“I never thought I would have a story to be told, but I’m thankful that I do … hopefully, our stories can inspire others to look past barriers and reach their full potential.” – Sgt. Maj. Danyell Walters
Sergeant Major Danyell (Wilson) Walters, U.S. Army, made history in 1997 as the first Black woman to serve as a Tomb Guard with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, and only the second woman to hold the role, following Sergeant Heather Lynn (Johnson) Wagner. At the time, she was one of just 400 soldiers to have earned the prestigious Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge since its inception in 1958.
In 2018, Walters was inducted into the U.S. Army Women’s Hall of Fame as part of a consortium of four female Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Sources:
One of Army’s few female tomb guards reflects on accomplishment | Article | The United States Army
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danyell_E._Wilson
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