The Tomb Guard

Donald A. Richburg

Tomb Position

Sentinel

Tomb Relief

Tomb Dates

Jan 1959 - May 1960

Society Membership

Lifetime Member

Obituary

Mr. Don Richburg, age 71, of Roscoe, Texas, passed from this life on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at Rolling Plains Hospital in Sweetwater, Texas. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church in Roscoe, Texas, with burial in the Roscoe Cemetery. Don was born on October 19, 1937 in Loraine, Texas, to Homer and Opal Richburg. He was a 1956 graduate of Roscoe High School. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and served as an Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. He returned to Roscoe where he married his high school sweetheart on June 4, 1962. He was an engineer on the RS&P Railroad. He was a farmer and rancher until the time of his death. He was a member of the Roscoe Lions Club, Roscoe School Board, Nolan Coliseum Board, American Legion, a member of the First Salem Lutheran Church, Roscoe and the First United Methodist Church of Loraine. He was also a supporter of local 4-H and FFA youth, being a charter member of the Roscoe Swine Breeders Association and founder of the West Texas Rehab Center Benefit pig show and sale. He is preceded in death by his parents Homer and Opal Richburg and a brother, Jerry Richburg.

Outside Tributes

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Units & Campaigns

3d United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

Awards & Decorations

Tomb Guard Identification Badge

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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.

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Did you know?

How many Sentinels have been female?

There have been over 700 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 eight female Sentinels awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge:

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.