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==Military Service, Tomb Sentinel==
==Military Service, Tomb Sentinel==
In 1991 after graduating high school, Johnsen joined the [[US Army Reserves]], serving as a personnel administrative specialist.<ref>US Army Foundation. 2018 Hall Of Fame - Inductees.” https://www.awfdn.org/hall-of-fame-and-special-recognition-awards/us-army-womens-hall-of-fame-inductees/2018-hall-of-fame-inductees/</ref> In 1992, Johnsen joined the [[U.S. Army]] on active duty.<ref>American Legion Auxiliary Blog:Official Blog of American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters. “Breaking down barriers to honor unknown soldiers.” NOVEMBER 30, 2016.</ref> https://alaforveterans.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/breaking-down-barriers-to-honor-the-unknown-soldiers</ref><ref>Arlington National Cemetery Website. “30 September 1997. A Singular Honor.” Posted: 31 October 2001. http://arlingtoncemetery.net/heather-johnsen.htm</ref> She later served as a military police officer in [[Camp Humphreys]], [[Korea]], [[Fort Monmouth, New Jersey]], and [[Fort Myers, Florida]].<ref>Virginia Pilot. “FIRST WOMAN GUARDS TOMB OF UNKNOWNS ``THERE IS NO HIGHER HONOR OR GREATER HONOR,'' SAYS NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, 23.” Saturday, March 23, 1996. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960323/03230285.htm</ref>
In 1991 after graduating high school, Johnsen joined the [[US Army Reserves]], serving as a personnel administrative specialist.<ref>US Army Foundation. 2018 Hall Of Fame - Inductees.” https://www.awfdn.org/hall-of-fame-and-special-recognition-awards/us-army-womens-hall-of-fame-inductees/2018-hall-of-fame-inductees/</ref> In 1992, Johnsen joined the [[U.S. Army]] on active duty.<ref>American Legion Auxiliary Blog:Official Blog of American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters. “Breaking down barriers to honor unknown soldiers.” NOVEMBER 30, 2016. https://alaforveterans.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/breaking-down-barriers-to-honor-the-unknown-soldiers</ref><ref>Arlington National Cemetery Website. “30 September 1997. A Singular Honor.” Posted: 31 October 2001. http://arlingtoncemetery.net/heather-johnsen.htm</ref> She later served as a military police officer in [[Camp Humphreys]], [[Korea]], [[Fort Monmouth, New Jersey]], and [[Fort Myers, Florida]].<ref>Virginia Pilot. “FIRST WOMAN GUARDS TOMB OF UNKNOWNS ``THERE IS NO HIGHER HONOR OR GREATER HONOR,'' SAYS NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, 23.” Saturday, March 23, 1996. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960323/03230285.htm</ref>


In 1994, the [[Secretary of the Army]] ruled that women soldiers could serve on the 24 hour/7 days a week Tomb Sentinel squad for the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington)]], a historic US monument at [[Arlington National Cemetery]] which honors the unidentified remains of three combatants from [[World War I]], [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]].<ref>News & record. “1ST WOMAN GUARDS UNKNOWN SOLDIER.” Knight-Ridder News Service. Mar 22, 1996 Updated Jan 28, 2015.
In 1994, the [[Secretary of the Army]] ruled that women soldiers could serve on the 24 hour/7 days a week Tomb Sentinel squad for the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington)]], a historic US monument at [[Arlington National Cemetery]] which honors the unidentified remains of three combatants from [[World War I]], [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]].<ref>News & record. “1ST WOMAN GUARDS UNKNOWN SOLDIER.” Knight-Ridder News Service. Mar 22, 1996 Updated Jan 28, 2015.

Revision as of 11:30, 26 August 2021

Heather Lynn Johnsen is a former U.S. Army soldier and former member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, best known as the highly prestigious "The Old Guard” or Honor Guard Company sentinel of Company E, 4th Battalion.

Johnsen was the first female tomb guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington), a historic US monument at Arlington National Cemetery which honors the unidentified remains of three combatants from World War I, World War II and the Korean War.[1][2]

Early life

Johnsen was raised in Roseville, California and Mt. Diablo, California.[3][4]

Military Service, Tomb Sentinel

In 1991 after graduating high school, Johnsen joined the US Army Reserves, serving as a personnel administrative specialist.[5] In 1992, Johnsen joined the U.S. Army on active duty.[6][7] She later served as a military police officer in Camp Humphreys, Korea, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and Fort Myers, Florida.[8]

In 1994, the Secretary of the Army ruled that women soldiers could serve on the 24 hour/7 days a week Tomb Sentinel squad for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington), a historic US monument at Arlington National Cemetery which honors the unidentified remains of three combatants from World War I, World War II and the Korean War.[9] That same year, Johnsen joined The Old Guard. She became a military police officer attached to Echo company honor guard, 3rd U.S. Infantry Division.[10] In June 1995, she applied for training as a tomb sentinel.

