
0234
William Kizziar
Tomb Position
SentinelTomb Relief
2ndHighest Military Rank
SSGTomb Dates
Mar 1980 - Apr 1981Military Dates
Jul 1977 - Mar 1994Society Membership
MemberHome City / State
Wichita Falls, TXCurrent City / State
Central City, KYTomb Reflections
Proud to have served; humbled at their sacrifice.Wet gloves and frozen fingers.
Swollen ankles.
Lonely, dark nights.
Walking even when nobody is watching.
Details, details, details.
Spit and polish, ching, ching.
Pride, Honor, Respect, Humility
Units & Campaigns
My war was the Cold War.B 1/18th Inf., Ft. Riley, KS
D 1/3rd US Inf., Ft Myer, VA
E 1/3rd US Inf., Ft. Myer, VA
B 4/31st Inf., Ft. Sill, OK
C 1/46th Inf., 1st Arm. Div., Germany
C 2/6th Inf., 2nd BDE., Germany
USA NCOA/DSS, Ft. Knox, KY
E 15th BN 4th BCT, Ft. Knox, KY
E 2/46th Inf., 4th Tng. BDE., Ft. Knox, KY
C 1/27th Inf., Schofield Bks., Hawaii
HHC 1/27th Inf., Schofield Bks., Hawaii
A 3/502nd Inf., BN. 101st ABN. Div., Ft. Campbell, KY
HHC 3/502 Inf., BN. 101st ABN Div., Ft. Campbell, KY
Awards & Decorations
Tomb Guard Identification BadgeMeritorious Service Medal (2)
Army Commendation Medal (3)
Army Achievement Medal (13)
Good Conduct Medal (5)
National Defense Service Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon (2)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (2)
Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB)
Airborne Badge (ABN)
Air Assault Badge (AAS)
AAS (Rappel Master)
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.