Question:
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 12:41:43 EDT
From:
Subject: Serious Duty
TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
Interesting facts about the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier and the Sentinels of the
Third United States Infantry Regiment
"Old Guard"
1. How many steps does the guard take
during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun
salute, which is the highest honor given
any military or foreign dignitary.
2. How long does he hesitate after his about
face to begin his return walk and why?
21 seconds, for the same reason as
answer number 1.
3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his
losing his grip on the rifle.
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same
shoulder all the time, and if not, why not?
No, he carries the rifle on the shoulder
away from the tomb. After his march
across the path, he executes an about face
and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.
5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
6. What are the physical traits of the
guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the
tomb, he must be between 5' 10" and 6' 2"
tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30".
Other requirements of the Guard:
They must commit 2 years of life to guard
the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb,
and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty
FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
They cannot swear in public
FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES and
cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting}
or the tomb in any way.
After TWO YEARS, the guard is given
a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel
signifying they served as guard of the
tomb. There are only 400 presently worn.
The guard must obey these rules for the
rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.
The shoes are specially made with very
thick soles to keep the heat and cold from
their feet. There are metal heel plates that
extend to the top of the shoe in order to
make the loud click as they come to a halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the
uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of
a full-length mirror.
The first SIX MONTHS of duty a guard
cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.
All off duty time is spent studying the
175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington
National Cemetery. A guard must memorize
who they are and where they are interred.
Among the notables are: President Taft,
Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of
Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most
decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood
fame. Every guard spends FIVE HOURS
A DAY getting his uniforms ready for
guard duty.
The Sentinels Creed:
My dedication to this sacred duty is total
and wholehearted. In the responsibility
bestowed on me never will I falter. And
with dignity and perseverance my standard
will remain perfection. Through the years
of diligence and praise and the discomfort
of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble
reverence to the best of my ability. It is he
who commands the respect I protect. His
bravery that made us so proud. Surrounded
by well meaning crowds by day alone in the
thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in
honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.
More Interesting facts about the
Tomb of the Unknowns itself:
The marble for the Tomb of the Unknowns
was furnished by the Vermont Marble
Company of Danby, Vt. The marble is
the finest and whitest of American marble,
quarried from the Yule Marble Quarry
located near Marble, Colorado and is
called Yule Marble. The Marble for the
Lincoln memorial and other famous
buildings was also quarried there.
The Tomb consists of seven pieces of
rectangular marble:
Four pieces in sub base; weight Â- 15 tons;
One piece in base or plinth; weight
Â- 16 tons; One piece in die; weight
Â- 36 tons; One piece in cap; weight
Â- 12 tons; Carved on the East side
(the front of the Tomb, which faces
Washington, D.C.) is a composite of
three figures, commemorative of the
spirit of the Allies of World War I.
In the center of the panel stands
Victory (female).
On the right side, a male figure
symbolizes Valor.
On the left side stands Peace, with her
palm branch to reward the devotion and
sacrifice that went with courage to make
the cause of righteousness triumphant.
The north and south sides are divided
into three panels by Doric pilasters.
In each panel is an inverted wreath.
On the west, or rear, panel
(facing the Amphitheater) is inscribed:
HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN
BUT TO GOD
The first Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
was a sub base and a base or plinth.
It was slightly smaller than the present
base. This was torn away when the
present Tomb was started Aug. 27, 1931.
The Tomb was completed and the area
opened to the public 9:15 a.m.
April 9, 1932, without any ceremony.
Cost of the Tomb: $48,000 Sculptor:
Thomas Hudson Jones
Architect: Lorimer Rich
Contractors: Hagerman & Harris
New York City Inscription: Author Unknown
(Interesting Commentary)
The Third Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer
has the responsibility for providing
ceremonial units and honor guards for
state occasions, White House social
functions, public celebrations and
interments at Arlington National Cemetery
and standing a very formal sentry watch
at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
The public is familiar with the precision
of what is called "walking post" at the Tomb.
There are roped off galleries where visitors
can form to observe the troopers and their
measured step and almost mechanically,
silent rifle shoulder changes. They are
relieved every hour in a very formal drill
that has to be seen to be believed.
Some people think that when the Cemetery
is closed to the public in the evening that
this show stops. First, to the men who are
dedicated to this work, it is no show. It is
a "charge of honor." The formality and
precision continues uninterrupted all night.
During the nighttime, the drill of relief
and the measured step of the on-duty
sentry remain unchanged from the daylight
hours. To these men, these special men,
the continuity of this post is the key to the
honor and respect shown to these honored
dead, symbolic of all unaccounted for
American combat dead. The steady
rhythmic step in rain, sleet, snow, hail,
heat and cold must be uninterrupted.
Uninterrupted is the important part
of the honor shown.
Recently, while you were sleeping, the
teeth of hurricane Isabel came through
this area and tore hell out of everything.
We had thousands of trees down, power
outages, traffic signals out, roads filled
with downed limbs and "gear adrift" debris.
We had flooding and the place looked like
it had been the impact area of an
off-shore bombardment.
The Regimental Commander of the U.S.
Third Infantry sent word to the nighttime
Sentry Detail to secure the post and seek
shelter from the high winds, to ensure
their personal safety.
THEY DISOBEYED THE ORDER!
During winds that turned over vehicles
and turned debris into projectiles, the
measured step continued. One fellow
said "I've got buddies getting shot
at in Iraq who would kick my butt if
word got to them that we let them down.
I sure as hell have no intention of
spending my Army career being known
as the damned idiot who couldn't stand
a little light breeze and shirked his duty."
Then he said something in response to
a female reporters question regarding
silly purposeless personal risk...
"I wouldn't expect you to understand.
It's an enlisted man's thing."
God bless the rascal... In a time in our
nation's history when spin and total b.s.
seem to have become the accepted
coin-of-the-realm, there beat hearts - the
enlisted hearts we all knew and were so
damn proud to be a part of - that fully
understand that devotion to duty is not
a part-time occupation. While we slept,
we were represented by some damn fine
men who fully understood their post orders
and proudly went about their assigned
responsibilities unseen, unrecognized and
in the finest tradition of the American
Enlisted Man. Folks, there's hope. The
spirit that George S. Patton, Arliegh Burke
and Jimmy Doolittle left us ... survives.
On the ABC evening news, it was reported
recently that, because of the dangers from
Hurricane Isabel approaching Washington,
DC, the military members assigned the
duty of guarding the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier were given permission
to suspend the assignment. They refused.
"No way, Sir!"
Soaked to the skin, marching in the
pelting rain of a tropical storm, they
said that guarding the Tomb was not
just an assignment; it was the highest
honor that can be afforded to a service
person. The tomb has been patrolled
continuously, 24/7, since 1930.
Very, very proud of our soldiers in uniform
Tim Abney
Proud Member of
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 501
Life Member McHenry County Illinois VietNow
Member American Legion Post #777 - San Bernardino, CA
Member Society of the First Infantry Division (Big Red One)
KLIK - Lai Khe, RVN - 1967-68
Corsa Member
I.E.C.C. President
1965 Corvair Monza Coupe - Valley Vairs Cover Car January 2003 - 2nd Edition
1964 Corvair Monza 4 Door - Back burner project
1961 Corvair Lakewood Wagon - Starting restoration
1962 Corvair 700 4 Door - Very Solid - Gone to a good home

