I was surprised when I looked for an Arlington National Cemetery-themed podcast a few years ago and could not find one. Now, after procrastinating long enough, I have decided to make one myself. Do I know anything about podcasting? No. But I certainly have the skills necessary for audio recording and mixing, right? Absolutely not. Then again, when have I ever let having no experience or qualifications stop me from trying something new?! I'll tell you when, never... well, at least rarely. So here it is folks, the official Ghosts of Arlington Podcast announcement!This Week's Ghosts of Arlington are: US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark E. Stratton, III (Section 60, Grave 8840) US Army Staff Sergeant Darrell Ray Adams, US Army (Section 55, Grave 1369)For more information, including links to stream the show, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

This week we talk a little about what Arlington National Cemetery looks like today, what the property started out as, and why a national cemetery was needed next to Washington, DC in the first place.This Week's Ghosts of Arlington are:George Washington Parke Custis  (Section 13, Grave 6513)Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis (Section 13, Grave 6512)For more information, including links to stream the show, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

This week we discuss some of the firsts in Arlington's history - including the first burial, the first burial with family present, the first burial of a combat casualty, the first burial of a draftee, and the first officer burial. Included is also the history of arguably history's most famous bugle call, Taps. This Week's Ghosts of Arlington are:US Army Private William Henry Christman (Section 27, Grave 19)US Army Private William H. McKinney (Section 27, Grave 98)US Army Private William Reeves (Section 27, Grave  99)US Army Private William Blatt (Section 27, Grave  18)US Army Captain Albert Packard (Section 26, Grave 5203)For more information, including links to stream the show, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

First off, there is a partial retraction (or at least a semi-correction) of last week's story of the origin of Taps... that didn't take long! Then, after years of unsuccessful attempts to recover the property and buildings of the former Arlington plantation, the Supreme Court rules in favor of the Lee family. So, what is the US Government going to do with the 20,000 military members interred there?!This week's ghosts are some of the former slaves who became known collectively as Freedmen and came to live on the former-Arlington Plantation:Danella WarrisBetsy HunterJuley FitzureStephen YoungFrank DocketBen JohnsonFor more information, including links to stream the show, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

After the Supreme Court ruled that Custis Lee was the legal owner of Arlington and the US Government was forced to give the property back, how did it end up back in government hands? This week's ghost of Arlington is: Army First Lieutenant John Meigs, the 22-year-old son of the father of Arlington National Cemetery, General Montgomery Meigs (Section 1, Grave 1-SH)For more information, including links to stream the show, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

This week's episode is the first of a two-part story about the life of Brevet Major General Montgomery C. Meigs,, covering his birth to just before the outbreak of the Civil War, with a major focus on his two most enduring pre-war engineering projects: The Capitol Expansion and Dome, and the Washington Aqueduct project.For more information, including links to stream the show and pictures from these two major construction projects, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

This is the second of our two-part story about the life of Montgomery Meigs. Many people with high-profile positions in the US Civil have praised  Meigs as an unsung hero of the Civil War, saying without his expert management of Union logistics, the war could have had a very different outcome. He continued to leave his mark on Washington, DC after the war - overseeing the growth of Arlington National Cemetery, the expansion of the Smithsonian Institution, and his "Big Red Barn."This Week's Ghosts of Arlington are:US Army Brevet Major General and Brigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs (Section 1, Grave 1-EH)Louisa Rodgers Meigs (Section 1, Grave 1-EH)For more information, including links to stream the show and pictures from these two major construction projects, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

First off, an apology. For some reason, the audio got wonky in the final third of the show. I cleaned it up the best I could but as I have said before, I really don't have any idea what I'm doing when it comes to this. This week we talk about the Spanish American War and the approval to bury Confederate dead in the cemetery.This week's Ghost of Arlington are:The USS Maine Memorial Brevet Major General (and former Confederate Lieutenant General) Joseph "Fighting Joe" Wheeler (Section 2, Grave 1089)Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for helping me spread the word word about my show on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompanyFor more information, including links to stream the show and pictures from these two major construction projects, visit the GoA website: www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

Eeek! The podcast was plugged by Doctrine Man, himself. How cool is that?!?! A screen shot is absolutely on the website. Also, we didn't quite make it to the story of the Unknown Soldier like I thought we would - but next week for sure. We do talk about the plans - and the planner - behind the construction of Washington, DC, the first US military aircraft, and the Great War.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are: Army Brevet Major and Captain Pierre Charles L'Enfant (Section 2, Grave S-3) Army First Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge (Section 3, Grave 2158) Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information, including links to the podcast’s social media sites and pictures, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

This week we cover the selection of an unidentified American World War I soldier who was returned from Europe to be buried in The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Armistice Day 1921.This week’s Ghost of Arlington is:The World War I Unknown Soldier Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information, including links to the podcast’s social media sites and pictures, visit the GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com

We've got 1930s newsreel sound clips this week (Fancy!) which talk about the time the US Army attack US WWI veterans in Washington, DC on the order of the US president... true story. If you don't know about the Bonus Army in 1932, you need to hear it; not exactly the "support our troops" mentality of politicians today. Oh, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier gets its permanent sarcophagus and epitaph 10 years after its initial dedication but the ceremony doesn't  go quites as planned.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are:Civilian James Parks (Section 15E, Grave 2)Army Private First Class William Hushka (Section 18, Grave 2262)Army Private First Class Eric Carlson  (Section 18, Grave 5217)Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

