In order to portray the major ethnic groups that were represented in the ranks of U.S. combat personnel that served in Vietnam, the statue's three men are purposely identifiable as Euorpean American (the lead man), African American (man on right), and Latin American (man on left).

In order to portray the major ethnic groups that were represented in the ranks of U.S. combat personnel that served in Vietnam, the statue's three men are purposely identifiable as Euorpean American (the lead man), African American (man on right), and Latin American (man on left).