Arlington Full Military Honors Burial

This is part of the video of my father's burial at Arlington. He was an Army Colonel and served in Vietnam.

Some details about my father's service.

He enlisted in the Army in 1960 and first served as an airborne infantryman in the 101st Airborne Division. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA in 1962 he was commissioned as an officer (2LT). Among a Bachelor's and Master's Degree he also went to Armor Officer Advanced Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

He served posts in Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Germany, South Korea, and of course, in Vietnam while actively engaged in combat.

In Vietnam he was a Company Commander with the 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, of the 1st Cavalry Division as well as the Senior Advisor to the 7th Airborne Battalion, RVN Airborne Division (2nd tour).

Some of his awards include:
Silver Star (w/ Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit (w/ Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star (w/ V Device and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Purple Heart (w/ Oak Leaf Cluster)
...there are many more as his chest was full.

He also had a Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Republic of Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge.

Watching my father pass and burying him were the two most difficult things I've ever done and I miss him everyday. I do take comfort in the fact that he served his country with honor and is buried with the greatest soldiers who ever lived.

Comments will be approved if they are tasteful. Thank you for watching. The video response is a follow on I posted showing the folding of the flag and presentation to my mother. A friend of the family, an Army General, presented additional flags to my brothers and I.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Arlington
• military
• honor
• burial
• army
• colonel
• taps

[maxbierman]

Thank you very much for this. As an air force academy cadet, this gives me an answer to the question, "why are you here?"

[crazyyella]

@maxbierman Thank you for your service and your service to come.  My older brother was an AFA cadet and graduate. Good luck to you.

[donttelluseenme]

Im going to ask a question. I watched the longer version of this you have where they gave your Mom a flag. How come they passed out 3 others? When my husband passed each son didnt get a flag only me. I also was given 7 of te shells from the 21 salute. My youngest son is king of hurt because I gave the flag to the oldest son. Is it because of his rank? .

[crazyyella]

@donttelluseenme Part 2...Our family did not receive any shells, however, we didn't ask for any either. I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope that your youngest son does not take it personally. After all, it is just a flag, the real memories are locked in your head.

[Aliastheforgoton]

i salute your father and all who serve

[Hirototheshadow]

I understand this pain. I have felt it when I attended my father's buriel. On that day, when I heard Taps in person...I don't think I cryed that much ever before. To lay my father to rest, and to forever honor.

God bless your father. God Bless all you have fallin.

For you, fallin hero's...the war is over. Your time of rest is at hand. God Bless you...and Rest In Peace. You will never be forgotten.

[13FravelJ]

@crazyyella cool thinks for the info.

[crazyyella]

@13FravelJ Part II: The other Purple Heart I believe was for a ricochet bullet that hit him in the forehead while he was in a Huey. I'm not sure whether they were ascending or descending at the time.

As I put in the description, the most prestigious of his awards were the 2 Silver Stars for Gallantry in Action, the 2 Purple Hearts, 2 Legions of Merit, and 4 Bronze Stars (at least one for Valor, I think that is the V fixture)..

[crazyyella]

@13FravelJ Well, he was not just my father, but also my friend and business partner as well. We had a lot of good times together and I sometimes feel cheated that we couldn't spend more years together. Also, I do wish he got to meet his first grandchild, my son.

My father received two Purple Hearts. One was for schrapnel wounds received from some type of mine/claymore which hit him in the back of his legs and his back (which was covered with his pack that took the impact).

[jimihendrixtribute]

I remember watching my Great Grandfather be buried when I was just 4 years old. I was there with him the last time he was ever in his own house. I remember the 21 gun salute from his funeral, and I remember taps.

[glysik]

As we approach 10 years following 9/11, I find myself beginning to fully appreciate the ultimate sacrifices made by those in the United States of America's military branches. They make such sacrifices so that the rest of us can live in peace and freedom.

Although the world is not as good a place without them, it is a better place bacause of them.

I am saddened by the loss you and your family must feel, but I thank your dad for what he has given to me and my family.

[TheTravis82]

God bless your father. Respect.

[biggrump29]

@donttelluseenme , I did honor guard duty for 2 years, flags are given out for next of kin only, example if a member dies and has a spouse/surviving family member they are the next of kin and will receive 1 flag. If the member dies and has no spouse but has children they are the next of kin and each will be given 1 regardless of the number. They will not give flags to both, but there can be exceptions but it must be requested by the family. It's customary to tuck the brass in the last fold.

[cathofaithdef]

Rest in peace Colonel.

[buttercow12]

Semper Fi Soldier.

Rest in piece.

[AxmanFilms]

this is sad when i went to my grandfathers funeral about 2 weeks ago i told myself i wasnt gonna cry but once i heard the sound of the bugle i started to cry aswell as my mom, aunt, and grandma and i think my father to but i didnt see him from where i was and i was especially honored when i recieved the flag during the flag ceremony.

R.I.P adolf farke and crazyyella's father