The Last Salute: Three Volleys

[@haukepowers8491]

I was in the Norfolk Naval Honor Guard January 1977 -March 1977, while waiting awaiting permanent orders to ship...It was a very amazing and humbling service...Did at least 5 funerals a week...when the liberty boat incident happened in Italy, it was REAL bad...so young..the widows nearly fell apart...Our Guard Unit receive several letters of commendation for our service to the families...hey, they were our fellow sailors...

[@LongBinh70]

During my time in the Army I was a rifleman at military funerals from 1968 thru early 1970. During Basic training (SC) I was picked to be on a squad, probably for my ease of handling a weapon due to my experience of helping friends practice for their NROTC drill team while in college. We travelled to NC to bury an E3 draftee who had survived his first tour of Vietnam, re-enlisted, and volunteered for a second tour. One week back his APC hit a mine. There was nothing left of him from the waist down, but they did have an open half casket. We travelled with 7 shooters, 6 pall bearers, a bugler, and an NCO, in several sedans. Later, while at advanced training (crypto), each company was required to have a ready funeral detail on call due to the number of returning casualties. I jumped at the opportunity. Each detail had their own squad bay with (thick) Air Force bunks. We carried our passes - there was no signing in or out; practice was required weekly; but other than the drill and ceremonies we were duty-free. We also had a say on who the other members were, so it was like pledging a fraternity. Life was good. Everybody was on call Memorial Day weekend to perform at ceremonies at the surrounding towns; but typically you had to be on call one weekend every other month. Again, always 7x3. One thing you didn't mention was the bugler. Few realize he is not to be seen by the crowd, which can get tricky in large, flat cemeteries. On more than one occasion the poor guy had to sit with his back to a tombstone to hide. Rifles. Blanks will not operate the cocking mechanism on a semi-automatic rifle - they must be hand cocked or use a silly looking red blank adapter. M16s' charging handles are clumsy in that situation, so they require a blank adapter. M14s, on the other hand, could be brought down to port arms and swept with the open palm of the left hand to be cocked. And they look like a "real" rifle! I never regretted, and was honored, volunteering for that duty. I'm 71 now, a Vietnam vet myself, and cherish those memories. When I buried my Dad (bazookaman, Germany, WWII) I requested a military funeral. I was a little disappointed when only three aging VFW members showed up with old bolt-action hunting rifles.

[@wittwittwer1043]

My Pappy is buried at ANC. He died in 2012 as a retired army LTC, veteran of WWII (ETO) and Korea. Taps was played, but I don't remember if it was before or after the 3 volleys. Thanks for your interesting presentation.

[@stustang05]

Another interesting and informative video. Thank you, Master Chief!

[@stannieholt8766]

Thanks for your careful historical research on the origins of the funeral salute and debunking all the myths about it. As a former newspaper reporter, I have seen (though tried to avoid circulating) many flimsy “traditions” and too-perfect-to-check anecdotes cited as the origins of various customs or phrases. The topic of the last salute is near to my heart because my father, a retired LCDR and Annapolis grad, passed away 19 months ago. He loved the Navy and its traditions, and would have enjoyed your videos.

[@loriloristuff]

I have shells representing my husband's volleys next to his flag in a case.

[@bmwman63]

Interesting. I was also under the impression it was a 7 gun salute. Thanks for setting the record straight. Dad,(ACCM Dale D. Smith), got one at Prescott National Cemetery. I'm a lefty, so probably wouldn't get picked for that detail. During my Navy days I got hit in the face by more hot shell casings than I want to remember.

[@stephenbritton9297]

I have one time been witness to a firing party at an internment. I attended Maine Maritime Academy, and on my junior training cruise we did a burial at sea (cremains) for a recent alumni who had died. With a Navy Captain for a commandant and a Marine Master Sgt. as an Assistant Commandant, you can be sure that it looked good.

[@ABonRMS]

Thank you for your service. During WWII more Merchant Marines were killed than any in other service, but you knew that, outside the Merchant Marines few do.

[@donabele1243]

Have done several burials at sea from a submarine. On the surface, single rifle in the sail, volley of three. Also did one while submerged and fired the cremains out one of our torpedo tubes (it was a WWII Torpedoman), obviously no gun salute for that one. Be well, Don

[@woltews]

how dos that work from a sub as there is no deck ?

[@trainliker100]

@@woltews WWII submarines had decks.

[@woltews]

@@trainliker100 I was thinking of external decks that over hung the water so you could slide something into the water without it hitting or hanging up on a part of the ship

[@trainliker100]

@@woltews The widest part of a WWII submarine hull isn't that much wider than the deck. I'm speculating, but I suspect when the body is slid off the board at an angle, it has momentum giving a trajectory that would easily clear the hull. The body is not dropped straight down.

