ANC Blog

Last Surviving World War II Triple Ace Laid to Rest

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:37:00 GMT

On March 30, 2026, more than 100 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to honor and remember aviation legend Col. (Ret.) Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, the last surviving World War II triple ace and one of the most distinguished fighter pilots in American history. (Shooting down five enemy aircraft qualifies a pilot as an ace.) Anderson, who passed away at age 102, was laid to rest in Section 38, joining his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Eleanor “Ellie” Cosby, who was buried in 2015.

“A Place of Honor to Rededicate Ourselves”: Medal of Honor Day at Arlington National Cemetery

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:32:00 GMT

Twenty Medal of Honor recipients visited Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on March 25, 2026, for the annual Medal of Honor Day ceremony, each with the blue-ribboned Medal of Honor draped around his neck. The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military award for valor for an individual serving in the armed services in action against an enemy.

Missing for 82 Years, American POW Who Defended the Philippines in World War II Laid to Rest

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 19:01:00 GMT

U.S. Army Pvt. Leonard “Buddy” Jackson, from Great Falls, Montana, survived fighting in the Philippines during the first year of American involvement in World War II, but died in a POW camp on Oct. 31, 1942, just one day shy of his 20th birthday. His fate would remain a mystery for more than 80 years until he was identified and later laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on March 9, 2026.

U.S. Army Soldier Fought to Liberate Rome During World War II

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:07:07 GMT

On a cold night in Anzio, Italy, in 1944, U.S. Army Cpl. Thaddeus Pecorak was too tired to dig a foxhole, so he crawled under an American tank and fell asleep. When he woke up the next morning, the tank’s belly was touching his nose. The tank had sunk in the mud overnight, forcing Pecorak to wiggle himself out from underneath. “If it was real super-wet ground I wouldn’t be sitting here today,” he recalled in a 2017 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) interview about his experiences in World War II. “I doubt anybody would have heard me under that tank.”

Son Honors Air Force Father Who Was MIA in Vietnam for 52 Years

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:41:00 GMT

Richard A. Kibbey Jr. was only 12 years old when an Air Force chaplain, a lieutenant colonel and an enlisted airman knocked on his family’s front door. “I knew immediately it was not good news,” he remembered. His father and namesake, Col. Richard Kibbey, had been serving in Vietnam as an HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant” helicopter pilot, rescuing downed flight crews.

Tomb Guards, Past and Present, Bid Farewell to a Fallen Brother

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:42:00 GMT

U.S. Army Spc. 4th Class Michael “Mike” Vinson loved guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. From November 1980 to July 1981, as a member of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) he walked in sharp, steady steps on the mat in front of the Tomb, his uniform perfectly creased and clean, and his medals shining. According to his fellow Tomb Guards, he always strove for perfection.

A Legacy of Courage: U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot Survived Two Tours in Vietnam

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:16:00 GMT

U.S. Army Col. John “Jack” Islin flew helicopters into harm’s way during two tours in Vietnam. He constantly faced intense enemy fire but managed to keep himself and his crew alive.

A Borinqueneer's Final Salute

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:46:00 GMT

U.S. Army Col. Manuel Felix Siverio served his country during three wars. On a cold and windy Jan. 20, 2026, Siverio’s family and friends gathered at his funeral service in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery to say their final goodbyes. Chaplain (Capt.) Raymond Akeriwe reminded Siverio’s loved ones that his dedication to his country “has earned his place here.”

“All Hands on Deck”: Funeral Services Continue Despite Snow and Ice

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:56:00 GMT

In the wake of a major snow and ice storm that blasted the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, multiple Army National Military Cemetery (ANMC) teams worked around the clock to ensure they completed its mission of laying service members to rest with dignity and honor at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The storm blanketed the area with seven inches of snow, topped by a four-inch layer of ice— and, for safety reasons, necessitated the cemetery’s closure to visitors and family pass holders for more than two weeks.

“A Few Brave Souls Can Change the Course of History”: Remembering the Battle of the Bulge

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:43:00 GMT

Members of the Battle of the Bulge Association and the ambassadors of Belgium and Luxembourg came to Arlington National Cemetery on Jan. 23, 2026, to remember and reflect on those who gave their lives for Europe’s freedom during World War II. The group laid wreaths at the Battle of the Bulge Memorial in Section 21 and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“Not for Glory, but for the Progress of Discovery”: NASA Crews Honored

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:13:00 GMT

On Jan. 22, 2026, NASA officials, along with colleagues and family members, gathered at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) for the annual NASA Day of Remembrance ceremony.

