Well, once again, it has been some time since I posted about my experiences here at Dover AFB. I can only say that things have continued to be busy as ever and the days and weeks just slip away without much notice. We have seen nearly 280 fallen in the last 5 months or so. Given that my tour is only 179 days (6 months), well you can do the math and see that we've had a fallen military member arrive here every single day and on average more than one at a time since I began my tour here. That is staggering. What is even more staggering is that there is an entire world out there that is oblivious.
Soon, I will be departing Dover AFB and returning to what was once normal to me. Safe to say, however, that knowing, seeing and living what I've been a part of for the last 6 odd months will follow me all the days ahead changing all that was once normal. 280+ souls passed before me and you just can't help but be moved and changed by that many heroes. I will remember them, their families, their stories, their heroism, their dedication and their sacrifice as long as I live.
Today, was a particularly interesting experience. A veteran from the Vietnam war was brought to Dover as part of an investigation initiated by his son. The veteran was named Lance Corporal Wyatt. He was born in 1947 and killed in South Vietnam June 11, 1968 at the age of 21. There was a question, apparently, as to how he died, so the son called for this investigation to take place. Lance Corporal Wyatt was exhumed from his resting place in Missouri and flown to Dover AFB for a post mortem autopsy. Lance Corporal Wyatt had been laid to rest for 42 years since his death in 1968.
I watched as they removed his uniform and prepared his body for the autopsy. It was absolutely astonishing at how amazingly preserved his remains were. All of the doctors, morticians, forensic pathologists, medical examiners and imbalmers were there to witness this very unique event. They were all in awe of how incredible the preservation was, especially given the technology of the late 60's compared to today. Whoever prepared the remains did an amazing job.
What was even more interesting and amazing to consider was that Lance Corporal Wyatt's son, never met his father. His father died before he was born. So, as some of the folks in the room were discussing, the uniform was to be cleaned as best as possible and returned to the family for safe keeping. Also, after the autopsy and findings, they were to put him in a new uniform and prepare him for burial again sometime in the near future. It is my understanding that his remains were in such good shape that he was actually viewable!! So, we were guessing that the son would want to view his father before re-inturnment. Imagine you're 42 years old and you are going to see your father, whom you've never laid eyes on before. Only when you see him, you're seeing him as a 21 year old man, who died before you were born! How bizarre, yet incredibly interesting is that? The more I think about it the more amazing (and weird) it becomes.
Anyway, I thought I'd share that unique, yet interesting experience with you. God certainly works in very interesting and mysterious ways.
I'm beginning to countdown my days left here at Dover AFB. Not counting today, I have only 17 days left.
If I don't post again before the Christmas holiday, I want to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas.
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