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JBSA News
NEWS | March 9, 2016

‘Unlikely equestrian’ leads JBSA-FSH Caisson Section

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

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.”