The statue was designed by Frederick Hart, who was number three in the original memorial design competition. The status was unveiled on Veterans Day 1984 and depicts a Caucasian, an African American and a Hispanic, all young, armed and in the uniform worn by our troops in Vietnam.

Hart's description of his statue:

"I see the wall as a kind of ocean, a sea of sacrifice that is overwhelming and nearly incomprehensible in the sweep of names. I place these figures upon the shore of that sea, gazing upon it, standing vigil before it, reflecting the human face of it, the human heart.

"The portrayal of the figures is consistent with history. They wear the uniform and carry the equipment of war; they are young. The contrast between the innocence of their youth and the weapons of war underscores the poignancy of their sacrifice. There is about them the physical contact and sense of unity that bespeaks the bonds of love and sacrifice that is the nature of men at war. And yet they are each alone. Their strength and their vulnerability are both evident. Their true heroism lies in these bonds of loyalty in the face of their aloneness and their vulnerability."

The statue and the Wall appear to interact with each other, with the soldiers looking on in solemn tribute at the names of their dead comrades.