My New Year’s Eve in 2005 was a little different from any of my other New Year Eves’ in the past. It was a New Year’s Eve that would forever change the way I looked at events or people. I spent New Year’s Eve that year with a few of my Army comrades. When I told my wife Michelle I was spending it with some of my fellow Army comrades and not with her and the family, she didn’t quite know what to make of it. After all, aren’t you supposed to bring in the New Year with family and friends? But my evening spent with fellow Army comrades in 2005 in fact, was a rather very quiet one. There were no big celebrations and hardly any fanfare, which is usually associated with anything on New Year’s Eve. There was no loud music, no Dick Clark countdown in Time’s Square, no fireworks to see, or even the traditional champagne toasts to bring in the New Year. In fact, my Army comrades didn’t say a word at all.
You see, I spent that New Year’s Eve on the flight line at Dover Air Force Base (AFB) in Delaware, as part of an official process that welcomes home the remains of U.S. Servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. This night, my fallen Army comrades took part in a very solemn and dignified ceremony which was in their honor. These fallen comrades had answered the nation’s “call to duty” and by their selfless service and sacrifice – “paid the last full measure of devotion.” There were six sets of remains that evening, and the sight of those six flag draped metal containers in the cargo bay of the aircraft was a very powerful image and one that I will always remember.
We flew to Dover aboard an Army helicopter. The flight was only 45 minutes and throughout the flight I wondered how I would feel upon observing the event. But wondering about the event and being there was not the same.
It is the policy that the remains of U.S. Servicemembers be received by a general officer upon returning to the United States. Dover AFB, Del., is the normal entry point for receiving U.S. Servicemembers’ remains. The receiving part is actually a formal ceremony referred to as the “dignified transfer of remains” conducted by color guards (from the different Services), chaplains, other personnel as assigned and the general officer selected for the mission. That night, I accompanied Brigadier General Mari K. Eder, our deputy public affairs chief, for the “Dover” mission as it’s called. I thought I was going on the mission just to observe, but then I was asked to participate in the ceremony and I felt honored to do so. My participation involved helping to move the flag draped metal containers from within the cargo hold area to the side door opening of the 747 aircraft where they would then be placed onto a K-loader* by an Air Force Color Guard. There were four of us assigned this job and I was the oldest one.
After a heart felt prayer by one of the Chaplains, we started our “welcome home” mission. The metal transfer containers were heavy and I prayed for the strength to let me be able to help carry them. After we carefully placed each of the “Fallen Soldiers” in the aircraft doorway, we rendered a three second hand salute honoring our fallen comrade. An Air Force Color Guard moved the “silent, precious cargo” from the aircraft doorway to the end of the K-loader. After all six sets of remains were moved to the end of the K- Loader, it was lowered and a color guard from the Old Guard at Fort Myer, Va., moved the remains, one at a time, to a waiting van. Each time a fallen comrade was moved from the K-loader platform by the color guard to the waiting van, another three second hand salute was rendered. Expert precision was the watch word of the day for both color guards as they expertly handled their fallen comrades.
This was not the first “Dover Mission” for Brig. Gen. Eder. In fact this was her fifth mission to render honors as the general officer selected for the mission. As each set of draped remains were transported from the K-loader to the waiting van, she executed a precision three second hand salute as well. It was a fitting but unfortunate welcome for the returning Soldiers. She commented in an e-mail to a friend that she shared with us, that this mission on New Year’s Eve was much harder than the previous times she had been to Dover. It could have been because she had already witnessed and paid honors to 65 fallen comrades before – representing all the Armed Services.
We completed our “Dover Mission” and headed back home. Enroute back to Fort McNair aboard the aircraft, I observed fireworks bursting in the air off in the distance. I then realized that the fallen comrades we had just paid honors to will never have the opportunity to witness some of the little things we sometimes take for granted – like a fireworks demonstration or spending time with loved ones. My experience at Dover that evening put a lot of things into perspective even then back in 2005. That night, I loved my family a lot more. After serving 12 months in Iraq, returning in August 2008, the events of that night hit home even harder because I had personally lost Army and Air Force comrades in war. It is not easy losing a loved one but we provided them a “heroes” welcome home. The security of a nation and her interests comes with a steep price and I think the fallen heroes that evening at Dover understood that or at least – I hope they did. To them, we are a grateful nation. Our great men and women go into harm’s way each day to protect and secure America’s vital interests and some ultimately give their lives in the service of our country.
I got back home a little after midnight. Michelle was there to welcome me home and all was well in the Johnson household. She and my kids (both my kids are grown) understood why I wanted to spend New Year’s Eve with my Army comrades. The next morning, my right knee was hurting (I have bad knees anyway) and my left hand was sore. But I had no complaints about my ailments – they paled in comparison to what I had just witnessed. And besides – it’s a Soldier’s duty and honor to welcome home the nation’s fallen heroes. It was a New Year’s Eve I will never forget.
