Jack Eaton, the oldest living Tomb Sentinel, sits in the Tomb Quarters at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Oct. 23, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Jack Eaton, the oldest living Tomb Sentinel, died in December at the age of 101. Corporal Eaton passed away from COVID-19 induced pneumonia, according to his family. Eaton was known as the oldest known living sentinel that guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery, serving from 1938 to 1940. His and other sentinels’ names are there on plaques, commemorating their service. Sentinels, all volunteers, are members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard.” In October 2019, Corporal Eaton, at age 100, returned to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where he spoke during a tour of the Pentagon, and met with Deputy Defense Secretary David L. Norquist and others.
World War II veteran Jack Eaton, 100, and Army Capt. Harold Earls, commander of the Tomb Guard, watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Oct. 23, 2019. (credit: DOD Elizabeth Fraser, Army)
Eaton visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, after arriving on an Honor Flight from Burton, Michigan, where he was living at the time. Corporal Eaton noted during the visit one thing that had changed since his days as a sentinel is that the changing of the guard ceremony is now every hour instead of every two hours. The WWII veteran was told that the change was made so more visitors could view the ceremony, and he said that’s a good thing for the public to see.
World War II veteran Jack Eaton walks to Tomb of Unknown Soldier Oct. 23, 2019. (DOD Photo)
World War II veteran Jack Eaton, his family and Army Capt. Harold Earls, commander of the Tomb Guard, watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Oct. 23, 2019.
World War II veteran Jack Eaton, left, and Army Capt. Harold Earls, commander of the Tomb Guard, speak to new recruits in the Tomb Quarters at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Oct. 23, 2019. Eaton, a former Army corporal, served as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from 1938-1940. (credit: DOD by Elizabeth Fraser, Army)
World War II veteran Jack Eaton, 100, points to his name on a plaque at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Oct 23, 2019. (DOD By Army Staff Sgt. Vanessa N. Atchley)
His daughter Brenda says she is thankful he had the opportunity to be nationally recognized for his service when his name was officially etched into history on the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.
Brenda says, “I never really knew what he had done and that it was such a huge deal. So it means a lot to me that he was recognized. I think that it was deserving.” – 9and10news.com reported.