“It Was Men Like Harlan Who Won World War II”: Decorated Naval Aviator Laid to Rest

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:52:00 GMT

U.S. Navy Lt. Junior Grade Harlan Foote worried that the wings of his torpedo bomber might rip off as he dove at a steeper-than-usual angle toward a Japanese heavy cruiser in Japan’s Kure Harbor. But the aircraft held together as he braved anti-aircraft fire and released his bombs, hitting the cruiser several times. As he returned to his aircraft carrier, he continued to dodge heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire for what seemed like hours, even though it was only a few minutes.

"Your Families Are Not Forgotten": Commander of the Guard Delivers Powerful Message at Badge Ceremony

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:51:00 GMT

U.S. Army Commander of the Guard Capt. Sean Paul Stolarski used his Jan. 9, 2026, Tomb Badge ceremony to deepen the connection of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the families of the fallen.

“That's How You Say ‘Thank You’”: Volunteers Remove Wreaths from Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:57:00 GMT

Despite predictions of rain, volunteers rose early on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, and made their way to Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) in Virginia and the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery (SAHNC) in Washington, D.C., to remove wreaths from gravesites and restore the cemeteries to their natural, pristine appearance.

Honoring American Sacrifice: Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Reflects on Personal Connection to the Battle of the Bulge

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:54:00 GMT

Although 81 years have passed, the Belgian people have not forgotten the sacrifices that American soldiers made to liberate their country during the Battle of the Bulge. Fought over the snowy landscapes of Belgium and Luxembourg from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945, the Battle of the Bulge was one of the deadliest campaigns of World War II. The name derived from the German army’s attack on the U.S. Army’s front lines, the position closest to the enemy where soldiers, tanks and artillery are located. The German army’s attack formed a large “bulge” in the lines.

Families Honor Their Loved Ones During Annual Wreaths Across America Family Pass Holder Day

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 20:50:00 GMT

On Dec. 7, 2025, families gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for Wreaths Across America Family Pass Holder Day. This special day allow families to honor their loved ones during the holiday season by laying a wreath at their grave markers. Visitors traveled from across the country for the event, braving cold weather, traffic congestion and longer-than-usual wait times to receive their wreaths. Among the many visitors, one woman honored multiple family members, while two sisters paid tribute to their parents. Both stories reflect families' dedication to their relatives laid to rest in the cemetery.

“My Dad Was a Hero”: U.S. Air Force Major Saved Navy Aviators’ Lives Over Vietnam

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:50:00 GMT

U.S. Air Force Maj. John Casteel saved six U.S. Navy aircraft and their crews over Vietnam’s Gulf of Tonkin on May 31, 1967—and made history in the process. The Navy planes were running so dangerously low on fuel that they could not reach their aircraft carrier without an emergency refueling from Casteel’s KC-135 Stratotanker. In response, Casteel performed the first-ever tri-level fueling, in which one aircraft refueled a second aircraft, and the second aircraft refueled a third.

A Legacy of Leadership: The Life of U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Michael W. Raymond

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:07:00 GMT

Everyone in Michael “Joe” Raymond’s family and circle of friends expected him at attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. After all, he was a member of West Point’s Legacy Families, in which seven generations of his family attended the Academy. But one day a postcard from the Coast Guard arrived in the mail and Raymond decided on a different career path. He attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and graduated with honors in 1991. He spent his career in the Coast Guard, eventually rising to the rank of rear admiral. “He liked boating and the nautical life,” his wife Kristi said. “He loved going to sea.”

U.S. Air Force Vietnam POW Taught Fellow Prisoners to Communicate with Tap Code

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:22:48 GMT

For most of her childhood, Robin Harris knew her father was serving his country far from home, but she did not know why. That changed in the seventh grade, when a fellow student told her, “I heard your dad is in the Hanoi Hilton.” Not knowing what he meant, she asked her mother, Louise Harris, who explained that her father could not come home. He was a prisoner of war.

Grandson Arranges Flyover for Grandfather’s Air Force Funeral Service

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:32:00 GMT

During the summer of 2021, 90-year-old retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “G.P.” Erb bonded with his grandson, U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Nicholas Erb, who stayed at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. While driving Nicholas to his internship at the Pentagon, he opened up about his own Air Force career. “All I knew growing up was that my grandpa was an engineer and that he worked on the F-15 Eagle fighter,” Nicholas, now a captain, said. “Then, that summer, he started sharing all these stories.”