The Doughboy (San Francisco)

The Doughboy statue in Golden Gate Park stands as a departure from traditional military monuments. While most war memorials of the early twentieth century depicted soldiers in aggressive action or combat, sculptor M. Earl Cummings chose to portray a young infantryman in a moment of quiet contemplation. The figure stands erect with his sleeves rolled up and collar open, holding a wreath to his chest rather than gripping a weapon. This choice shifts the focus of the memorial away from the violence of the battlefield and toward the personal loss felt by those left behind.