Guards at Tomb of the Unknowns Stand Tall (given permission to seek shelter, but stay at post)

Associated Press ^ | September 19, 2003 | SHARON THEIMER

[dixie sass]

I can see Chesty doing that, can't you? He took his duty at Arlington seriously, except for the horse...

[PFKEY]

Of all the places I have visited/vacationed, Whashington DC is my favorite.

It is difficult not to have a big ol' lump in your throat.

I'm sure the National Archives is already on your list.

Do not miss it.

[Ready4Freddy]

AFAIK, there are (were) only 4 sets of unidentified remains from the Vietnam War as late as the early 1980's. Two sets were subsequently identified, leaving two, both of which had a good chance of being identified. One was indicated as probable Asian, so they entombed the other set at Arlington in 1984, after suspending the rules regarding completeness of remains. The designation and interrment of the Vietnam Unknown has been described as 'politically expedient' and 'probably premature'.

The remains of the Vietnam Unknown were subsequently identified in 1998, and returned to the family for burial at home.

My guess is that the family of USAF 1st Lt. Michael Blassie do not share your dismay.

[cavtrooper21]

Ping

[IronJack]

Chesty was a Marine, wasn't he? The sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns are all members of the Army's elite "Old Guard," the 3rd Infantry Regiment.

I imagine the other branches provide ceremonial escorts for funerals of their own brethren.

[OldSmaj]

Do you feel, as I do, that the Tomb of the Unknowns was desecrated by William the Impeached, when the remains of the Vietnam Unknown were exhumed?

Geez, there you go, you had to say that, didn't you?

Everything that POS was associated with was desecrated, in one way or the other.

I hastened my retirement, because that POS was going to be elected POTUS and I vowed that I would never serve under the POS.

Hate is a an extreme emotion, but I savor the flavor of the emotion that I feel for that POS. I truly cannot stand the very image of that POS.

I had the extreme misfortune to be at Fort Chaffee during the same period that the 'toon was governor of Arkansas.

Long story short: To hell with the 'toon.

On aside though, I must say that I have very mixed emotions about the VN "unknown" soldier. On the one hand, I'm glad for his family that he was ID'd, but on the other, I see a magnificient tradition politicized by the POS traitorous 'toon.

He should have kept his self-serving, bloodied, cowardly, POS hands off the entire situation.

'Nuff said. My blood pressure is rising.

[Ready4Freddy]

The situation was politicized by the Reagan admin in 1984 when, against the advice of the CIL,Caspar Weinberger designated the last remaining Vietnam unknown remains as the Vietnam Unknown.

It's quite a stretch to call returning to a family remains identified 25 years after death 'politicizing'.

[OldSmaj]

It's quite a stretch to call returning to a family remains identified 25 years after death 'politicizing'.

You missed my point.

Are you a 'toon supporter?

Anything, I say again, anything that POS is or was involved in, under any circumstances, regardless of the situation, is "politicized", and is or was done for no other reason than for his stinking ass to reap political gain.

Period.

And for you to hint that I disagree with the ID and return of the remains of a loved one to his family is despicable.

I disagree with the entire situation as it was manipulated by the POS, traitorous, cowardly, lying, so-called Commander in Chief at the time, the dastardly Bill Clinton.

I have the utmost respect for the now known soldier. I would have it no other way, in that his remains were identified and returned to his family. What part of that did you not understand?

And why the gratuitous insertion of the actions of Caspar Weinberger and Ronald Reagan, who took action to honor not only the ones killed in the VN action, but also the survivors.

Reagan knew that technology might eventually render the "Unknown" soldier a thing of the past, but he was determined to do something that would serve to help close the open wounds of the war and designating remains, after the many years of not having such, as Unknown, provided an outlet for many survivors of the action.

I support the efforts of Reagan and I wholeheartedly support the actions of the CIL, in continueing to work on 100 percent identification of the remains.

I do not support the actions of a treasonous, cowardly, lying POS, who arranged for the leaking of several reports pertaining to this situation for no other reason than his selfish ones.

I am well aware of the history of this entire situation. I don't need you attempting to chastize me for criticizing anything the POS 'toon has done in relation to it.

[null and void]

Very interesting. This kind of sense of honor must completely baffle liberals.

ANY sense of honor completely baffles liberals.

[Ready4Freddy]

I never suggested that you disagreed w/ the return of Lt. Blassie's remains to his family.

It appears that you're simply outraged that the confluence of technology and time happened to occur during the Clinton administration.

Do you take your umbrage in the morning, or is it in time-release capsules in order to maintain a constant level of aggravation?

[Ready4Freddy]

"...who arranged for the leaking of several reports pertaining to this situation for no other reason than his selfish ones."

Are you speaking of the reports that were ordered to be destroyed in 1984 when it was decided to designate a Vietnam Unknown?

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**I'm sure the National Archives is already on your list**

Absolutely. :o)

Our daughter will be the perfect age, imo, to appreciate DC (14). This year we're studying, in depth, historical significance relating to true liberty and freedom. It's already awesome.

I highly recommend books by Charles Coffin: Land of Liberty, Sweet Land of Liberty, Boys of 76 and on...

[VOA]

Yes Virginia, there are still some real men in the USA...

[freedumb2003]

I hope you don't mind, I corrected your post a little:

Does anyone know if there are ever any lib or peacenik hecklers?

I am sure if so, they are ingnoredshould be shot by the marines 3rd Infantry....

There -- all better!

(OK, OK, I know that allowing protest is what makes this country great, but a guy can dream, can't he?)

[I_dmc]

Its a far cry from this honor, but I was in an honor platoon at Ft. Devens. We marched in many events in Boston, Concord, etc. I got to wear a blue ascot and white laces in my shiny-like-glass boots, along with other "trim". Felt like a zillion bucks when I flew military standby.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

A high honor, indeed. :o)

[PleaseNoMore]

I saw Holmes interviewed on Fox news and I was impressed that he chose to stay on his post rather than abandon it for his own safety. They reported that Holmes did the guarding and wouldn't let any of those under him do it. They also showed large tree limbs that had fallen within 10 or so feet from where his guard was. He never considered "going inside out of the storm". I was so impressed.

[DollyCali]

LOVE YOUR CORRECTION!!! THANKS

[dixie sass]

Our Chesty served at Arlington. I believe that he served in the Army also.

[Ready4Freddy]

Lt Gen Puller holds the Distinguished Service Cross (highest medal the Army awards) for his actions at the Chosin breakout in Korea, in addition to his 5 Navy Crosses, but am unaware of him having served in the Army (or at Arlington).