war paint

 

Chris Hill
United States Army
1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment
1986-1990
 

I got my tattoo in 2006, it's a pissed off statue of liberty, after 9/11 -- she's holding a sword and a shield instead of the book and the torch. The shield is the 2nd Ranger Battalion flash, but it's also the Merrill's Marauders flash. My grandfather was in Merrill's in WWII.

I went in to get the tattoo at Poison Apple on Girard [in Philadelphia] and told Brian, the artist, what I wanted -- well two weeks later I went in, he held up the drawing, and it was exactly what I wanted. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get it. And as soon as he was done he said "This is going to be your new favorite tattoo," and I said "Yes, without a doubt, it is."

I get a lot of compliments about it. I had my arm hanging out the window of the car yesterday, in traffic, and some guy yelled "That's a great tattoo!" It's nice to see that kind of stuff.

[continued and close up]

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