Help honor the Arlington Caisson Platoon

| February 12, 2016

UPDATE: 2/12/16.  Even I underestimated how big you guys would come through for me.  It took less than 24 hours, and you raised $3304.98.  So I am shutting it down for now.  Any overage we’ll keep in the account for now.

1 quick thing though, I got an email last night from a friend who works at the NRA National Firearms Museum who offered up a guided tour of the museum to anyone who donated.  If you happen to live in the area, it really is an awesome tour.  I took it a few years ago.  There’s stuff you never even imagined in there, like a shotgun that came over on the Mayflower.  Anyway, if you gave and you live somewhere in the area, send me an email if you are interested.  If I don’t hear anything, I will hold it for the next time we need to raise money.

You guys are awesome, and I couldn’t appreciate it more.   I know some are sending checks and such as well, I can hold it or return it, whatever you want.  Just let me know.  Those that wanted posters, I should get them out on Tuesday (I forgot Monday was a holiday, and hope to get in touch with Sal for some books shortly!)

Again, the TAH community is the best, and my sincere thanks to all of you who donated, shared, or even just offered your support.

 

ryankyle

Every time there is a snowstorm or rain or something in DC everyone sends up pictures of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns still out there walking.  And it chokes me up too.  But the Tomb Guards aren’t the only ones to work their asses off over there at Arlington.

Most of you have friends that live there now.  I do certainly.  SSG Robert Burton.  CPT Lawrence Yacubian (who’s birthday would have been last week.)  My two best friends have their fathers buried there, and I just went there for my own personal hero, Colonel Henry Cook, a special forces legend from Vietnam.   And it’s not the guard guys who take them to their resting place, it’s the Caisson guys, and their equine battle buddies.

And lest you forget, they are one of us (ie Infantrymen) as the website makes clear.

 

Most of these men and women come to Ft. Myer, Virginia not as expert horseman, but as trained infantrymen, skilled in their individual fields and tactically proficient. A new Soldier on this team must undergo rigorous training on a riding style the Army hasn’t used anywhere else since 1948. In addition to caring for the horses, the Soldiers must learn to ride in the erect posture of solemn military attention and sitting in a McClellan saddle.  In addition to maintaining the ceremonial uniform of an Old Guard Soldier, the Caisson Soldiers must learn to use, clean and maintain ceremonial tack and harness that is unique to their mission in Arlington National Cemetery. Because of this extensive equine training and experience, the Army has labeled the Caisson Soldiers with the Additional Skill Identifier D2 – Army Horseman.

Anyway, our long time friend and champion Parachutecutie had noticed for a couple of years that Caisson Platoon didn’t have challenge coins.  She surreptitiously asked around from time to time and learned from the Soldiers, many who are no longer with the unit, that they’ve just not had them for a while probably due to budget cuts.  And then she talked to the 173rd Medal of Honor Recipients, Sal Giunta, Kyle White and Ryan Pitts, and they wanted to pitch in to help.  Again, every one of us that have friends there, the Caisson guys are the one that took them there.  They put in a shit load of time getting ready and training, and get a fraction of the praise their more high profile brothers get.

So anyway, I was going to get them all a boat with Leonardo DeiCaprio’s throw offs for them, but that might be out of the budget.  But they deserve something, and so Parachute Cutie and the MOH guys want to get them their own unique and well-made challenge coin.   I’ve offered to help raise funds.

Here’s the thing: we’re getting the coins.  If you don’t contribute, I’ll pay the whole thing, and then either my wife will kill me, or I’ll have to sell a kidney.  All told it comes to just under $3000.   But, I have 15 posters each of Kyle and Ryan from their medal ceremonies that are autographed, and I am willing to send to anyone who donates at least $50.  But of course that won’t get me to the end either (that would be $1500).  Sal is offering up signed copies of his book too, also for the $50.  But if we are going to make the goal and get to the end, we’re going to need other donations too, be it $5 or $25, or any other number.   Jonn and I and others haven’t asked for much, so hopefully you can find it in your heart to donate just a little and help us to honor those who honor our friends as they go to their final formation in the sky.

So, help us to honor those guys.  If you want the posters, hit up Jonn’s paypal at the side with $50, and then send me an email at seaveyattorney@gmail.com to let me know you did it, and whether you want a Ryan or a Kyle one, and I’ll get it out to you in the next day or two.  But my sincere hope is more so that every TAH reader who has a friend buried there will donate $5 in memory of each of their friends, and help us honor the Old Guard guys who did force protection on their last mission.   No matter how much you donate, do me a favor and send me a picture of your fallen friend, and what you would want to say to or about them.  Next summer I am taking 98 of America’s best and brightest rising seniors to visit people at Arlington during Boys Nation, and we’ll be visiting whomever you donate for.

I’m not rich.  But again, I’ll pay if I have to, because the Caisson guys deserve to know that we love and respect them as our brothers, and for having to deal with the mental part that comes with taking others loved ones to their final rest.  But I don’t think I will have to pay, because TAH always comes through.  Come through for me  now.