On March 22, 1996, Johnsen became the first female tomb guard.[11] [12][13] Standing at 5 feet, 11 inches, Johnsen was the first woman among the then-389 soldiers who have received the prestigious tomb guard identification badge since its creation in 1958.[14][15]

Honors

  • In 2018, the US Army Women's Hall of Fame inducted Johnsen as a member of its Hall of Fame as part of a consortium of four Female Sentinels at the Tomb of Unknowns.[16]

References

  1. ^ Virginia Pilot. “FIRST WOMAN GUARDS TOMB OF UNKNOWNS ``THERE IS NO HIGHER HONOR OR GREATER HONOR, SAYS NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, 23.” Saturday, March 23, 1996. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960323/03230285.htm
  2. ^ News & record. “1ST WOMAN GUARDS UNKNOWN SOLDIER.” Knight-Ridder News Service. Mar 22, 1996 Updated Jan 28, 2015. https://greensboro.com/1st-woman-guards-unknown-soldier/article_425e774d-089b-5c3e-9576-0ba767ae41d2.html
  3. ^ Virginia Pilot. “FIRST WOMAN GUARDS TOMB OF UNKNOWNS ``THERE IS NO HIGHER HONOR OR GREATER HONOR, SAYS NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, 23.” Saturday, March 23, 1996. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960323/03230285.htm
  4. ^ Getty Images. “FIRST WOMAN HONOR GUARD.” https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/sgt-heather-lynn-johnson-takes-up-duty-march-22-1996-as-the-news-photo/1143920
  5. ^ US Army Foundation. 2018 Hall Of Fame - Inductees.” https://www.awfdn.org/hall-of-fame-and-special-recognition-awards/us-army-womens-hall-of-fame-inductees/2018-hall-of-fame-inductees/
  6. ^ American Legion Auxiliary Blog:Official Blog of American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters. “Breaking down barriers to honor unknown soldiers.” NOVEMBER 30, 2016. https://alaforveterans.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/breaking-down-barriers-to-honor-the-unknown-soldiers
  7. ^ Arlington National Cemetery Website. “30 September 1997. A Singular Honor.” Posted: 31 October 2001. http://arlingtoncemetery.net/heather-johnsen.htm
  8. ^ Virginia Pilot. “FIRST WOMAN GUARDS TOMB OF UNKNOWNS ``THERE IS NO HIGHER HONOR OR GREATER HONOR, SAYS NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, 23.” Saturday, March 23, 1996. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960323/03230285.htm
  9. ^ News & record. “1ST WOMAN GUARDS UNKNOWN SOLDIER.” Knight-Ridder News Service. Mar 22, 1996 Updated Jan 28, 2015. https://greensboro.com/1st-woman-guards-unknown-soldier/article_425e774d-089b-5c3e-9576-0ba767ae41d2.html
  10. ^ Getty Images. “FIRST WOMAN HONOR GUARD.” https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/sgt-heather-lynn-johnson-takes-up-duty-march-22-1996-as-the-news-photo/1143920
  11. ^ Tampa Bay Times/Associated Press. “To many Americans, Memorial Day has lost its meaning.” Associated Press. Published May 28, 2017. https://www.tampabay.com/news/nation/to-many-americans-memorial-day-has-lost-its-meaning/2325422/
  12. ^ Virginia Pilot. “FIRST WOMAN GUARDS TOMB OF UNKNOWNS ``THERE IS NO HIGHER HONOR OR GREATER HONOR, SAYS NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, 23.” Saturday, March 23, 1996. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960323/03230285.htm
  13. ^ News & record. “1ST WOMAN GUARDS UNKNOWN SOLDIER.” Knight-Ridder News Service. Mar 22, 1996 Updated Jan 28, 2015. https://greensboro.com/1st-woman-guards-unknown-soldier/article_425e774d-089b-5c3e-9576-0ba767ae41d2.html
  14. ^ Virginia Pilot. “FIRST WOMAN GUARDS TOMB OF UNKNOWNS ``THERE IS NO HIGHER HONOR OR GREATER HONOR, SAYS NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, 23.” Saturday, March 23, 1996. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960323/03230285.htm
  15. ^ Arlington National Cemetery Website. “30 September 1997. A Singular Honor.” Posted: 31 October 2001. http://arlingtoncemetery.net/heather-johnsen.htm
  16. ^ Army Women's Foundation. “2018 Hall Of Fame - Inductees - Female Sentinels at Tomb of Unknowns.” “https://www.awfdn.org/hall-of-fame-and-special-recognition-awards/us-army-womens-hall-of-fame-inductees/2018-hall-of-fame-inductees/.
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