* Heavy lift equipment used to load and unload cargo (especially from an aircraft).
Johnson is the Army Community Relations Division chief at the Pentagon. His previous public affairs assignments have included 82nd Airborne Division PAO; DoD Press Operations officer in the Pentagon (SO/LIC and SOCOM); deputy public affairs officer for the White House Drug Control Policy Office in Washington, D.C.; PAO for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, Baghdad, Iraq.
He is a strong man in this service. As is Brigadier General Eder. I for one can say that I am not sure that I would have the strength of heart to stand for those three seconds and not break down for each and every one of those men and women they took off that plane. Being shot at and watching humvees get blasted does not really phase me anymore. One article, or news broadcast, or word from a superior that one of us has fallen… and I’m a mess. They deserve more honor than those of us that make it home. Now a days though, sadly, they are too quickly forgotten. Except by those that knew them. There familys, friends, and comrades in arms. Every fallen Army, Marine, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard, man and woman should be in this nations hearts every day and night. They are the true back bone of this nation. They are the true heros.
thank you for your service, especially on this most important flight. It may seem like a small gesture to some, but to a mother, wife, and mother-in-law of those that have served this country, this provides a comfort that those that gave the ultimate sacrifice do not have to be alone in their journey back to family at home. Death knows no holiday, no clock, only the fact that the precious cargo must not be delayed. God Bless You and your family for the little sacrifices made every day in support of our wonderful country
God bless all of our servicemen and woman. These men and woman gave all to serve their country, yet you’ll never hear their actions, or life styles, you’ll only hear their names, spoken or printed as a simple statistic. God bless the service men and woman who give them a proper homecoming. It is a special important job that few can do, and for that, I salute all of you. I pray for the armed forces every night, and always thank them for the duty they have served. You may not always support the war (I do not as far as Iraq goes), but always support the troops, as they do the unspeakable day in and day out to serve our country. God bless and bring our troops home.
Colonel Johnson, thank you so much for your post and contribution. You capture the essence of all things that are right, honorable and team-oriented in your post. I am honored to serve with you. Your post has reminded me that we never leave a fallen comrade, not even after they are home on United States soil.
God bless, Michelle and your wonderful kids.
Very respectfully,
COL Regina K. Draper, former student of the the author
I’m so glad to know that our military gives such precise honor to those who have given their lives for our country.
My brother was killed on his air force job in the US and it meant a lot to our family that the Air Force sent a fellow airman to accompany his body (and his wife)to our home in North Carolina. There was comfort in having the airman standing by the casket at the funeral home, as well as the military salute at his funeral.
On behalf of all family members of those who have paid the “Ultimate Sacrifice”, thank you.
Wow.
This is a great story. Thank you for sharing.
Our son was KIA 8-20-08, in Afghanistan. I will never forget that day, but what I learned afterwards from a medical person who takes care of our soldiers when brougth to Dover, was one I will never forget. He will forever be my friend. You see he explained the dignity and respect the soldiers are shown when they arrive at Dover. He was very careful with his words, probably knowing, how each word(s) would probably affect me. He explained to me in all gentleness why an autopsy has to be performed, something that really bothered to know this had been done to my son. This medical person who took the time and not only the time to explain it to me, but this man sees this every day and I know how much this must affect him and to relieve something and to try to explain it to a grieving mother must have been very difficult. These medical personnel that take care of our love ones, earns my respect for they too have to handle this emotional tragedy “every day”.
God Bless them in all that they do!!!
May god bless you, more of us should stop to smell the roses and to put things in perspective more often. if more people cared as you do it’d be a better world.proud to live in a country that gives so much back to the rest of the world.
Sir, God bless you and all those that have had the duty of escorting service members home from war. I am a new 2nd Lieutanant Public Affairs Officer in the Marine Corps and we’ve had a lot of training in regards to bringing Marines home who we have lost during the war. For those of you reading his post, if you haven’t seen the movie/documentary “Taking Chance” I highly suggest it. While it is focused more on the Marine Corps side of this story, it is relevant to all services and the sacrifices made by all members of the military, both during war and on the homefront. The duty of bringing soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines home to their families is one of utmost importance but also one of the most difficult. Sir, thank you for sharing your story. Semper Fi.
As a unit commander that lost a great soldier on July 3rd 2006 and placed him on his last flight home in the early a.m. July 4th I understand Col Johnson’s new found view of New Years and other events. Our hero’s are forgotten too quickly. Stories such as these bring light to this unfortunate fact.
God bless our hero’s and their families that have lost something so precious in their life. We thank them for their sacrifice and commitment to this great nation and its people.