Sailors from Civil War ironclad to get Arlington burial
Using facial reconstruction, the Navy showed last year what the two USS Monitor sailors may have looked like.
February 12th, 2013
01:49 PM ET

Sailors from Civil War ironclad to get Arlington burial

The remains of two U.S. Navy sailors, recovered in 2002 from the wreck of the service's first ironclad warship, the USS Monitor, will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, the Navy said Tuesday.

"These may very well be the last Navy personnel from the Civil War to be buried at Arlington," Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in a statement. "It's important we honor these brave men and all they represent as we reflect upon the significant role Monitor and her crew had in setting the course for our modern Navy."

The Monitor sank during a storm on New Year's Eve 1862 off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with a loss of 16 sailors.

The wreck was discovered in 1974, but the remains that will going to Arlington were found in 2002 when a salvage team attempted to recover the ship's gun turret.

The remains will be interred at Arlington on March 8, the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862. It was the first clash between ironclads as the Monitor fought the Confederate ship CSS Virginia, earlier known as the Merrimack.

The Navy was unable to identify the specific sailors who will be interred at Arlington, but the military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii was able to narrow their possible descendants down to 22 individuals from 10 families, the Navy said.

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Filed under: Civil War • History • Military • U.S. Navy
soundoff (20 Responses)
  1. raven

    I thank them for their service and sacrifice.

    I also apologize for thinking they look like twins at a Star Trek convention.

    February 12, 2013 at 2:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • scott

      Who are kissing something.

      February 12, 2013 at 3:20 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Raven: that is illocical. Lol.

      Scott: what is UP with that??

      RIP. Finally.

      February 13, 2013 at 12:50 pm | Report abuse |
  2. reality

    That would be the CSS Virginia, formerly the USS Merrimack.

    February 12, 2013 at 2:55 pm | Report abuse |
  3. RF Burns

    Rest in peace. You served your nation with distinction.

    February 12, 2013 at 2:59 pm | Report abuse |
  4. johnharry

    thanks for keeping the country together. Fair Winds and following seas.

    February 12, 2013 at 3:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • The Mascara Snake

      Actually, it was a waste because the country should have been divided into 2 different territories at least. Things would be a lot better today if so.

      February 12, 2013 at 3:57 pm | Report abuse |
    • Rodd Tungren

      Keeping it together for what? We're just as divided as a nation as ever. Black and white/Red and Blue. The north and south hate each other just as much. Nothing has changed.

      February 12, 2013 at 4:02 pm | Report abuse |
    • AmmoPapa

      If the nation had divided for good... a 20th century C.S.A. would have probably sided with Nazi Germany... maybe a different result there

      February 12, 2013 at 5:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • Truthiness

      @AmmoPapa – You've read too much Harry Turtledove

      February 12, 2013 at 6:53 pm | Report abuse |
  5. lazurite

    Rest in peace, gentlemen. Thank you for your service.

    February 12, 2013 at 3:48 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Barbarajean martin

    Be blessed for your service-my deepest–symathy 2 who grieve your lost

    February 12, 2013 at 3:53 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Weird Ear

    I'm sure if they were confederate soldiers they'd just be thrown in a dumpster somewhere, eh?

    February 12, 2013 at 3:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • peridot2

      Absolutely not. Are you a child? All human remains are treated with dignity and respect.

      February 18, 2013 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
  8. AmmoPapa

    Since they don't know who these guys are...couldn't they put one or both in the tomb of the unknown... replace that empty spot where the Viet Nam vet was

    February 12, 2013 at 6:27 pm | Report abuse |
  9. cedenk

    Nice touch having their skulls there. Isn't that a bit disrespectful?

    February 12, 2013 at 8:37 pm | Report abuse |
  10. SED

    Brad Lendon, do you ever proof read your work before posting\publishing? Just a question.

    February 13, 2013 at 7:27 am | Report abuse |
  11. Prof. Cathryn Newton

    The USS MONITOR shipwreck was discovered in 1973 (not 1974) by a team of scientists from Duke University, MIT, University of Delaware, and the state of North Carolina.

    February 13, 2013 at 7:46 am | Report abuse |
    • peridot2

      Thank you, Professor Newton, for your correction.

      February 18, 2013 at 11:13 am | Report abuse |
    • Catman 2

      Wow Prof...you are really smart (and really bored)

      March 2, 2013 at 7:00 pm | Report abuse |
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