Unknown Soldier’s Journey from France to Arlington Nearly Ends in Disaster

The journey of the Unknown Soldier from France to the United States in November 1921 faced a near-catastrophic end as the USS Olympia battled fierce storms across the Atlantic Ocean. This solemn mission was to honor the thousands of soldiers who had perished in the Great War and remained unidentified.

In 1920, the United Kingdom and France had already paid tribute to their unknown soldiers, with memorials at Westminster Abbey and the Arc de Triomphe, respectively. The United States followed suit on October 23, 1921, when four bodies were exhumed from cemeteries at Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Somme, and St. Mihiel. The selection of one body to represent the unknown fell to Army Sergeant Edward Younger, who recalled his selection process as both an honor and a daunting responsibility.

Younger approached the four caskets, each draped in an American flag, while holding white roses given to him by a grieving local official. He circled the caskets three times, reflecting on the lives of the soldiers and the connections he might have shared with them. Ultimately, he chose one casket, feeling an inexplicable pull toward it.

The Unknown Soldier was transported aboard a specially designated funeral train to Paris before continuing to the port town of Le Havre. Marine Captain Graves Erskine and his team prepared the casket for its sea voyage, encasing it in a wooden box wrapped in waterproof canvas. Due to its size, the casket had to be secured to the bow of the USS Olympia, marking the ship’s final major journey.

The Olympia, once celebrated for its role in the Spanish-American War, faced two storms as it set sail. The first storm transformed into a hurricane, impacting Florida and the Atlantic. The second, according to the Independence Seaport Museum, crossed the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the ship just days after its departure on October 28, 1921.

During the voyage, the Olympia encountered gale-force winds and towering twenty-foot seas. One Marine, secured to the ship, stood guard over the Unknown Soldier, while two others remained close, ready to stabilize the casket if needed. The ship rolled dangerously, reaching a 39-degree tilt, raising fears among the crew that it might capsize.

Captain Henry Lake Wyman sought reassurance from Navy Chaplain Lt. Edward Duff, who prayed for the safety of the vessel as seawater poured onto the deck. The crew’s anxiety peaked as they worried about the possibility of losing the revered casket overboard.

Despite the tumultuous conditions, the Olympia persevered. After six days at sea, it arrived in the United States on time, greeted with significant fanfare as it journeyed up the Potomac River. The Unknown Soldier was ultimately laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony attended by President Warren Harding, Vice President Calvin Coolidge, and numerous military representatives.

Since 1925, the Unknown Soldier has been guarded by the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, ensuring that this emblem of sacrifice and valor is honored continuously. In a poignant visit during Memorial Day in 1930, Edward Younger reflected on the emotional connection he felt, saying he might have “eaten, slept, and fought next to him,” highlighting the enduring bond between soldiers and their sacrifices.