The Presidential Salute Battery, which can also be seen at Arlington National Cemetery firing the final salutes during funerals, also renders honors for visiting foreign dignitaries and heads of state at the White House, the Pentagon and other locations in the nation’s capital.
As the only indirect-fire infantrymen in the regiment, the Guns Platoon is equipped with eight 3-inch, World War II-era anti-tank guns mounted on a 105mm howitzer chassis. Each gun weighs 5,775 pounds and fires 75mm blank shells with 1.5 pounds of gunpowder, said platoon sergeant SFC Danzell Harrell.
“We take great pride in having top-notch equipment and keeping it looking good,” said Harrell, who supervises some 40 Soldiers.
Attention to detail is vital in all the specialty platoons, including the Continental Color Guard.
With crisp, concise movements, the CCG has a heritage that dates back to Colonial days.
The five-man team consists of two armed guards and three color-guard ensigns who carry the U.S. flag, the U.S. Army flag, and the flag of The Old Guard. The armed guards flank the colors and are responsible for protecting the U.S. flag.
The specialty platoons often work seven days a week performing highly visible public missions. One such specialty platoon is the Tomb Sentinels at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Old Guard assumed responsibility for the tomb in 1948, following the unit’s reactivation in the nation’s capital.
While on duty, a tomb sentinel takes exactly 21 steps to cross a 63-foot rubber-surfaced walkway. He then faces the tomb for 21 seconds, turns again, and pauses for 21 more seconds before repeating his steps. The number 21 is symbolic of the highest salute afforded to dignitaries in military and state ceremonies.
“The professionalism, discipline and intestinal fortitude required to execute such an extremely sensitive but important mission at the tomb is amazing. The Soldiers at the Tomb have done an amazing job representing our nation and our Army,” Pricone said.
“The regiment is expected to give 110 percent to each of its missions,” Pricone said, whether it be memorial affairs, ceremonies and special events, emergency response or deployment to a contingency operation.
The 1st Bn.’s Co. B deployed to such a contingency operation in December 2003, to Djibouti, Africa, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Fritsch, who served with Co. B during the deployment, said that missions in the region included force protection and civil affairs, and training in joint operations with other U.S. and regional military forces.
