Henry S. Pickerel
Tomb Position
Assistant Relief Commander, Commander of the Relief, SentinelTomb Relief
hqHighest Military Rank
Master SergeantTomb Dates
Jan 1938 - Jun 1938Society Membership
MemberObituary
"He served in the U.S. Army for 33 years. His first tour of duty was the ceremonial detachment at Ft. Myer, VA. which included assignments at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. During World War Il he served in the Pacific Theater. After World War Il he returned to the Ft. Myer ceremonial detachment. ln 1948 he was assigned to the Pentagon, office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Omar Bradley and he continued with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving Generals Taylor, Ridgeway, Lemnitzer, and Wheeler until his retirement in 1970.
He then began a 17-year career as a Deputy U.S. Marshall and was assigned to the Federal Reserve Board working with chairman’s Paul Volker, Dr. Arthur Burns, and Alan Greenspan. During his career with the Army and Federal Reserve Board, he was afforded many opportunities to meet historic figures from presidents to foreign heads of state, to attending an audience with Pope John."
Memories & Condolences
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Units & Campaigns
Company K, 3rd Battalion,12th Infantry Regiment (1938-41)703rd Military Police Battalion (1941-42)
Ceremonial Detachment, 7011 Army Service Unit (1942-44)
Company E, 136th Infantry, 33rd Infantry Division (1944-46)
Ceremonial Detachment, 7011 Army Service Unit (1946-48)
1st Battalion, 3rd United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) (1948)
Office of the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff (1948)
Office of the Army Chief of Staff (1948)
- General Omar Bradley, Army Chief of Staff 1948-49
- General of the Army Omar Bradley, (1st) Chairman Joint Chief of Staff (1950-53)
- General Matthew Ridgeway, Army Chief of Staff (1953-55)
- General Maxwell Taylor, Army Chief of Staff (1955-59)
- General Lyman L. Limitzer, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff (1960-62)
- General Maxwell Taylor, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff (1962-64)
- General Earle Wheeler, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff (1964-70)
Combat
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Awards & Decorations
Joint Service Commendation MedalArmy Commendation (w/2 Gold Stars)
Army Good Conduct (w/ Silver Clasp one loop)
American Defense Service Medal (w/BS)
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (w/BS)
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal (w/BS)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge
Expert Weapons Badge (w/Rifle, Pistol, Bayonet, Auto Rife, Grenade)
Support the Society
The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) is able to provide our programs, events, assistance, scholarships, and services due to the generosity of its members, organizations, and individuals. SHGTUS does not receive institutional funding. Note: The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contributions may be fully tax deductible.
Learn More
Did you know?
How many Sentinels have been female?
There have been over 680 tomb guards awarded the badge since 1958 when we started counting. There are hundreds more from the year 1926 when the Army started guarding the Tomb. The 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) is the unit that has been given the duty of guarding the Tomb. It was given this sacred duty in 1948. The Old Guard was -- and still is -- considered a combat unit. As an Infantry unit, females were not permitted in the ranks for many years. It wasn't until 1994 that females were permitted to volunteer to become a Sentinel when the 289th Military Police Company was attached to the Old Guard. The MP branch is a combat support unit and includes females.
In 1996, SGT Heather Johnsen became the first female to earn the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. She volunteered for duty in June 1995 and earned her badge in 1996. However, SGT Johnson was not the only female Sentinel. Since then, there have been a total of five female Sentinels awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge:
SGT Danyell Wilson earned
her badge in 1997
SSG Tonya Bell received hers in 1998
SGT Ruth
Hanks earned her badge in June 2015
SFC Chelsea Porterfield earned her badge in 2021
Several other units have since been attached to the Old Guard -- food
service, transportation, medics, etc. -- so now females have an ever
greater opportunity to become a Sentinel. Females must meet the same
requirements as the male soldiers to be eligible to volunteer at the
Tomb. the only difference is that females have a minimum height of 5'8"
-- which is the same standard to be a member of the Old Guard.