Answer:

Good stuff. Highly motivating.

Answer:

Damm good job shuffler.
It's nice to know that the guard doesn't give in to even "a little breeze" and remains on watch.
There should be a big damn big salute to these guys and it seems like nobody outside of a few even care.
It's amazing you did not say one word of the practice of the "laying of the wreath" on various ocassions.
Not to be bragging, but I have had that honor.
My high school had a tradition of going to D.C. every year just for the seniors. And most years anyway, they were able to secure a spot laying the wreath on Easter Sunday. A girl and I did the job.
We were taken into private by a "guard" and explained to what would happen. We then basically escorted the wreath to it's resting place.
It was an experience I will never forget.
Now I know some of you are gonna be tempted to mouth off, but for once, keep your mouth shut ok?
This ain't no fairy tale. It happened.
Semper Fi.

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Thank You

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Welcome back from the naked forests Shuffler.

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They only serve about a year and they are allowed to have a beer and say a curse word with out fear of losing thier badge.
But don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.
BlackAdder

Answer:

Howdy Shuffler! Haven't seen any post's from you in a while.
About 11 years ago, when I graduated from the Air Force NCO Academy in Knoxville, Tn., the Third Inafntry Regiment drill team demo'd. Damn, I was impressed. Timing and precision on all parts.

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I'm always interested in any USMC(especially Silent Drill Team and Boot Camp/Drill Instructor) video anyone may have or be aware of.

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Have you tried Soldier of Fortune magazine?

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You're my hero Richard.


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Het YDSM.......how 'bout Leatherneck Magazine ?......Jim

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I've actually got a pretty decent collection of USMC written material. I'm aware of the ads in the back of those magazines selling various videos and I've seen most of them but what I'm really interested in is any video folks may have recorded themselves and formatted for download.
My girlfriend rolls her eyes when I occasionally walk around the house yelling out drill cadence.

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Thats all i have to say...........!

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Hey Shuffler ..............That was really interested ......................
But NO beer
No cussing...........fine.................. I'll hold my tongue................
BUT no Beer