News

A fallen hero is laid to rest
April 30, 2009 — MORE

Sacrifice and Service: The life of a Port Mortuary chaplain
April 23, 2009 — The night sky looked calm and tranquil from a gently soaring aircraft, miles above the Eastern seaboard towns below. However, there was nothing tranquil or calm in the hearts of one family on board that craft, traveling to Dover Air Force Base to witness the dignified transfer of their son's remains. Their son, their Marine, their hero paid the... MORE

Uniforms for the fallen are always perfect
April 16, 2009 — An Airman irons the long sleeved shirt, giving it sharp military creases. A Soldier and a Marine spend hours building ribbon racks, making sure every ribbon is correct and that the devices are equally polished and bright. A Sailor looks over the jacket, pants and shirt, ensuring all excess strings are cut, before steaming them one last time. The... MORE

Charleston Airmen fly honorable mission
April 16, 2009 — Charleston Air Force Base C-17 Globemaster III aircrews flew the most precious of cargo April 7 -- the remains of a fallen hero. Army Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment in Task Force 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Brigade Combat Team from Grafenwoehr, Germany, was killed April 5 near Baghdad, Iraq,... MORE

Airmen in personal effects office take small items to heart
April 9, 2009 — Watches, coins, photos, dog tags and necklaces. To many, these are just items carried or worn by military members, even when serving in places like Iraq or Afghanistan. For families of the fallen, these simple items may be cherished keepsakes that serve as reminders of their son or daughter who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Something as simple as a... MORE

Army Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias honored in dignified transfer April 7
April 8, 2009 — MORE

Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers honored in dignified transfer April 5
April 8, 2009 — MORE

Airman killed in Afghanistan identified
April 8, 2009 — Department of Defense officials announced April 5 the identity of an Airman killed while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers, 30, of Hopewell, Va., died April 4 near Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron, Royal Air... MORE

Airmen cover the fallen with American flags for families
April 8, 2009 — For some, it means red, white and blue. It means 13 stripes for the original colonies and 50 stars for the states. For the families of the fallen, the American flag means so much more. Because of this, two Airmen assigned to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center here take their mission very seriously. "These men and women who gave their... MORE

Airman killed in Southern Afghanistan
April 8, 2009 — An Airman assigned to the 755th Air Expeditionary Group in Kandahar was killed by an improvised explosive device in Southern Afghanistan April 4. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin. MORE