Sacred duty : a soldier's tour at Arlington National Cemetery

Sacred duty A soldier's tour at Arlington National Cemetery

Tom Cotton

Book - 2019

An extraordinary journey behind the scenes of Arlington National Cemetery, Senator Tom Cotton's Sacred Duty offers an intimate and inspiring portrait of "The Old Guard," the revered U.S. Army unit whose mission is to honor our country's fallen heroes on the most hallowed ground in America. Cotton was a platoon leader with the storied 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment -- The Old Guard -- between combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the height of the Iraq Surge, he carried the flag-draped remains of his fallen comrades off of airplanes at Dover Air Force Base, and he laid them to rest in Arlington's famed Section 60, "the saddest acre in America." He also performed hundreds of funerals for veterans of the Grea...test Generation, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The Old Guard has embodied the ideals of honor and sacrifice across our nation's history. America's oldest active-duty regiment, dating back to 1784, The Old Guard conducts daily military-honor funerals on the 624 rolling acres of Arlington, where generations of American heroes rest. Its soldiers hold themselves to the standard of perfection in sweltering heat, frigid cold, and driving rain. Every funeral is a no-fail, zero-defect mission, whether honoring a legendary general or a humble private. In researching and writing the book, Cotton returned to Arlington and shadowed the regiment's soldiers, from daily funerals to the state funeral of President George H. W. Bush to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, reliving the honor -- and the challenges -- of duty at the nation's "most sacred shrine." Part history of The Old Guard, part memoir of Cotton's time at Arlington, part intimate profile of the today's soldiers, Sacred Duty is an unforgettable testament to the timeless power of service and sacrifice to our nation.

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Subjects
Cotton, Tom.
United States. > Army. > Infantry Regiment, 3rd.
United States. > Army. > Infantry Regiment, 3rd > Biography.
Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Va.)
Military funerals > United States.
Military funerals > Virginia > Arlington County.
Published
New York, NY : William Morrow [2019]
Language
English
Main Author
Tom Cotton (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
301 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9780062863157
9780062863164
9780062912343
  • Map: Arlington National Cemetery
  • Prologue: America's Regiment
  • Chapter 1. Coming Home
  • Chapter 2. America's First Defenders
  • Chapter 3. "Honor, Values, and Tradition"
  • Chapter 4. Inside Arlington with The Old Guard
  • Chapter 5. Standing on Ceremony
  • Chapter 6. The Unknowns
  • Epilogue: "The Old Guard Never Stops"
  • Notes on Sources
  • Acknowledgments
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In this meticulous history, Arkansas senator Cotton explains the role and duties of the Third Infantry Regiment, aka the Old Guard, at Arlington National Cemetery. For several months in 2007, after serving a tour of duty in Iraq, Cotton was a member of the regiment, which was established in 1784 to honor the "memory of our nation's fallen heroes" and now conducts ceremonies, escorts the president, and maintains a round-the-clock vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Visitors have observed the unique appearance and requirements of members of the Old Guard: a colonial-era uniform complete with wig, unusual marching style, above-average height (Cotton is 6'5"), and "standing proficiency"-they must be able to regularly stand absolutely still for 75 minutes. Cotton writes in depth about Section 60 of the cemetery, the "newest and most active burial area," which is allocated to those killed in Iran and Afghanistan; during Cotton's time in the regiment, 11 of 85 soldiers killed were laid to rest there. He recalls mourners in large processions wracked with "the anguish of losing a loved one just a few days earlier," including comrades from his tour in Iraq. This reverent account will please readers of military history. Agent: Keith Urbahn, Javelin. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review by Kirkus Book Review

An Arkansas senator and Bronze Star recipient delivers a first book full of information, history, and remarkable facts about true heroes.The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, aka the Old Guard, is the oldest active-duty regiment in the Army. "Since 1948," writes Cotton, who served in the 3rd between combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, "the Old Guard has served at Arlington as the Army's official ceremonial unit and escort to the president." Any soldier seeking to join the Old Guard must meet the highest mental, physical, and moral standards in the military, and they cannot have civil or military convictions or drug, alcohol, or financial issues. Public missions include funerals at Arlington, state funerals, presidential inaugurations, and serving as sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The recruitment of sentinels is only within the Old Guard, and the training cycle is extremely difficult. It includes learning at least 20 distinct marching movements as well as a test of stamina in which one must stand ramrod still, without bending knees or wiggling toes, maintaining ceremonial composure for 75 minutes. Though some readers may think the author provides too much detail on uniforms, procedure, and training, he explains that in the Old Guard, perfection is not just a goal, it's an absolute. Pleats and shirt tucks are measured to the inch, stray threads are burned off, and wrinkles are unheard of. Attending multiple funerals in a day, the guard is transported by van, but they're not allowed to sit down lest they wrinkle their uniforms. As Cotton demonstrates, the uniform prep, cleaning, insignia, and badge placement are stressed continually. Among other reasons, they meet these strict guidelines because a family only gets one funeral; it must be perfect every time. "What the Old Guard does inside the gates of Arlington," writes the author, "is a testament to the noble truths and fierce courage that have built and sustained America."A must-read for military members and their families that is sure to appeal to patriotic Americans of all stripes. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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