The Tomb Guard

Robert H. Sills

Tomb Position

Sentinel

Tomb Relief

3rd

Highest Military Rank

Private First Class

Tomb Dates

Jan 1956 - Dec 1957

Society Membership

--Select One--

Obituary

Robert H. "Bob" Sills, 84, formerly of County Route 119 and a resident of Elderwood at Hornell, passed away Saturday morning (Nov. 18, 2017) at St. James Mercy Hospital following a brief illness.

Bob was born December 14, 1932 in Hornell, the son of the late Raymond and Angeline (VanDelinder) Sills.

He was a veteran of the U. S Army, serving our country from 1956-58. As a part of his active duty, he was an Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, for which he was very proud. After his military service, he returned to Canisteo to work on the family farm on County Route 119, and eventually found employment with the Erie/Lackawana Railroad and retired as a conductor for Conrail after 35 years. After retirement he continued to work on the family farm raising a few sheep, planting and harvesting seasonal crops and cutting firewood.

Bob is survived by a brother, two sisters, nieces and nephews and a very close friend.

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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 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.