Transport
After the
benediction, US Navy pallbearers carried the Unknown Soldier to a bier at
the foot of the flagpole, where honor guards had previously been posted.
Late in the afternoon, the casket was placed in a hearse and returned to
the mortuary, where Guard of Honor watched over it.
The US Navy was
given the responsibility of transporting this warrior home. The bodies
of the Korean War Unknown Soldier and the Trans-Pacific Unknown
Candidate, were taken to the Naval Air Station at Barber's Point, not
too far distant from historic Pearl Harbor. On May 17, 1958 they
departed by Navy Air Transport for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The USS BOSTON,
the world's first combat guided-missile ship, transported the caskets to
a rendezvous point off the Virginia Capes, for the final section of the
World War II Unknown Soldier. The flag-draped coffins were brought
aboard and escorted to the Missile Overhaul Area. There the remains of
the unknown soldiers were kept under constant vigil, by an Honor Guard
of Sailors and Marines.
Prior to reaching
the designated rendezvous point, on the early morning of May 26th, the
remains of the Trans-Atlantic Unknown Candidate were transferred from
the USS BLANDY by highline to join the other remains aboard the USS
BOSTON. As the casket reached a mid-point between the two ships,
honors were rendered.
The USS BOSTON,
now carrying all three remains headed toward the rendezvous point, to
link up with the USS CANBERRA. The sister ship of the USS
BOSTON, the USS CANBERRA
was the second vessel to be
converted to a guided-missile cruiser after having played an important
role in the Pacific during World War II as a conventional cruiser.
Upon reaching the
rendezvous point, with high-lines rigged and steaming at ten knots and
riding a hundred feet apart, the two cruisers began the transfer of the
caskets. On the decks of both ships the white-uniformed crew stood at
attention.
The final selection
ceremony of the World War II Unknown Soldier began promptly at noon, and
upon completion the USS BLANDY
came alongside the USS CANBERRA
for the last transfer of caskets at sea. The two Unknown Soldiers, who
were to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, were expertly
high-lined aboard the destroyer. Escorted by the US Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM,
the USS BLANDY was released to proceed up the Potomac River to
Washington DC.
After anchoring
overnight off Piney Point, Maryland, the USS BLANDY
and her
escort proceeded up the Potomac. As they moved past Mount Vernon and the
tomb of General George Washington, the ship's crew manned the rail,
according to tradition. A bell tolled, the ensign was lowered, and Taps
were sounded over the Potomac as the sailors stood at attention.
Shortly after noon
the destroyer and the cutter arrived at the Naval Gun Factory, to await
the ceremonies planned for the following morning; where for the first
time since the Unknown Soldiers had made the supreme sacrifice, they
would touch the soil of the homeland.