(If we go over the figure I am looking for the fund raiser, it will go into an account and I’ll give some of you the opportunity to get it back, or we can hold it for the next worthy endeavor.  Either way, I’ll keep on eye on our total and let you know when we reach it, but we know there’ll be other Medal of Honor events coming up, and it is always nice to know we have funds waiting.)

Picture of the coins:

Coin

Category: Politics

53 Comments
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Green Thumb

I am very familiar with those folks. I have stepped in enough of there shit.

Understood.

Count me in.

ChipNASA

My Grandparents reside there.
These guys are the best of the best of the best.
I’m in. Payday is tomorrow. I’ll send you guys some duckets.
I need not receive anything in return.

Oh and this is meant with the utmost of respect.

ChipNASA

Done.
Check your paypal account.
First?!?!?
LOL
😀

Skippy

I have a question… How many coins are we taking about ???

Skippy

I’m talking to da boss
I think we can definitely do something

ChipNASA

I have a LOT of challenge coins but THAT, my friend, is unique and badass.

AW1 Tim

Donation made to Jonn. As with the others, There’s no need to send me a poster or anything else. I am honored just to be able to help in any fashion.

ChipNASA

Oh and I did this for my unit too. It’s was about $ 3,000 for our first run too and I believe about $1,200 of that was just the Die Fees. I think we got 500 coins after that and our cost was about $3-4 a piece and we sold them for $7 to raise money for the Unit Activity fund.
After eating the initial Die cost, we made more money for second runs.
It will be cheaper in the future once you eat those initial costs.

Skippy

Good to hear TSO we are sending 100 bucks. will send more next payday
I’m a big-time Coin collector I have about 1700 of them going all the way back to WW2
some from back then were lighters and what looks like dog tags Lol…
I also have a ton of autographs and two signed Guitars one from Jefferson Starship (aka) Airplane and one from AC/DC Maybe willing to donate a guitars to help raise money
if needed Jonn has my info

Eggs

1700?? Holy Cow. Do you collect all branches?

Skippy

Army / Air Force / Navy / Marines / Coast Guard /
State Department/ CIA /
All Reserves/ and foreign mainly NATO
it all started when I was kid my Dad was a officer in the Air Force when my grand Pa died on my dads side I scored a lot of WW2 swag a lot of there coins where ribbons that looked like coins
Also there are a lot of groups on Face Book that trade and sale coins about a 300 plus are dubbles or triples also got a POTUS coin a month ago but it was a fake Lol.. The odd thing while I was in. I only got about 30 coins Lol..
It’s fun to collect but a pain in the ass when you have Kids Lol….

Skippy

hey TSO I’ll donate the signed Guitar, and I’ll ship it… it’s on me, if you think we can raffle it off to help, cover cost ::)
Please let me know

Skyjumper

Jonn, the check’s in the (PayPal) mail.

Thanks for all that you and all of the gang here at TAH do.

Club Manager

I am so tight with money I squeak. Just received a receipt for my donation.

Suggest all forward a copy of the post to associates who don’t read this blog.

AW1Ed

Done! No poster, signed or otherwise, required.

Cable Dawg

I’ll get to it after the duty day is done. Mostly because I have to go look up my PayPal info, wherever I stashed it.

Chesty Puller

“The First Duty is to Remember”

Semper Fidelis

Donate a copy of each photo to a worthy cause.

OldSoldier54

Yes, and amen.

sj

Done. No poster required since am full time RV’er.

Ties to Arlington:
Late wife, waiting on me
Beloved Brother (LTC, SigC (Ret))
BFF (LTC, SigC (Ret)
BFF (LTC INF, (Ret) and DSC awardee
Best Boss Ever, (COL, INF (Ret)
Numerous Brothers in Arms

sj

Meant to add the Caisson troops planted all of the above…even my late wife (1LT & SSG)

nbcguy54ACTUAL

They laid to rest one of my Soldiers on 3 July 1987.

RIP Roy…

sj

When my late wife was buried their (cremation), I expected nothing from the Old Guard. Imagine my surprise: we left the center with me holding the urn and walked down a path to her (and my) final resting place. I was met by a 1LT and SSG in full Blues. They saluted me and reverently took the urn. They then led us to graveside. I never expected any thing because she was “just” a dependent. I’ve never been so thankful that I I had the honor to have been a Soldier.

sj

there not their

sj

Re my BFF with the DSC. Here’s what he did: http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=4712

He told me that he never fired his rifle in 2 tours because his job (as a CO) was to tell his troopers in the 1/101 (ABN) (SEP) where to fire and bring in direct support arty/cas. He bled in the incident cited but it was because he cut himself on a stake…his troopers wanted to Purple Heart him but he said hell no.

We ran almost everyday whilst on the Army Staff in the Pentagon. He was on the Chief of Staff’s office. One day I came in just after he had spilt a huge cup of Red Man spit on a paper going to the CHief…this was before computers…typed on an IBM Selectric manned by a pissed of GS’er.

