The Caisson Platoon is one of the Specialty Platoons of HHC Company of The 3rd U. S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and is housed at Fort Myer in Virginia. I recently visited friends at Fort Myer and was able to experience several events and opportunities for which I am so grateful.
Those of you who follow me on facebook know that for the past year I have been enamored with the horses of the Caisson Platoon. I have posted many pictures on facebook of the horses - especially my favorite one, Sarge. During my recent visit I stopped in the Caisson Stables several times. The stables are open to the general public from 12:00 noon until 4:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday each week. If you are in the DC/Virginia area or plan to be, you really should make time to visit the Caisson Stables. The Soldiers of the Caisson Platoon are always willing to give you a tour and tell you about the history and legacy of the Platoon. Plus you get to pet a lot of awesome horses. If you have a group you need to schedule a tour well in advance. You can do so by contacting the Public Affairs Office.
The link to the Caisson Platoon's website hasn't been updated with the name of the new HHC Company Commander, CPT Walter Tompkins. I first met CPT Tompkins and his wife when he was serving with the 173rd, 2-503d in Vicenza, Italy. I was ecstatic to learn that he had taken Command of the Caisson Platoon. It's such a small world.
I know, I know, where are the pictures? You all like pictures. Well, hang on they are coming.
I plan to write more posts about The Old Guard in the future but this one is a bit of a "fun" one in my estimation. I asked if I could watch as the farriers of The Caisson Platoon where shoeing horses and my request was granted. I'm fairly certain I squealed like a school girl when I found out I was approved to do this. I hardly slept the night before my visit. As a matter of fact I baked tons of goodies for the Soldiers as a small token of my appreciation to them. No goodies allowed for the horses - darn it.
On a Wednesday at 10:00 am I walked into the Caisson stables and stopped at the desk. A couple of the guys I had met on prior visits greeted me and welcomed me back. I told them I had come to watch the farriers shoe a horse so they took me to the farrier shop.
