Episode Introduction
For Memorial Day weekend 2023, Sam Stone and Chuck Warren spoke with Sergeant First Class Shane Vincent, a former sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Vincent joined the Army in 2008 and was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, where he earned the right to guard one of the nation’s most sacred sites.
In this short special segment, Vincent shares what it means to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, including those whose names will never be known.
Quick Answer
In this Memorial Day 2023 special, Breaking Battlegrounds spoke with Sergeant First Class Shane Vincent, Tomb Guard badge holder #588. He guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery from 2010 to 2012 with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, and talked about honoring America’s fallen.
About Sergeant First Class Shane Vincent
Shane Vincent served at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from October 2010 to December 2012. He worked as a sentinel, assistant relief commander and assistant sergeant of the guard, and he holds Tomb Guard Identification Badge #588.
When Hurricane Sandy hit the Washington area in 2012, Vincent volunteered to guard the Tomb for a full day through the storm. He has also spoken publicly about the meaning of the Tomb, saying the Unknowns gave up “not only their lives but their identities.” In February 2026, he presented the folded flag at the Arlington funeral of a fellow former Tomb Guard.
A Brief History of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The World War I Unknown
In March 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I at Arlington National Cemetery, following a custom adopted by other Allied nations. Four unknowns were exhumed from American cemeteries in France. On October 24, 1921, Sgt. Edward F. Younger, a decorated combat veteran, chose one by placing white roses on its casket. The Unknown Soldier lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda and was buried on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921, with President Warren G. Harding officiating.
The marble sarcophagus bears figures representing Peace, Victory and Valor. The inscription reads: “Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known But to God.”
The World War II and Korean War Unknowns
In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to honor unknowns from World War II and Korea. Hospital Corpsman William R. Charette, then the Navy’s only active-duty Medal of Honor recipient, chose the World War II Unknown aboard the USS Canberra. Both Unknowns were buried at the Tomb on Memorial Day, May 30, 1958, and Eisenhower awarded each the Medal of Honor.
The Vietnam Unknown
On Memorial Day, May 28, 1984, President Ronald Reagan presided over the burial of an unknown service member from the Vietnam War. Advances in identification technology later changed that story.
In May 1998, the remains were disinterred. DNA testing identified them as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, who was shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972. He was reburied at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri.
The Department of Defense decided to leave the Vietnam crypt empty. It now bears the inscription “Honoring and Keeping Faith with America’s Missing Servicemen, 1958-1975,” which was dedicated in 1999.
The Sentinels of The Old Guard
The Tomb has been guarded every minute of every day since 1937, through blizzards, hurricanes and the September 11 attacks. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, took over the mission in 1948.
Each sentinel walks exactly 21 steps across the mat, faces the Tomb for 21 seconds, turns, and pauses another 21 seconds before walking back. The number 21 reflects the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor. The sentinel always carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the Tomb, as a sign of standing between the Tomb and any threat.
Sentinels earn the Tomb Guard Identification Badge by passing a demanding series of tests. The badge becomes permanent after nine months of service at the Tomb, but it can be revoked for conduct that dishonors the Tomb. It is one of the least-awarded badges in the U.S. Army. In 1996, Sgt. Heather Johnsen became the first woman to earn it and serve as a sentinel.
Related Breaking Battlegrounds Episodes
The Old Guard and military service
- Mark Joseph Mongilutz on the danger of AI in politics. Mongilutz is an Old Guard veteran and author of Solemn Duty in the Old Guard.
- Secretary Mark Esper and Congressman Don Bacon on defending America
- Congressman Darrell Issa on the Afghanistan pullout
Other holiday specials
- Breaking Battlegrounds Independence Day special
- The real history of Thanksgiving and honoring our veterans
History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shane Vincent?
Sergeant First Class Shane Vincent is a former sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and holder of Tomb Guard Identification Badge #588. He served at the Tomb from 2010 to 2012 with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, he volunteered to guard the Tomb for a full day.
Is the Vietnam Unknown still in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
No. The Vietnam Unknown buried in 1984 was disinterred in 1998 and identified through DNA as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie. The crypt has remained empty since, with an inscription honoring America’s missing service members from 1958 to 1975.
Why do Tomb Guards take 21 steps?
Sentinels walk 21 steps across the mat and pause for 21 seconds at each turn. The number reflects the 21-gun salute, the highest honor in military and state ceremonies.
How long has the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier been guarded?
The Tomb has been guarded 24 hours a day, every day, since 1937. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, has carried out the mission since 1948.
Can women be Tomb Guards?
Yes. Sgt. Heather Johnsen became the first woman to serve as a Tomb Guard on March 22, 1996. Several other women have since earned the Tomb Guard Identification Badge.
Conclusion
This Memorial Day special gave listeners a few minutes with one of the few soldiers who have earned the Tomb Guard badge. Vincent’s reflections, together with the Tomb’s history, explain why a sentinel has stood watch at Arlington every minute since 1937, through storms and wars, for soldiers whose names are known only to God.
