Danyell E. Wilson: Difference between revisions
←Created page with ''''Danyell Elaine Wilson''' (born July 16, 1974) is a former U.S. Army soldier and former member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, best known as the prestigious "The Old Guard” or Honor Guard Company sentinel of Company E, 4th Battalion. Moore was the first African American 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 thr...' |
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Revision as of 19:48, 23 August 2021
Danyell Elaine Wilson (born July 16, 1974) is a former U.S. Army soldier and former member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, best known as the prestigious "The Old Guard” or Honor Guard Company sentinel of Company E, 4th Battalion.
Moore was the first African American 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] She is the first African American woman to earn the prestigious Tomb Badge.[2]
She is the second woman to have earned the tomb guard badge. In 1996, Sgt. Heather Lynn Johnsen was the first woman to serve as a Tomb Guard.[3]
Early Life
Wilson was born on July 16, 1974 in Montgomery, Alabama.[4]
‘==Military Service, Tomb Guard Sentinel== In February 1993, Wilson enlisted in the U.S. Army. She served as a military police officer for the Military Police Company, 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard).[5] After rigorous eight-month training, Wilson became a member of the Honor Guard Company of The Old Guard, one of the U.S. Army’s most prestigious units.
On January 22, 1997, Wilson became the first African American 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.[6][7][8]
At the time, Wilson was one of only 400 soldiers to ever earn the Tomb Badge since its creation in 1958.[9][10] She is also the first African American woman to earn the prestigious Tomb Badge.
She is only the second woman to earn the tomb guard badge; Sgt. Heather Lynn Johnsen was the first woman to serve as a Tomb Guard.[11]
Prior to 1993, the US Army prohibited women from serving guard duty at the Tomb of the Unknowns.[12]
Honors
- In 2018, the US Army Women’s Hall of Fame inducted Wilson as a member of its Hall of Fame as part of a consortium of four Female Sentinels at the Tomb of Unknowns.
.[13]
References
- ^ Washington Post. “FIRST BLACK WOMAN GUARDS TOMB.” January 23, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/01/23/first-black-woman-guards-tomb/06062ba6-a9c2-4035-94ee-1c19dd8df311/
- ^ The Associated Press. “Alabamian becomes first black woman to guard Tomb of the Unknowns.” DAVID PACE. January 22, 1997. https://apnews.com/article/3097d06ac67797636e9f1028e7aeb4c3
- ^ Arlington National Cemetery Website. “Pair make history at Tomb.” http://arlingtoncemetery.net/dewilson.htm
- ^ The Associated Press. “Alabamian becomes first black woman to guard Tomb of the Unknowns.” DAVID PACE. January 22, 1997. https://apnews.com/article/3097d06ac67797636e9f1028e7aeb4c3
- ^ Arlington National Cemetery Website. “Pair make history at Tomb.” http://arlingtoncemetery.net/dewilson.htm
- ^ Washington Post. “FIRST BLACK WOMAN GUARDS TOMB.” January 23, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/01/23/first-black-woman-guards-tomb/06062ba6-a9c2-4035-94ee-1c19dd8df311/
- ^ “The Spokesman Review. “Civil Rights Push Set Tone For Her Vigil Alabama Sergeant Earns Tomb Watch.” Thu., Jan. 23, 1997. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/jan/23/civil-rights-push-set-tone-for-her-vigil-alabama/
- ^ EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE . “5 African American women who made U.S. military history.” Trishawn Smith and Bridgette Baldwin, Air Force Security Assistance & Cooperation Directorate / Published February 04, 2021 https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/Article/2493420/5-african-american-women-who-made-us-military-history/
- ^ Washington Post. “FIRST BLACK WOMAN GUARDS TOMB.” January 23, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/01/23/first-black-woman-guards-tomb/06062ba6-a9c2-4035-94ee-1c19dd8df311/
- ^ Tampa Bay Times. “First black woman guards tomb.”Published Sep. 30, 2005. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/01/23/first-black-woman-guards-tomb/
- ^ Washington Post. “FIRST BLACK WOMAN GUARDS TOMB.” January 23, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/01/23/first-black-woman-guards-tomb/06062ba6-a9c2-4035-94ee-1c19dd8df311/
- ^ Washington Post. “FIRST BLACK WOMAN GUARDS TOMB.” January 23, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/01/23/first-black-woman-guards-tomb/06062ba6-a9c2-4035-94ee-1c19dd8df311/
- ^ 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/.