Eggs

Last time I was at Arlington around 2006 we were walking around the grounds in a more remote area of the cemetery when we saw a lone caisson approaching with a casket. We stepped to the side of the road with our hands over our hearts, the caisson soldier gave a quick glance and a nod.

I’m nodding back with this small donation.

UpNorth

The check is in the mail.

Stacy0311

And if you want to help them on a daily basis (Caisson Platoon, Honor Guards {all services}) please consider donating or volunteering to the USO Lounge on Fort Myer. It’s called The Honor Guard Lounge for a reason

Common Sense

Donated $20. I’m losing my job, so I’m sorry I can’t do more.

In honor of my uncle, Jon E. Swanson. Shot down over Cambodia and posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2001, at the same time recovered remains were buried at Arlington. Events I will never forget.

https://www.fold3.com/page/637164479_jon_e_swanson/

As an aside, my son had Sal Guinta autograph his book for me as a Christmas gift, when he visited my son’s airbase. It has a place of honor on my bookshelf but the greater gift was my son getting to meet him and shake his hand.

spd0302

Hey Common Sense…Just read your Uncle’s MOH citation. Incredible individual, and part of the best our country has to offer. Thank you and my thoughts to you and your extended family.
Semper Fi

Common Sense

Thank you! He was, and gone far too soon.

It was such a relief to my family to have him finally brought home, the MOH award was just a bonus after all the years of meetings and DNA samples.

My Dad took it especially hard since Jon was his younger brother, best friend, and had followed him into the service (Dad was ASA in Hokkaido Japan before the war – secret stuff!)

Also, correction, the ceremony was in May 2002, not 2001 (Alzheimer’s moment!). Since it was right after 9/11, it was especially poignant. We were at the Pentagon as they were starting to rebuild and several service members who had lost loved ones there were at the MOH ceremony with us.

Parachutecutie

You TAH groupies are THE BEST!!!

Thank you all so much for supporting this mission.

FYI, the donation of the coins has been approved via all proper channels at DoD

OldSoldier54

You’re a peach!

IDC SARC

Mission Complete

OC

I’m glad to help with the little I’ve got.

Used to be Stillserving

My dad was part of the old guard in the mid 1950’s. Count me in! Would it be possible to get a coin for him?

nbcguy54ACTUAL

So, when do the TAH coins come out?

I envision some funky looking dude in a leather vest on one side and an airplane in a cornfield on the other side….

Sarge

Tight on money until I get into new job. Moving from GS5 to GS11 next month. Will talk to wife and see what we can handle.

Coins aint cheap…unit CC here just bought updated commander coins with his own money. Cost about $2400 locally in Korea.

IDC SARC

Congrats on the grade increase!

AW1Ed

Congrats indeed!

Slick Goodlin

These guys keep the stable in,
“motor stables”.

20thEB67

No poster required.

The Other Whitey

Done.

I don’t know anybody at Arlington. My friends and family are buried in other cemeteries, mostly at Fort Rosecrans. But I visited Arlington once, and the Old Guard made a hell of an impression.

In honor of my friend SGT Brian Dunlap USMC, KIA in Iraq, 9/24/2005, buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Sacramento, CA.

Also my family members:
GM2 Bill McDaniel USNR, WWII
CPL Ollie Erhard USAAF, WWII
L/CPL Greg McDaniel USMC, Vietnam
All buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA.
And SGT Jim Miller USA, WWII, buried at a family plot in Texas.

RM3(SS)

TOW, Jonn has my contact info. I live near your friends interment site if you’d like someone to visit him I’d be happy to.

RM3(SS)

Done. My suggestion was to raffle off the signed posters.
In 1981 I was part of the volunteer crew that restored the USS Bowfin (SS-287). There were several dignitaries in attendance and I got to actually meet and shake hands with a living legend, Medal of Honor holder Richard O’Kane. I will never forget that day.
He is buried at Arlington, I have visited his grave.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rokane.htm

zulu02

I’ll kick in. In honor of MSG Wendell Cleveland Landtroop, who was my PSG in Korea, and later Caisson PSG, now desceased.

MCPO USN

My father’s last duty assignment was Company 1st Sgt at The Old Guard. He retired from there in 1975 (Korea and Vietnam vet). I grew up spending time in the cemetery. Both the Caisson platoon and the tomb guards were exceptional troops then. Will donate for sure!

OldSoldier54

Donation sent in memory of a family member who was a bugler with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Rider’s at San Juan Hill.

GDContractor

I’m a little late to this thread, sorry. I just read through all the comments. You miscreants have stirred up a lot of dust. Damn allergies. Donation on the way.

DefendUSA

I shared the link with my other Army peeps. I donated, too. Just wish it could be more. Maybe next week we’ll get an offer of a job in the great state of Texas. Fingers crossed for all! I am a coin person myself and I don’t have many because…well, I just don’t. I treasure the five I have. I wish I had thought of that…

Frankie Cee "In the clear"

I missed this until this morning.
The Caisson Platoon is “Of the Best”.
Team TAH has come through again.

Silentium Est Aureum

Damn me for waiting until payday.

Definitely kicking in for next one.