Honoring the Service Branches: Army Preview

Tour Overview

This tour contains three types of stops: HONOR stops mark the gravesites of specific individuals. REMEMBER stops commemorate events, ideas, or groups of people. EXPLORE stops invite you to discover what this history means to you.

Introduction

The Army is the oldest and largest service branch in the United States military. It traces its roots to June 1775, when the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army. Under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief General George Washington, men from the 13 American colonies united to fight the British Army and win independence. Congress disbanded the Continental Army shortly after signing the peace treaty with Great Britain on September 3, 1783. However, as American settlers moved west and came into more frequent conflict with American Indians, and as tensions with Great Britain also continued, the need for a standing army became clear. On September 29, 1789, at President George Washington’s urging, Congress officially established the United States Army.

1

Privates William Christman & William McKinney

Christman and McKinney were the first two soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery in May 1864.

2

General Omar Bradley

Bradley was the last general to attain five-star rank, promoted to General of the Army on September 22, 1950. Played a leading role in Allied victory in Europe during World War II as senior commander of American ground forces. Served as first chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overseeing U.S. strategy in the Korean War and the early Cold War.

3

Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Sr.

The first African American general in the U.S. military. Davis became a lieutenant colonel in 1920 and a colonel in 1930, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt promoted him to brigadier general in 1940.

4

Major General Philip Kearny

Kearny's fearless character in battle earned him the nickname "Kearny the Magnificent." Served in the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civil War.

5

Revolutionary War & War of 1812 Soldiers

Service members from every one of America’s major wars are interred at ANC. Between 1892 and 1943, the remains of eleven American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) veterans were moved from their original burial locations and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery. During the early 20th century, the cemetery had steadily grown in significance. Originally just one of many national cemeteries established during the Civil War, it had become the nation’s “most sacred shrine.” As Arlington’s cultural status increased, many people thought it fitting to rebury veterans of the nation’s founding conflict here.Revolutionary War Army veterans buried in Arlington: William Russell, Continental Army (1735-1793), Section 1, Grave 314-A Hugh Auld, Maryland Talbot County militia (1745-1813), Section 2, Grave 4801 John Green,1st Artillery Regiment (1730-1793), Section 1, Grave 503 Caleb Swan, 3rd and 8th Massachusetts Regiments (1758-1809), Section 1, Grave 301-C James House, 1st Artillery Regiment (1759-1834), Section 1, Grave 297-A Joseph Carleton, Pulaski's Legion (1754-1812), Section 1, Grave 299-WS James McCubbin Lingan, Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment (1751-1812), Section 1, Grave 89-A Pierre Charles L'Enfant, Corps of Engineers (1754-1825), Section 2, Grave S-3 Thomas Meason, Continental Army (1726-1813), Section 1, Grave 297-BAlso in Section 1, a commemorative plaque and memorial tree honors eight "minutemen" (American colonial militia members) who sacrificed their lives for the cause of independence in Lexington, Massachusetts, the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The Lexington Minute Men, a re-enactment organization, contributed the memorial plaque and tree in 2000. The tree is an eastern hemlock.

6

Major John Wesley Powell

Powell led the first American expedition down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon in 1869. Helped to establish the National Geographic Society. Directed the U.S. Geological Survey from 1881 until his death in 1902.

Western Exploration & Expansion

The United States began as 13 British colonies on the Atlantic seaboard. From the beginning, explorers and settlers pushed inland and westward. Sometimes settlers and the U.S. government traded or purchased land, but often they simply claimed land that belonged to American Indians who had lived there for generations.

7

Lieutentant Colonel Frederick Füger

Decorated with the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Gettysburg. Became a U.S. citizen in 1888, after his U.S. Army career ended.

8

Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee

McGee was appointed as the Acting Assistant Surgeon of the U.S. Army which made her the only woman permitted to wear an officer’s uniform during the Spanish-American War. She drafted the legislation to establish the Army Nurse Corps and later helped the Navy establish the Navy Nurse Corps. McGee advocated for nurses’ rights and recognition, and defied social norms and paved the way for future female doctors and nurses.

Explore: Nursing in the Spanish-American War

Nurses in the Spanish-American War would work 14-hour shifts with 20-minute lunch breaks. They provided their own uniforms, which they also had to launder and maintain.Duties included: Giving ice baths Dressing wounds Preparing food Feeding soldiers Administering medicine Attempting to maintain sanitary conditions for medical care in tents, fields, and overcrowded buildingsMany locations experienced nurse shortages that put more stress on the nurses they had. Some nurses worked until they were too ill to do so. The pay was railroad fare to the assigned location, $30 a month, meals, and lodging (sometimes).

9

First Sergeant Leonard Funk Jr.

Decorated with a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in Operation Market Garden. Decorated with the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge.

10

Colonel Charles Young

Young served in the Army until 1917, when he was medically retired and promoted to colonel, the first African American to achieve that rank in the U.S. Army. He became the first African American superintendent of a National Park, when he was appointed to manage and maintain Sequoia National Park in northern California in 1903.

Explore: African American Experience in the Army

African Americans have served in every U.S. military conflict since the Revolutionary War. However, Black Americans (and those from other minority groups) have always had differing viewpoints on military service.On the one hand, military service offered opportunities to demonstrate loyalty and patriotism, and to bolster demands for civil rights and equality. On the other hand, some Black Americans questioned whether they should fight for the U.S. government when federal and state laws allowed discrimination and inequality.On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which ended formal racial segregation in the United States military. The order stated “that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.”

11

Lt. Thomas Etholen Selfridge

Selfridge was the first U.S. military officer to pilot an aircraft. Fearlessly tested early aircraft for the U.S. Army.

Explore: Army Innovation

A year after Selfridge died in the Wright brothers’ Model A Military Flyer, the brothers returned to Fort Myer ready to try again. After several weeks of testing, there was only one test left: the speed test. In late July 1909, Orville Wright and First Lieutenant Benjamin Foulis boarded the plane. To pass, they needed to fly at least 40 miles per hour for ten consecutive miles. After taking off, Wright and Foulois flew five miles south before returning to Ft. Myer. The aircraft reached an altitude of 400 feet and averaged 42.5 miles per hour, passing with flying colors.Three days later, on August 2, 1909, the Army purchased the plane. Called the Wright Military Flyer, this plane was not only the first Army airplane, but also the first U.S. military airplane.Throughout its history, Army has been at the forefront of innovation. Explore some other inventions and technology that the Army funded or adopted early on.

12

General of the Armies John J. Pershing

The only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the U.S. Army: General of the Armies. Commanded the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

13

Lieutenant Billy Bob Walkabout

Walkabout was one of the most decorated American Indian soldiers who served in the Vietnam War.

14

Lieutenant Colonel Lillian Harris

Harris was one of the first WAC officers to​ specialize; her chosen field was logistics and she worked as a logistics officer at the Pentagon. She retired in 1968 as a lieutenant colonel, the highest rank women could hold in the Army at that time. Her awards include the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit.​

Conclusion

You've reached the end of the U.S. Army Walking Tour. We hope you enjoyed your time exploring the cemetery and learning about the lives of these groundbreaking service members!You can explore additional content and resources on the Arlington National Cemetery Education Program website, or find more tours through Arlington National Cemetery's STQRY.