Niagara Falls Reservists care for the fallen

  • Published
  • By Ed Drohan
  • Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center Public Affairs
AA group of 14 Air Force Reserve services specialists have been working in various sections throughout the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO) Center since September. While they're scattered throughout the facility performing various duties in different work sections, they all share a common purpose.

They are all working to ensure America's war fallen receive the dignity, honor and respect they are due.

The Airmen, all part of the 914th Services Squadron at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base, N.Y., volunteered for the four-month deployment to Dover Air Force Base, Del. All had attended training here at one point, and some had deployed here before and so knew what their duties would entail.

The AFMAO's mission is to fulfill the nation's sacred commitment of ensuring dignity, honor and respect to the fallen, and care, service and support to their families. The center is charged with Air Force wide mortuary responsibility and operation of the Department of Defense's sole port mortuary.

The remains of every Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman, civilian employee or contractor who dies in the Area of Responsibility passes through the AFMAO, and those that fall under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. Niagara Falls Reservists are involved in almost every aspect of those preparations, from the moment remains arrive at Dover to the day they depart for the funeral and internment. Among the first to come in contact with the fallen are members of the carry team.

Tech. Sgt. C.J. Penberthy of Tonawanda, N.Y., and Staff Sgt. Sarah Hinds of Rochester, N.Y., have been assigned to the carry team since they arrived at the center. They are responsible for the dignified transfer of Air Force remains - as well as those of civilian employees and government contractors - from the aircraft they arrive on to a waiting transfer vehicle and then to the mortuary. A team of eight Airmen carry the flag-draped transfer case containing the fallen, beginning preparations that end only when the fallen is returned to the family.

In many cases, the families of the fallen members are watching the dignified transfer, adding pressure to an already stressful job.

"It's an awesome responsibility," Sergeant Penberthy said. "We know we're bringing the fallen home, now that they're back on U.S. soil. We're taking care of our fallen comrades."

All members of the team take that responsibility very seriously.

"We practiced for the first week after we got here, and we keep practicing," Sergeant Hinds said. "I was nervous the first time. I just didn't want to mess up - that would have shown disrespect not only for the carry team but for the family. That's gone away now, but the first time was hard."

Once the fallen arrives at the center, Master Sgt. Kenneth Brophy of Waterloo, N.Y., and Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith of Erie, Penn., help guide them through the initial preparation stages. Both work in the autopsy section, assisting medical examiners and other professionals confirm the warrior's identity and determine the specific cause of death.

Their duties, Sergeant Smith said, include tracking the fallen as they move from station to station, and assisting the medical examiner and histologist during the actual autopsy.

Sergeant Brophy said he looks at his job here as helping people come full circle. From the first day somebody enters the military, it's services people who ensure they're fed, fit and housed. Now he's helping them on their final journey home.

Tech. Sgt. Charles Jewell of Coudersport, Penn., receives the fallen in the embalming section once the autopsy is completed. He assists helps get the fallen ready to be embalmed, and assists in the embalming process and ensures they are cleaned and ready to be dressed.

While Sergeant Jewell had been deployed to the center before, this is his first time working in the embalming section.

"The first day or two ... oh gosh, I wasn't sure if I could do this," Sergeant Jewell said. "Funeral homes and funerals used to scare me to death when I was younger. Now I know I'm contributing to sending the fallen back home to their families."

Once cleaned and embalmed, each of the fallen are dressed in preparation for the funeral. Senior Airman Shawn Warren of Buffalo, N.Y., helps in that process through his work in the center's dress and wrap section.

The center maintains dress uniforms for all services and in all sizes. Individuals from each service prepare the uniform, to include all appropriate ribbons, badges and patches. Airman Warren and his teammates then dress the fallen warrior, making sure that everything is done properly.

"We make sure everything is presentable for the family," Airman Warren said. "I don't let anything go out unless it's perfect. It doesn't matter if I've had a long day or I'm tired. Before it leaves here, it's got to be perfect."

The family selects one of three caskets for the fallen, who is then transported to the funeral home that is also selected by the family. Each of the fallen are escorted to their final destination by a member of their respective service or somebody selected by the family. That escort also carries any personal effects that may have arrived at Dover with the remains.

Before those personal items can be returned, though, they have to be cleaned and prepared. That task falls to Tech Sgt. Gary Fernandes of Erie, Penn., and others in the personal effects section.

"Any personal effects that come in from downrange are collected and inventoried," Sergeant Fernandes said. "After the autopsy, we also get all the clothing. We search the pockets to make sure nothing is missed and annotate anything we find on the inventory. Items are carefully cleaned prior to returning them to the family."

Using everything from jewelry and steam cleaners to rotary tools, the personal effects technicians ensure everything is in "tip top condition."
While they perform these difficult tasks in an exceptional manner day in and day out, some 914th members said this tour has made them think about life in general.

"(Working here) gives you a feeling of how things really are," Sergeant Fernandes said. It makes you appreciate how valuable life is and how short it could be."

But, all the deployed unit members said they felt honored to do their part for the fallen and their families.

"Sometimes people wonder if the fallen are treated well," Sergeant Jewell said. "After working here, I can assure everybody that our nation's war fallen are provided the highest levels of dignity, honor, and respect ... I know, because I and the entire AFMAO team ensures it!"