[2] The statue was first installed outside Seattle Center's Veterans Hall, and later relocated to Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park, in the U.S. state of Washington.

It was originally commissioned in 1921 in plaster and was called American Doughboy Bringing Home the Bacon.

The sculpture courted local controversy before and after its unveiling, with views held that the facial expression, displayed war souvenirs, and the original name were uncharacteristic of returning soldiers and disrespectful to German-American citizens.

By the 1960s, the bayonet on the rifle had been removed and in the preceding years, two German helmets slung over the statue's shoulders had been sawn off.

[3] One of the missing bronze German helmets was found in approximately 2018 by an operations manager at the cemetery.