The First Unknown Soldier
Mike Walker, Col. USMC (ret)
All,
Here are a couple facts about the first Unknown Soldier who was selected after World War I.
There actually were four unknown soldier candidates.
A decorated veteran who had been wounded and still in France in 1919 was chosen to select one of the caskets by placing white roses on it.
He later stated he was consumed with other-worldly force which directed to the casket he selected.
The other three were interned in a US cemetery in France.
The selected soldier was sent with full honors by warship back to the United States.
The burial ceremony was held on 11 November 1919 (then Armistice - now Veterans - Day).
The eight pallbearers (all World War I veterans) consisted of 5 soldiers, 2 sailors and 1 Marine.
The Marine and two of the soldiers had been awarded the Medal of Honor. One of the sailors had received the Navy Cross and two other soldiers the Distinguished Service Cross.
The most highly decorated amongst them was Corporal Thomas Saunders USA who had been decorated with the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, and Croix de Guerre.
He was the war's most highly decorated soldier in the Army.
He also was a Cheyenne even though Native Americans were not considered citizens at that time. What also is not well known is that a number of Native American tribes jointly declared war on Germany in 1917 and the US Army accepted their enlistments.
Also of note, the last person to honor the casket at the burial was Chief Plenty Coups, America's senior Crow chief.
It was a bit ironic as he too could not be a US citizen and in his youth had fought many times against Corporal Saunder's Cheyenne.
The word "coup" also is important. Amongst the Crow (and other tribes) a coup was a battle staff and upon being recognized for an act of a valor, a white eagle feather was attached.
As his name implies, Chief Plenty Coups was highly decorated and he placed his coup on the coffin in shared honor of the many Native Americans who had died in the war.
Additionally, Chief Plenty Coups also placed his war bonnet which also was full of white eagle feathers (it is estimated that the chief had received well over 50 feathers for feats of courage and valor).
By the way, Native Americans were given full citizenship rights in 1924. That was due to the Snyder Act had been passed just a few months before the Unknown Solider ceremony in 1921 and the distinguished Native American role in World War I (as witnessed during the ceremony) played a part.
Today, Chief Plenty Coups' presentations are on display at the Arlington National Cemetery not far from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
One final note. there was a deeply felt understanding that the unknown also had forever forfeited their identity in the War -- known but to God.
That led to a special act awarding them a posthumous Medal of Honor as the totality of their sacrifice surely was above and beyond the call of duty.