[@woltews]

@@trainliker100 hum from doing a bit of measurement on WWII through 1960s subs they appear to be from 20-50 the max width of the sub although they dont have specifics of the actual demotions so just measuring off the declassified blueprints ( who knows when the USN will bring the USS Barbel back into service and we dont want the enemy to know its dimetions or surface coatings for some reason )

[@mrkmwatson]

Thank you MCPO Halca. I may add that members of 5he American Legion and VFW work diligently to provide the honors prescribed, but are also limited in staffing and guidance.

[@karlbrundage7472]

Don't care about the "myths and superstitions", I was only happy that my Father, a 10-year veteran Hospitalman and VietNam Veteran of some of the toughest fighting the 'Corps saw, was laid to rest with a traditional 3-salvo sendoff, while I and my Mother (allso a Navy Veteran) saluted. It was the proudest moment of my life.............................

[@Sammyboy4911]

Thank you. Will check back soon!

[@michealfeeney8920]

Huh. well chuck me in the disposal sump. I'd always assumed the 21 gun theorem. Thanks for this!

[@paulacornelison243]

I'm 66 years old and growing up during the 1960's the phrase "21 gun salute" was a common phrase. I've watched a team of 7 Military personnel fire 3 volleys at funerals on television. Approximately 1995. My Father-in-law ha a " 2 1 gun salute, ,bj Somewhere there was a major slip up in communication.

[@johnpappone8610]

Was involved with a funeral at sea as First Lt. On Dahlgren and Cook.. a very Solomon ceremony for brothers and sisters

[@DennisKyne]

in 1970 when I was on the Funeral detail for NSGA Homestead, Fl. we only had 6 riflemen and I was one .

[@ProperLogicalDebate]

Captain Horatio Hornblower had to give a 23 gun salute to El Supremo in one of the books. There was an objection in that the king only gets 21.

[@bmwman63]

I always thought those full size M-14s were a ridiculous weapon to carry onboard ships. They were a challenge fitting them and you through hatches and bulkheads while running at full speed during security alerts. I could never seem to convince anyone that a folding stock was a good idea.

[@gdolson9419]

I spent a couple years as part of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Holland AS-32 in the mid 70's and we had M-14's. You get use to running thru hatches at full speed with them pretty quick.

[@wesbromberg6204]

A lot of small towns, VFW’s still do the “21 gun” salute. At least for ww2 vets. Along with taps as the veteran is lowered.

[@ABonRMS]

Mr. Bromberg, actually a Soldier or an Officer is authorized only three rounds as a salute. please dont be embarrassed, this is a common misconception. The firing party may generally consist of three to six guns / rifles but only three volleys are fired as a part of Military Honors immediately followed by the Sounding of Taps and the folding and presentation of the US Flag to next of Kin. Thank you for your interest.

[@lesleyfitzpatrick1711]

The system of volleys for land funerals and burials at sea must have been different to address the situation.

[@RedStickLouisiana]

Sailors love their superstitions. Why take a chance?

[@wooderdsaunders6801]

Do they use live(bullets) for the ceremony? If so do they have a safe direction set to shoot?

[@ramondobrown1162]

no, blanks

[@georgeryan9139]

So if you are buried in a veteran cemetery, you may get a recording of a bugle for a vet.

[@trainliker100]

You may. Or you may get a service member with a "Ceremonial Bugle" which is a bugle with an electronic device shoved into the bell that makes the bugle call. OR you could contact www.buglesacrossamerica.org or www.tapsbugler.com/find-a-bugler/

[@ABonRMS]

@@trainliker100 not in New Hampshire. Live bugles sound taps for all Veteran funerals.

[@trainliker100]

@@ABonRMS How do you know that to be certain? And if so, how is that enforced?

[@ABonRMS]

@@trainliker100 I happen to be one of two Buglers at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery. I served in the US Army

[@ABonRMS]

@@trainliker100 We have two volunteer Veterans who sound Taps for Military Honors every day as well as a second group of volunteers who sound Taps in the evening and Sunday afternoon. I have a Military Honors Service at 1100, and need to get ready and leave however will get back and edit this in the afternoon. Honor our Fallen from the Live Free or Die State.

[@jameshanlon5689]

The three rifles volley have seven rifles in it. I’ve always known it as the 21 gun salute.

[@jhonyermo]

Stomp the Bosuns Pipe and throw it over the side. DAMN what a racket.