From 1950 to 1953, American troops joined soldiers of other nations in defending South Korea from invasion by North Korea. The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors their service and sacrifice through battle-clad statues emerging from the tree line and crossing rice paddy fields represented by juniper bushes and granite strips. The strips lead to a mural wall etched with the faces of people who supported the ground troops, while a quiet pool and Wall of Remembrance honor those who gave their lives during the war. Nineteen stainless-steel statues in combat gear, with ponchos billowing in biting winds, portray a symbolic patrol that evokes the grit and determination of American ground troops, brings together members of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, and highlights the ethnic diversity of the forces. The U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division helped recapture South Korea from North Korean forces in 1950.