. $75 per person/ $125 couple includes bourbon tasting, appetizers, presentation by members of ODA-595 and a signed copy of “Swords of Lightning” while supplies last.

On June 15, hear their story and enjoy a Horse Soldier® Bourbon tasting and specialty cocktails.Īdmission to this special event includes a presentation by ODA-595 team members Mark Nutsch and Bob Pennington, along with author Jim DeFelice, and a signed copy of “Swords of Lightning,” the story of ODA-595, told from their point of view for the first time, with never-before revealed details of the campaign, and how close they came to failure and death. Army Special Forces unit to enter Afghanistan following the infamous 9/11 attacks. The Green Berets of ODA-595 were the first U.S. THIS EVENT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING TICKET PURCHASES

Oda 595 members