Recovery efforts for WWII remains were well underway when the Korean War broke out in 1950 and put a halt to them. When that war ended, in 1953, the US Army was working to recover fallen Americans from two wars. As a result, the Unknown Soldiers from WWII and Korea were interred simultaneously. Also, sometimes a real-life Rambo does survive his valorous action on the battlefield.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are:Army Staff Sergeant Alton Knappenberger (Section 59, Grave 3193)Polish Prime Minister Ignacy Paderewski (Formerly in the USS Maine  Memorial)Army General John J. Pershing (kind of)Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

I reflect just a little on the fall of Kabul to the Taliban then get back to business with how the Korean War put the recovery efforts of WWII fallen on hold and after the Korean War, recovery teams were cleaning up after two wars. Because the efforts were simultaneous, the Unknows from WWII and Korea were interred in a single ceremony.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are:Marine Corps Corporal Paul Kenneth Taylor (Section 31, Grave 4501)Army General Walton H. "Johnnie" Walker (Section 34, Grave 86-A)Marine Private First Class Walter Monegan, Jr. (Section 34, Section 4513)Army Sergeant First Class Charles Turner: (Section 12, Grave 7762)Marine Staff Sergeant William Windrich: (Section 31, Grave 4856)Navy Hospital Corpsman (HN) Francis Hammond: (Section 33, Grave 9011)The WWII Unknown SoldierThe Korean War Unknown Soldier Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

This week we talk about the most visited site at Arlington National Cemetery, President John F. Kennedy's grave - after his burial, everything changed.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are:President John F. Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45)Jacquelin Kennedy Onassis (Section 45, Grave S-45) Senator Robert F. Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45-A)Arabella Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45)Patrick Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45)Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

Did you know that from the moment his remains were recovered, the Air Force officer eventually buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns was known to be 1st Lt. Michael Blassie? So how did he come to be later identified as X-26 and designated the Vietnam War's Unknown Soldier? If you listen to this week's episode, I will discuss just that.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are: The Vietnam War Unknown SoldierAir Force First Lieutenant Michael J. Blassie (St. Louise, Missouri)Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

For someone a month away from his 21st birthday when it happened, I can't believe it has been 20 years since 9/11. This week's episode just happens to talk about what went on in the cemetery day, less than 400 yards from the Pentagon, and what the last two decades have looked like. I didn't plan for this episode to drop on this auspicious anniversary, it just worked out that way.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are: The Pentagon Group Burial Marker (Section 64) Army Lieutenant Colonel Kip Taylor (Section 64, Grave 4877) Mrs. Nancy Taylor (Section 64, Grave 4877)CIA Officer & Marine Captain Johnny "Mike" Spann (Section 34, Grave 2359)Army Captain Russell Rippetoe (Section 60, Grave, 7860)Army Staff Sergeant Jerald Whisenhunt  (Section 60, Grave 8563) Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

With the exponential increase in terrorism over the last 30+ years, it is easy to remember the more recent events, but sometimes the events that happened longer ago fade to the background - last week I said that has probably happened to large extent with the US Marines killed in Beirut in 1983. It has also likely happened with those killed in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing in 1988. There were 270 victims - 259 in the air and 11 on the ground. This week, we remember them.This week’s Ghost of Arlington are: The victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing memorialized with the Lockerbie Memorial Cairn in Section 1. Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

In this episode I make a case that the first American KIA in Vietnam didn't happen 1956, but rather in 1945. Am I crazy or is there some merit to my argument? You make the call! Also, I am headed out of town for some much needed R&R and this will be last episode for two weeks.This week’s Ghost of Arlington is: Army Lieutenant Colonel Albert Peter Dewey, Section 3,  Grave 4272-A-3-4 Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

If you were to ask an American what the worst nuclear accident in the United States was, if they even have an answer, they would probably say Three Mile Island. Most Americans are unaware that in January 1961, a reactor an isolated Idaho desert went supercritical and killed two soldiers and a sailor. This is the story of the SL-1 reactor explosion, complete with finger-pointing, deflecting blame, and false, unsubstantiated rumors of a love triangle and murder/suicide that made it into the official record anyway. While only one of the victims is buried at Arlington, they all deserve to be remembered. This week’s Ghost of Arlington are:Army Specialist 4 Richard McKinley (Section 31, Grave 472)Army Specialist 5 John Byrnes (Utica, New York)Navy Construction Electrician First Class Richard Legg (Kingston, Michigan)Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/

Frank Powers was shot down over Russia while flying the iconic U-2 airplane on a reconnaissance mission in 1960. He was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 10 years in Soviet prison but was eventually exchanged for a Russian spy captured several years earlier. Upon returning home, Frank was both privately and publicly praised and denigrated for his conduct while in Soviet custody. He died when his son was 12. It wasn't until he was in college that his son decided it was time to dig into the official record and see what the truth was. Is his father a hero or a villain?This week's Ghost of Arlington is: Air Force Captain Francis Gary Powers (Section 11, Grave 685-2) Claudia "Sue" Edwards Downey Powers (Section 11, Grave 685-2)Also, a very special thanks to Mountain Up Cap Company for its continued help to spread the word about the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MountainUpCapCompany Climb to Glory!For more information about the podcast visit: ·       The GoA website: https://www.ghostsofarlingtonpodcast.com    ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostsofarlingtonpodcast·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArlingtonGhosts·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostsofarlington/