Episode 170: To the Top! The Post-World War II History of the 10th Mountain Division

 

The 10th Mountain Division burst onto the world stage fighting the Nazi's in Italy, but they have continued to be at the center of world-wide US military operations down to the present day.

Episode 15: September 11, 2001

The first funeral of the day on September 11, 2001, started after the planes struck the twin towers in New York City. About half an hour later, the mourners, who were transitioning between the chapel and graveside portions of the funeral, recoiled as a tremendous blast shook the windows and walls of the cemetery's reception center. As they left to head towards the Columbarium (where the deceased's cremated remains were to be placed), they were stopped by military police officers who informed them that the Pentagon had just been hit - they were still allowed to proceed (the Columbarium is only a few hundred yards from the Pentagon) but many of the military personnel, including those who would have folded the flag, would no longer be accompanying them and the rest of the service would be abbreviated. In an era before everyone carried a camera in their pocket, one member of the funeral party had a camera in her car and after the service, took this photo of the Pentagon billowing smoke over Arlington's white headstones. Thank you for this unique perspective, Ms. Ruth Anne Rosati.

A year after the attack, the Pentagon memorial - officially called the Pentagon Group Burial Marker - was unveiled in Section 64. The memorial, pentagonal in shape, has the names of the 184 victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon, either in the building itself or on Flight 77.

Because of extensive damage to the remains, five sets of remains were buried together in a single casket, covered with a special vault cover. The memorial sits directly above the vault cover.

One of those killed in the Pentagon was Army Lieutenant Colonel Kip Taylor

Kip and his wife, Nancy, had struggled with infertility for years but had eventually conceived and had a son, Dean. A month after his death, Nancy gave birth to their second son, Luke. While in the hospital for the birth, Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer and died two years later. The boys were adopted and raised by Kip's brother and his wife. They are both currently attending college, courtesy of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Both Kip and Nancy Ann Melvin Taylor are buried in Section 64, Grave 4877

The first American killed in Afghanistan post-9/11 had been a captain in the Marine Corps but was a CIA officer at the time of his death. Johnny "Mike" Spann didn't qualify for burial at Arlington but was granted an exemption from President George W. Bush. He was killed in a prison riot when Taliban detainees got into an Afghan Northern Alliance arms room. One participant in the riot was the so-called American Taliban member John Walker Lindh. 

His family, particularly his children, have been vocal about their displeasure with Lindh's release from prison, three years before the end of his 20-year sentence and his father had harsh criticism for the way the Biden administration withdrew US troops from Afghanistan. Spann is buried in Section 34, Grave 2359.

The first Iraq War Soldier buried at Arlington was Army Captain Russell Rippetoe who was killed by an IED while rushing to help a pregnant Iraqi woman.

This member of the 75th Ranger Regiment is buried in Section 60, Grave 7860

Because Army Sergeant First Class Jerald Whisenhunt, a 22-year veteran at the time of his death, was not a Sergeant Major or commissioned officer, so he was only authorized a standard honors funeral. Sergeant First Class was livid with the distinction and in time, his campaign led to a policy change authorizing anyone killed in combat to receive a full honors funeral regardless of rank.

Whisenhunt is buried in Section 60, Grave 8563 

Episode 0: Ghosts of Arlington Podcast Introduction

In this episode, I mentioned the two service members I personally knew who are buried in Arlington. 

Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark E. Stratton II was the commander of a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan when he was killed in an IED attack on May 26, 2009. He is buried at Arlington in Section 60, Site 8840. He was 39 years-old. Two other service members were killed that day Army Master Sergeant Blue Rowe, 33, and Senior Airman Ashton Goodman, 21. Also killed that day was the teams Afghan legal advisor, Abdul Samad. MSG Rowe is buried at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Whittier, CA, in the Garden of Commemoration II, Lot 7943, Grave 3. SrA Goodman lies Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN, Garden of Freedom, Lot6A, Space 1.  

LtCol Mark E. Stratton II

MSG Blue Rowe

SrA Ashton Goodman

Sen Tom Cotton left a challenge coin, Memorial Day 2018

MSG Rowe is buried in Southern California

SrA Ashton is buried in Indiana

I was Army Staff Sergeant Darrell Adams's Company Commander during our deployment with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from early 2011 - early 2012. After the deployment we each went our separate ways. About three years later I found out that he had been killed in a motorcycle accident in Oklahoma on June 21, 2015. He was 48 years-old. He is buried at Arlington in Section 55, Site 1369.

SSG Darrell Adams in southern Afghanistan in 2011

Ghosts of Arlington Podcast is Launching

I have been thinking about hosting this podcast for some time now and figured that Memorial Day weekend was as good a time as any for my official launch. For many people, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and a day to kick back, bar-b-que, and relax. For many that have served in the military - especially those who have served during a time of war - Memorial Day is a painful reminder of friends and loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the country.

If I am being honest with myself, I probably fall somewhere in between those two categories. While I did serve two tours in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, I did not lose anyone killed in action under my command or even in my battalion as a whole. Yes, I had Soldiers close to me wounded, but I was lucky and came through my time in uniform relatively unscathed - both physically and psychologically. I do know two people interred in Arlington and I talk a little about them in this introductory podcast.

I do want to share the story of my cousin, who is not buried at Arlington, but was lost in Afghanistan. Corporal Brett Land was killed on October 30, 2010 in southern Afghanistan while serving with the 101st Airborne Division. He died 5 months before my brigade relieved his. His daughter, who he never got to meet, was born 15 days before his death, which occurred two weeks before he was supposed to come home on R&R. I moved away from this side of my family when I was in my early-teens and honestly, I don't know if I even met Brett. I do know that I will never forget him. Corporal Land was laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville, CA.

Please enjoy Memorial Day, enjoy your day off, but please take a moment to honor those whom this day memorializes in some small way.