The Old Guard by Avi Heiligman

Forgotten Her es The Old Guard: The 3rd Infantry Regiment

By Avi Heiligman

Visitors to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia notice that there is always a guard on duty pacing back and forth in front of the tomb. Guard duty is a great honor for those soldiers that pass the rigorous training, and they all come from one specific unit in the army. The 3rd Infantry Regiment’s responsibilities include ceremonial duties that many train their whole careers to perform perfectly in addition to their traditional combat roles. The regiment has many functions in both combat and ceremonial roles and can trace its history back to the end of the Revolutionary War.

At the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, Congress disbanded the Continental Army, and George Washington left his post as the commander of the army. A few units remained, but these were soon disbanded as well because Congress did not want a standing army during peacetime. In 1784, Congress reversed this potential disastrous decision and allowed for one regiment of eight companies to be formed. The unit became known as the First American Regiment and was under the command of Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar.

The regiment was active in several battles with the Native Americans, with the Americans losing a number of these battles. In 1815, after the conclusion of the War of 1812, all remaining units, including the First American Regiment, were consolidated into the 3rd Infantry Regiment, and since then – except for a year and half following World War II – the regiment has been in active service. These soldiers fought in every major conflict since their inception except during World War I, when they were stationed on the U.S.-Mexico border and during the Korean War. During a victory parade following the Mexican-American War, General Winfield Scott gave the regiment its nickname, the Old Guard.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is a worldwide concept, and the American version is in the Arlington National Cemetery. The remains of three servicemen were interred there from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. A fourth tomb was in place for the Vietnam War, but DNA samples determined the identity of the deceased. The body was reinterred, and the tomb remains empty. The main tomb was from World War I and originated from someone who was interred at the military cemetery in Meuse Argonne, France. Elite soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Regiment are designated as Tomb’s Guards and follow a rigid procedure in honor of their fallen comrades-inarms. Soldiers guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are called sentinels, and they watch over the tomb 24 hours a day no matter the weather (there are exceptions for hazardous weather patterns like blizzards and hurricanes). The sentinel walks 21 paces on the rubber walkway, then faces the tomb for 21 seconds, turns, and waits another 21 seconds before walking another 21 steps. Tomb’s Guards carry an M14 rifle that is always inspected before going on duty and is always carried facing away from the tomb.

There are several other special units within the 3rd Infantry, and they participate in over 6,000 ceremonies annually. Caisson Platoon soldiers perform military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery with six horses pulling the casket. Behind the caisson is a riderless horse with an empty saddle and boots reversed in the stirrups. The platoon will also perform at other ceremonies other than funerals including presidential inaugural parades.

Most of the time, the Tomb’s Guards and the Caisson Platoon operate in complete silence since they are usually at ceremonies honoring those fallen in combat. There are a few exceptions, for instance, if a guest walks too close to the tomb or guard, the guard will yell at them to remain at a distance.

The U.S. Army Drill Team is another specialty platoon within the 3rd Infantry Regiment. They perform incredible routines with bayonet-tipped 1903 Springfield rifles that can last several breathtaking minutes. Performances can be not only for military purposes but for government and even civilian functions as well.

Ceremonies can sometimes be musical and performing a unique routine for the 3rd Infantry is the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Formed in 1960, the corps wears uniforms and uses instruments similar to those used during the Revolutionary War. Drummers and fife (a wind instrument) players were common in the Continental Army, and the current unit pays homage to those who served under General Washington. The flamboyantly dressed corps can be seen around the world, at sporting events, and have been a mainstay during presidential inaugurations since Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961.

Two other specialty units within the Old Guard are the Continental Color Guard and the Presidential Salute Battery. The Continental Color Guard wear the same style of uniforms worn in 1784 and serves to showcase the rich history of the regiment while displaying the flags of the army, regiment, and the Stars and Stripes. The famous 21-gun salute is fired by the Presidential Salute Battery. Assigned

to fire at ceremonies and funerals for presidents, dignitaries, and select members of the Armed Forces, the battery uses ten 3-inch M5 guns. The battery is also present at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and maintains battle readiness training with M252 mortar systems.

The Old Guard is also operationally ready to respond to threats. Within the regiment, the 289th Military Police Company operates a military police K-9 unit and has a special reaction team to respond to high-risk situations in the D.C. area. The Commander-in-Chief’s Guard has riot control responsibilities in addition to their ceremonial roles that include presidential inaugurations. This particular unit while on ceremonial duties wears black tricorn hats with powdered wigs and carries weapons modeled on the 18th century Brown Bess muskets.

The 3rd Infantry Regiment maintains a balance of being the official ceremonial unit of the army while continuing to be battle ready when they are needed. Currently, the 1st and 4th Battalions of the regiment are comprised of the specialty units while the 2nd Battalion, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, is an infantry battalion of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division. The 2nd Battalion most recently deployed to Iraq in 2009 and to Afghanistan in 2011.

Many famous soldiers have served with the Old Guard, and four soldiers from the regiment have received the Medal of Honor. Three of the medals were awarded during the Indian Wars in the latter half of the 19th century. Corporal Michael Follond was posthumously awarded the medal for smothering the blast of enemy grenade and saving the lives of his fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War.

The soldiers who serve with the Old Guard both in combat and in ceremonial roles are continuing the legacy for one of the most storied regiments in American history.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.