The Tomb Guard

Patrick H. Hoying

Tomb Position

Sentinel

Tomb Relief

Tomb Dates

Oct 1952 - Jan 1953

Society Membership

Lifetime Member

Obituary

Patrick H. Hoying, age 87, of Minster, formerly of St. Patrick, died Thursday, May 30, 2019, at Heritage Center, Minster.

He was born March 3, 1932, in St. Patrick, to the late Henry and Anna (Schmitmeyer) Hoying. He married Patricia Brunswick on April 7, 1956, at St. Peter & Paul Church, Newport. She survives in Minster.

Pat was a member of St. Augustine Church, Minster, former Fort Loramie School Board member, a Turtle Creek Township Trustee, Shelby County Soil Conservation, a 4-H Advisor, Minster K of C member, and Minster FOE 1391.

He was owner of Shelby County Drainage, Inc. Pat was also a member of the U.S. Army and was an Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown and a member of the Minster American Legion.

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Units & Campaigns

3d United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

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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 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.