A cool breeze filters its way through the branches of the
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. The crisp air carries the sound of wagon
wheels creaking as they churn their way down the road behind the clip-clop of a
1,700-pound Percheron belonging to the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston
Caisson Section.
As the wagon pulls up to a Hearse parked at the cemetery,
members of the honor guard turn with precise facing movements, helping bring
closure to family members and ushering their fallen brother in arms to his
final rest.
Little do they know the precision and expertise they
witnessed would not be possible without the instruction of an unlikely
equestrian from Alabama.
“I was in Korea and I got orders to Fort Sam Houston,” Army
Staff Sgt. Edward Montgomery, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Caisson Section military
honors platoon sergeant, said. “I wasn’t sure what the job was; all I was told
is that I was going to garrison. Then, when I arrived, I was told I was going
to the caisson.”
In 2013, Montgomery joined the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Caisson
Section as a squad leader, becoming platoon sergeant a year and a half later
after the departure of the previous platoon sergeant.
As the platoon sergeant, Montgomery trains new Soldiers
arriving to the unit to be members of the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Honor Guard.
After 10 days of training in drill and ceremony, the new members are ready to
be sent out to perform honors.
“I’m extremely proud of how (honor guard members) progress
from not knowing any of this and then in just 10 days, they go out and perform
honors for service members,” Montgomery said. “It makes me feel proud to know I
helped influence and train that Soldier. I’m proud to give that Soldier the
opportunity to give family members and service members that one last rite as a
military member.”
A typical day starts at 5:30 a.m. with preparation for
either physical fitness training or rendering honors for a service member who
has passed away. Montgomery’s section ensures honors are rendered at services
covering a broad expanse, approximately 67,000 square-miles, in south Texas.
The unit includes 12 permanently-assigned Soldiers, along
with 12 horses. Additionally, 24
Soldiers are attached to the unit on 90-day rotations. A big part of
Montgomery’s job involves training, both Soldiers and horses.
“One of the big things about dealing with horses is that
they are not people; they don’t respond the same way so you can’t come in and
train them like you would a service member,” Montgomery said. “You have to
speak the language of the horse and convey that to the Soldiers as they learn
about the horses, because not everyone has experience with horses or comes from
an equestrian background.”
Taskings for the unit come from the Casualty Assistance
Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, with the earliest notification for a funeral
the unit will receive is approximately 24 hours. In that time, Montgomery and
his team will assign the mission, personnel, coordinate travel and lodging for
over-night stays depending on what honors are rendered.
“We have to make sure everything falls into place,”
Montgomery said. “This is a no fail mission.”
While he had no experience dealing with anything equestrian
before arriving in San Antonio, Montgomery put his best foot forward and has
adapted quickly to his new role.
“I never imagined in my life or military career that I would
be working with horses, but coming here has been a great experience and I
wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said. “I recommend if anyone has the
opportunity to do this, they should take full advantage of it.”