HMM-364 Vietnam Memorial Plaque

HMM-364 Vietnam Purple Fox Vietnam Memorial Plaque

Sorry about the blurred photos..too many tears.

Close up of Operation Iraqi Freedom Marines. HMM-364 Vietnam brothers also wanted to include Sgt. Kirk Straseskie,
the Marine that lost his life trying to save others.

HMM-364 Purple Fox Vietnam Memoerial Plaque

Blurry, yet still effective. Several men not associated with the reunion stopped
by to take a look. Many of them were ex-Marines wanting to pay their respect.

Bottom shot of the plaque.

The Making Of HMM-364 Purple Fox Vietnam Memorial Plaque

The first step is the design stage where names and design features such as the helicopter and names are gathered and a template is made.

The aircraft is sculpted out of water-based clay. Each helicopter is done freehand and placed on a separate base. Cliff's reference came from a drawing of the aircraft.

Once completed the sculptures are then molded into a gypsum cast and glued to a smooth board, ready to be sent to the foundry.

The final phase is the buffing and finishing. Names are buffed with a grinder, revealing the beautiful gleam of the bronze. The helicopters were highlighted and buffed by hand. Cliff hand painted the Purple Fox emblem and added a high gloss finish.

Cliff and Jody Dupill were married July 10, 2004.

USMC CH-46 Model

An example of the detailed work required to create portions of the HMM-364 Purple Fox Vietnam Plaque.

Who We Are /Service Program s/ Purple Pride /Our Mission / Membership /Roster /Where Are They?
Our Experiences /Foxy Corner /Ask A Marine/ In Memory/ Photos/
Contact Us/ Home/ HMM-364.org

Please report any problems to
Webmaster