Felix de Weldon was an Austrian-American sculptor, best known for creating the iconic Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial. Born on April 12, 1907, in Vienna, Austria, he moved to the United States in 1940 and became a naturalized citizen. His work often reflected themes of patriotism and heroism. De Weldon studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Throughout his career, he produced numerous sculptures and monuments, contributing significantly to American art and memorialization. He passed away on June 3, 2003, in Newport, Rhode Island.