Angel of Bataan
Her name is Mae Beulah 'Peggy' Greenwalt a WW2 U.S Army nurse serving in the Pacific. At the fall of Corregidor she courageously saved the colours of the 12th Regimental Quartermaster Corps by wrapping the colours around her and convincing her Japanese captors that it was a shawl. After being held as a POW for the next 33 months until 1945 Lt Greenwalt upon release presented the flag to the commander of the 12th QM regiment.
Both recognized the deed for what it was - a clear demonstration of Honor.
I was sent some pictures and commissioned to sculpt a 1/10th scale bust of a nurse representing Mae Beulah 'Peggy' Greenwalt.
I made the face, head and 'Shawl' using Super Sculpey Firm clay .
View attachment 405558 View attachment 405559
The blouse was made using Magic-Sculpt
View attachment 405561 View attachment 405562
At this point I decided to remove the bottom right folds as It didn't look symmetrical.
Once the shape was established I started on adding the tassels, these were made by twisting 2 wires together and cutting into short pieces .
View attachment 405563 View attachment 405564
In regards to the Flag motif you will see from the following pics that it was incorrect.
View attachment 405565 View attachment 405566
The picture of the Flag I was sent was in fact a reverse image of the Flag of the U.S Army Quartermaster Center.
The only way I realised this was when, in the area of Fort Lee VA I called at the Quartermaster Museum. I got chatting to a guy in the Museum and mentioned the sculpt I'd just finished, and that I was surprised there was no info or display on Bataan. He told me to continue looking round the Museum but to come back and see him when I was finished.
You can imagine my surprise when I walked into his office and there was the flag.
Apparently it was in the back having just been restored and waiting to go back on display. He was kind enough to set it up for me to take some photos.
So lucky I got talking to this guy, really made my day.
View attachment 405569 View attachment 405571