Heather Lynn Johnsen

Heather Lynn Johnsen is a former U.S. Army soldier and former member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, best known as the highly prestigious "The Old Guard" or Honor Guard Company sentinel of Company E, 4th Battalion.

Johnsen was the first female tomb guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington), a historic monument at Arlington National Cemetery which honors the unidentified remains of three combatants from World War I, World War II and the Korean War.

Early life Johnsen was raised in Roseville, California and Mt. Diablo, California.

Military service, tomb sentinel In 1991 after graduating high school, Johnsen joined the US Army Reserves, serving as a personnel administrative specialist. In 1992, Johnsen joined the U.S. Army on active duty. She later served as a military police soldier in Camp Humphreys, Korea, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and Fort Myers, Florida. In June 1995, she applied for training as a tomb sentinel.

On March 22, 1996, Johnsen became the first female tomb guard.