1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to Brainstuff production of iHeart Radio. Hey brain Stuff, 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: Lauren Vogelbaum here. The third U. S. Infantry Division is 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: the oldest active duty infantry regiment in the nation. It's 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: the army's official ceremonial unit and the escort to the President, 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: known as the Old Guard. Select Third Infantry soldiers are 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: also assigned to a platoon with a duty unlike any 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: other in the armed Forces, guarding the Tomb of the 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Each year, more than 9 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: three million tourists stream into Arlington National which sits just 10 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: west of Washington, d C. To visit the Tomb of 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: the Unknowns. Their sentinels of the third U. S. Infantry 12 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: have stood guard every minute of every day since July second, 13 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: ninety seven. They've stood through snowfalls and hurricanes. They were 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: witnesses terrorists flew a plane into the nearby Pentagon on 15 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: September eleventh, two thousand one. We spoke via email with 16 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: Major Stephen C. Von Jett, the director of Public Affairs 17 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: for the regiment. He said, the vigil remains unbroken to 18 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: honor the sacrifice of the Unknowns because they gave their 19 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 1: very identities for our nation. The Tomb of the Unknown 20 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: Soldier as it is today, contains the remains of more 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: than one soldier. Once it honored a soldier who was 22 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: later identified. The idea of a tomb for unknowns began 23 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: in nine one. The original idea was to honor an 24 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: unidentified soldier killed in World War One. The Army exhumed 25 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: four soldiers from American cemeteries in France on Memorial Day 26 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: of that year and shows one for the spot in 27 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 1: Arlington in an elaborate ceremony. After the casket was transported 28 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: to the US by the Navy cruiser U. S. S. Olympia, 29 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: President Warren G. Harding presided over the internment ceremonies. On 30 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: November twenty one, a white marble sarcophagus was placed over 31 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: the grave with this inscription. On the west side, here 32 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: rests an honored glory, an American soldier known but to 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: God over the years. To the west of the original tomb, 34 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: three other graves were erected, marked with white marble slabs 35 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: that are flushed to the ground. These honor the unknown 36 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: dead of World War Two, Korea and Vietnam. The soldiers 37 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are among more 38 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: than five thousand unidentified soldiers buried throughout Arlington National Cemetery. 39 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: Von Jett says of the other unknowns at Arlington, generally 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: their gravestones read unknown and then what service the unknown 41 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: served with if known. If known, there will be a 42 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: date of demise. We recently placed a flag on every 43 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,119 Speaker 1: grave side for Memorial Day. During flags in I've seen 44 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: hundreds of unknown markers myself. Some are just right next 45 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 1: to the tomb plaza. The ceremonial unknowns of World War 46 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: Two and Korea were interred at the Tomb of the 47 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: Unknown Soldier in nineteen fifty eight, and the Vietnam War 48 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: unknown was ceremoniously interred on Memorial Day in nine four 49 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: In after investigations pointed to the identity of the Vietnam Unknown, 50 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: the remains were exhumed and later positively identified through DNA 51 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: testing as those of First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassi of St. Louis, Missouri, 52 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: a pilot shut down over Vietnam in nineteen seventy two. 53 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: Blassies remains were returned to his family. He was reinterred 54 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on the banks of the 55 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: Mississippi in St. Louis County, Missouri. The Army made the 56 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: decision to leave the Vietnam crypt empty. The cover has 57 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: been replaced with one with this inscription, honoring and keeping 58 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 1: faith with America's Missing Servicemant eight to nineteen seventy five. 59 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: According to von Jette, no plans exist for any further 60 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: disinterments of unknowns from any previous wars. These days, a 61 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: DNA sample is now taken from every service member upon 62 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: joining the armed forces, which helps identify fallen soldiers. A 63 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: former Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, told reporters after Blassie 64 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: was returned home, it may be that forensic science has 65 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: reached the point where there will be no other unknowns 66 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: in any war. Von Jette said the U. S. Army 67 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: has made great strides when it comes to service member identification. 68 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: While some incidents might make initial identification of remains challenging, 69 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: there are no unknowns from current or recent conflict. Standing 70 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: vigil over the unknowns are the Tomb Guard Sentinels of 71 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: the Old Guard, a handpicked group of Army soldiers who 72 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: are arduously trained and fiercely dedicated to honoring the memory 73 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: of those who gave their lives for their country. Whether 74 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: it's in the dead of summer in front of thousands 75 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: of sweaty tourists or at midnight in the dark of winter, 76 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: the sentinels carry out their duty with remarkable precision. On 77 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: every hour in the winter while Arlington is open, and 78 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 1: on every half hour in the summer, the soldiers moved 79 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: through an intricately choreographed ceremony that includes a rifle inspection 80 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: and the literal changing of the guard. Oh. Once the 81 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: ceremony is complete, the sentinel, who has come on in relief, 82 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: begins the slow and steady walk down a mat beside 83 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: the tomb, rifle on shoulder until the next change. After 84 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: hours of arlington, a sentinel sometimes walks a longer shift, 85 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 1: but a soldier is always on guard at the tomb. 86 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: The guards walk consists of twenty one slow steps. These 87 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: refer to the twenty one gun salute, the highest honor 88 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: given any military or foreign dignitary. Then a sharp military turn, 89 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: a heel click, a twenty one second pause while facing 90 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: the tomb, then another turn and another twenty one second 91 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: stop before beginning the twenty one steps to the other 92 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: end of the mat. Soldiers rifle has switched to the 93 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: shoulder farthest from the tomb, between the tomb and any threat. 94 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: Noon is often thought to be the most prestigious time 95 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: for the changing of the guard because of the big crowds, 96 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: especially in the summer, but von Jette says that prestige 97 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: it doesn't come into Playford sentinels quote. All of our guards, 98 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: and this is going back years, will tell you that 99 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 1: knights on the plaza are special. Just about everyone says 100 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: night duty is their favorite. It's the opportunity for the 101 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: guard to be alone with the unknowns, to think about 102 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: their sacrifice and what guarding the unknowns means to them. 103 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: The Honor Guard has three groups or reliefs, which each 104 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: include a relief commander who addresses onlookers and announces the 105 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: changing of the guard, and about six sentinels. They currently 106 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: do a twenty six hours on twenty two hours off 107 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 1: schedule for six days before they take a ninety six 108 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: hour administrative block before starting again. They train every day 109 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 1: even when they're off. When they're on not on the plaza, 110 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: they're performing many daily rituals in preparation for their walk, 111 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: including pressing and steaming their uniforms. Buffing their medals and decorations, 112 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: and practicing their rifle movements. And that's every day, twenty 113 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: four hours a day since nine seven, whether anyone's watching 114 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: or not. Von Jett said, I've been on the plaza 115 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: when no one was there but me and the guard. 116 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: I've been there with thousands packed shoulder to shoulder. Both 117 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: are special and I recommend both experiences. Today's episode for 118 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: written by John Donovan and produced by Tyler Clang. Brain 119 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: Stuff is production of iHeart Radio's How Stuff Works. For 120 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: more in this and lots of other topics, visit our 121 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: home planet, how Stuff Works dot com, and for more 122 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: podcasts for my heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, 123 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.