Ghosts of Arlington Podcast

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A very important announcement about the future of the podcast and the story of the only US secret service agent to be killed protecting a president.

Today's Ghost of Arlington is White House Police Officer and US Army Private Leslie William Coffelt, who is buried in Section 17, Grave 17719-55.

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From the end of their time in Italy through the 2026, the post-WWII history of my 10th Mountain Division.

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Bob Dole continues to hold out hope that he will be made whole again until a respected doctor helps him most past dwelling on what he has lost and focus on what he still has - that is the moment Dole truly comes back form the war and moves on to a life full of love and public service.

Today's Ghost of Arlington is US Army Captain Robert Joseph Dole, Section 4, Grave 3-A

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Bob Dole returns home to Kansas, but aside from actual moment of injury, it is twice in the states - once in Kansas and once in Michigan - that he comes closest to death during his long road to recovery.

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Bob Dole and his platoon are part of the larger effort of the Allies to take Hill 913 from its German defenders. Little does Dole know, that fight will just be the beginning of his struggle to survive.

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World War II continues in Europe and the Pacific, while Bob Dole continues to train on the home front and wonders if he will ever make it overseas, like his younger brother Kenny who is an experienced combat veteran by summer 1944. When Dole gets another chance to attend OCS and become an officer, he jumps at it - and this time he gets a class slot. The Army has a shortage of lieutenants and needs to quickly train more. Dole is happy to replace an LT but never stops to ask why so many need to be replaced.

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Bob Dole finishes the 1942-1943 school year at Kansas University and is almost immediately called up for active duty. His training timeline is changed multiple times - as does the military job he is training for - but once the Allies successfully land at Normandy on D-Day, he know that his time is coming. After being afraid that the war would end before he got into it, he is now sure he will be heading to the European Theater of Operation. 

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The Pre-World War II history of my 10th Mountain Division.

Today's Ghosts of Arlington are:

1. Army Technical Sergeant Torger Tokle - Lokken Veck, Norway
2. Army Private First Class Tony Ragazinne - Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

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Since my unique military career only saw serve in one true division, and given that I was a company commander in that division AND deployed with it to Afghanistan, the 10th Mountain Division has a special place in my heart. Because of that, I have wanted to tell the story of arguably the division's most famous soldier for some time now, and I am finally getting around to it.

Many people are likely familiar with Senator Bob Dole's political career, but I wager that fewer know the specifics of his World War II service, aside from his severe injury. And it was his injury that inspired him to write his autobiography, to give people a batter understanding of what wounded warriors go through when they return from the battlefield.

This week's Ghost of Arlington is:

Army Sergeant Craig Lewis Nelson - Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Red Chute, Louisiana

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This is a replay of Episode 13, originally posted on August 30, 2021. While it was originally used as a story of establishing Arlington National Cemetery, it also fits well as the conclusion of the JFK story arc.

This week’s Ghost of Arlington are, once again:

1. President John F. Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45)
2. Jacquelin Kennedy Onassis (Section 45, Grave S-45)
3.  Senator Robert F. Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45-A)
4. Arabella Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45)
5. Patrick Kennedy (Section 45, Grave S-45)