Day 118

Today started almost normal...I normally am the typical Spring chicken, hoppin' out of bed, brewing the espresso and getting the day moving. Today I just laid there, not wanting to move. Eventually, the clock moved in such a way that forced me out. On with the day...

Each Friday, I have a 9:30am meeting which is about 1/2 mile away. I got there about 15min early, only to find signs taped to doors that read things like "Go to the flight line immediately" or "Closed for Fallen Comrade Ceremony." OK, that last one made a whole lot more sense to me. Clearly, the host of my 9:30am meeting had another member killed. They are a Guard unit out of Oklahoma and have only been here about a month.

I had never been to a Fallen Comrade Ceremony but sadly, they happen all too often here as we are the main base that fallen service-members are flown out of and we also have a mortuary. Today, though, I was a very short walk from the flight line where it was going to be held any moment. I hustled over there quickly and out to the flight line. In the distance, I could see flags flying near a C-130 aircraft and a formation of a couple hundred soldiers. I quickened my pace to get there before anything started. The following is my personal account of what I witnessed next. If you've seen the movie Taking Chance, starring Kevin Bacon, what I witnessed is what happens in the very beginning of that movie when the fallen are loaded aboard the aircraft in the pouring rain. Today, though, it was hot and sunny like every other day here. So I stood at "parade rest" near the back of the formation of soldiers...

"I found my place near the back as to not disturb anyone around me. Everyone was standing at "parade rest" which is feet shoulder-width apart and hands folded at an angle at the small of our back. Everyone was still. I heard nothing but landing and departing aircraft in the distance. As usual, the wind was blowing. Directly out from me was the open backside of a large C-130 cargo plane. Flanking the ramp was the military band, ready to play. Also standing nearby but closer to me was a few ranks of soldiers numbering 16. Out of the corner of my right eye, two Humvees pulled up and stopped. I saw a few stars. I saw a few stripes. Our fallen comrades are in those Humvees. All of a sudden, shouts of "Attention!" were heard and everyone snapped to attention, including me. Next - "Present....ARMS!" As the hairs began to rise on my neck, I rendered the salute I had never rendered before. As an officer, I am saluted all day, every day up and down the road. Those salutes are quick..up and down and done. Today, though...rendering a salute to my fallen comrades is done slow...very slow. In unison, the entire formation I was standing in raised their right arms to the brim of their hats and eyes set intently forward. No movement. No sounds. Silence. Slowly, the two Humvees passed in front of us and the Stars and Stripes because clearly visible. Just like I'd seen in the movies and in photos, the caskets were metal and surrounded by handles. Old Glory  covered them and was secured to the top lid, leaving the shiny metal exposed at the bottom. As the Humvees came to a stop off to the left and left of center of the C-130, the order was given to lower our salutes. The 16 soldiers now marched very slowly and deliberately into position. 4 x 4 at each Humvee, ready to receive their fallen brothers-in-arms. The order was given again..."Present....ARMS!" Slowly, we saluted yet again. The 16 soldiers were removing the fallen and when the fallen move, honors are presented in the form of a salute. By this time, the band was playing right of center and near the C-130. I couldn't make out any of the music they were playing but it was very somber. Slowly...ever so slowly...the 16 soldiers stood end-to-end and started their slow march towards the ramp of the C-130. Their steps couldn't have been more than 6-12". In unison, though, they marched smartly with their brothers at their side, led by a Color Guard. We maintained our salute until the fallen had been lowered to the deck within the C-130. Outside, the band continued to play while the caskets were affixed to the flight-deck for their trip to Dover Air Force Base in the States where the mortuary would take care of them. At Dover, they would be cleaned and dressed in their full dress uniform with all earned medals properly worn...most of which will have a Purple Heart. Back at the airfield, the formation was dismissed but I stood and waited. I really wanted to see this to completion and in my head, I was thinking how I must never, ever forget this. I never wanted to forget the respect and honor these two men were shown today. I also forced my mind elsewhere. Silently, I was praying for their family and loved ones who only a day or so ago, had the well-known knock at the door, notifying them of what happened. It's not just the fallen I remember. I always think of the ripple effect of what has happened and what will last for a very long time to come. One of these soldiers was 37 years old..I am 38. The other is unknown as he was special forces so his identity, manner of death, etc. is top secret. Anyway, as I stood there and watched, the command chaplains stood at the ramp and awaited the lead chaplain who was still in the plane, praying over the fallen soldiers. Once he had finished, he exited and greeted the other chaplains. (Chaplains are everywhere when someone dies because often, fellow soldiers who were close to the fallen and may have been right there when it happened need someone to talk to who will listen...and perhaps even a shoulder to cry on. They have to be allowed to grieve.) As the chaplains conversed near the aircraft, I approached a fellow officer and inquired as to some particulars I was observing and she ended being a part of Combat Camera. She told me that they create a video of much of the events, starting at the mortuary and onto the C-130 and compile it into a DVD to be presented to the family at the funeral. They want to show families the honor their fallen loved ones were shown before going home. After the lead chaplain was done, I left. There was truly nothing else to be seen. The back hatch was closing and the C-130's engines were firing up."

Friends/family/supporters...I hope I never, ever forget what I witnessed today. As I stood there, I thought about how America is sleeping and has no idea about this. It was about 2am on the East Coast so that was true. It would soon be Friday morning for them, they'd awake and head to work. Over here, though, our fallen were in the sky, en route to the country they just gave their lives for. Heroes... The quiet...the honor...the respect they were shown as they departed reached deep, deep inside me and emotion flushed throughout...how could it not? They were not supposed to go home like that! But yet...there they lie, draped in the colors of their country, returning home far too early.

I have mentioned it before and will mention it again today. I have provided a link on the right side of my blog that takes you to the Department of Defense News Release website. It is updated around the clock and every fallen comrade is listed there after Next of Kin has been notified. Make it a point to stop by there every few days and acknowledge their sacrifice and pray for their family and loved ones who will soon receive them home. Thank you.

Goodnight, everyone.