My apologies for the blank post from yesterday. You see, I started out with the title and hit the return key by mistake. It posted only the Title. After realizing this, I began again, spending about an hour and a half typing a story of my experience and just as I was about to post, I saved everything as "draft" when a message popped up saying that the webpage was not found. Turns out, I lost the internet connection sometime during my typing and had no idea. Internet service here is very unreliable.
I will try to recount all that I wrote yesterday, so as not to lose the memory. No doubt the words will be different, but hopefully they will convey the experience accurately.
We received the fallen, who were reported lost just 36 hours prior on the Today Show. The report originally told of a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, that claimed the lives of 9 Americans. After details began rolling in, we learned that they were members from the US Army, US Navy Seals. A fallen US Marine joined the repatriation journey on the final leg from Ramstein, Germany to the U.S. mainland. So, we were preparing for 10 fallen all together.
It would take our entire chaplain staff, along with other support personnel, to adequately manage what was the largest contingent of family & friends we ever received. All total, we were expecting 103 family and friends to attend the Dignified Transfers for this mission. Taskings were divided up and I was charged with attending to the 5 Navy Seal members aboard the aircraft, who were escorts for the 4 fallen Seals. This would be an all together new role for me, as the escorts were going to remain on the plane for the entire ceremony, as opposed to what normally takes place. Typically, I go out and assist the escorts with disembarking and then take them to a select location to meet with liaisons, or family members. This time, however, due to the elite nature of the Navy Seals, the plan was that they would remain aboard the aircraft to assist and witness the transfer of their comrades. I would be there to tend to them and help answer any questions they might have about the mission at Dover AFB and what to expect after the ceremony was ended.
All the support personnel gathered and staged for the arrival of the C-17. Upon arrival, I headed out to the aircraft with the advance team. I boarded and met the escorts and briefed them on all that would be taking place. Meanwhile the advance team stormed the cargo bay and began the preparations. On other occasions, when dealing with the escorts, I saw bits & pieces of what the advance team did, but this time I was there to witness the process in its entirety. They began with a check of each transfer case to confirm the fallen member within matched up with their manifest. Next, they removed the American flags that covered each case and replaced each one with a fresh, crisp new flag. Meticulous care was given to each and every flag as it was unfolded and fitted to the sides and corners of the cases. Carefully, the creases were removed as the flags were stretched and tucked along the the edges. Each was inspected for errant threads and fray, then finished off with a lint roller to complete perfection. I was amazed by the dedication and respect shown by each and every member working to ensure that all honor, dignity and respect was given these heroes.
Next, it was time to move each transfer case into position, so they would be accurately placed for the Dignified Transfer ceremony. The fallen are placed in order of service component and rank to ensure proper military honors. The advance team lined up on either side of the first case and I heard a voice call out, "Stand By!" I watched to see the next step in this process. As the team knelt down to pick up the case, all on board snapped to the position of attention. The case was raised and the cargo bay fell completely silent. All that could be heard was the sound of the commands given by the team bearing the fallen hero to his place at the rear of the aircraft. Each time a case was lifted, all of us assumed the position of attention. Once the case was lowered and ceased moving, the command of "Fall Out!" was given and we could relax. All eyes, however, were on the carry team as they paced back and forth, from front to rear with each transfer case. The first movement would involve 6 of the fallen. US Army soldiers, who perished in the helicopter crash and the one US Marine, who joined them part of the way home. The fallen Navy Seals would be transferred in the second movement due to the level of media chosen by the next of kin and also due to the large contingent of family and friends, who planned to attend.
After the first movement was complete and all the dignitaries and family left the area, we began to prepare for the second movement. The Navy Seal escorts would be moving their comrades into place, rather than the advance team. They took their positions on either side of each case and followed suit with what they witnessed in the earlier preparation process. One member called out, "Stand By!" and we all responded as before, until every fallen member was in place.
During the wait time that followed, I witnessed one of the escorts standing beside one of his fallen comrades. Quietly, he just stood there lost in a stare. I could have walked over to him and engaged him to make sure he was coping okay, but instead I just took it all in. I figured he was just saying goodbye to a friend, or perhaps he was praying in some way. It was a moment that need not be disturbed, I thought. God kinda held me back as if to say, "Let it be."
The second Dignified Transfer commenced and audible sobs could be heard outside the aircraft where about 80+ family and friends were gathered. It was extremely moving to see things from this perspective. All along, I have been on the flightline with the families, but today I had a chance to stand with my uniformed brothers in arms to render honor and respect to their closest friends.
This morning, CNN reported that 10 fallen American service members were received at Dover AFB. Then, one by one, their photos were shown on the TV screen. I stopped to make sure I remembered their faces, because in just a few minutes, I would be seeing them again in the mortuary and escorting them through the process of getting ready for their final journey home.
Dignified Transfers witnessed (80)
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