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USCENTCOM- “I will never leave a fallen comrade,” is the last line of the Warrior Ethos. The importance of that phrase is held strongly by many U.S. Army Soldiers, but only a select few truly understand how a fallen comrade is brought home.
The U.S. Army offers many job opportunities, and one of the more difficult is the 92M, a fatality management specialist. These Soldiers train to bring home service members who have fallen in the line of duty. It is a job not often discussed, but one that holds great importance and honor.
“We have the honor of getting someone home to their loved ones in the best possible condition, in order for them to receive closure,” said Sgt. 1st Class Delbert Ruede, a theater mortuary affairs non-commissioned officer in charge assigned to the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command.
There is only one active-duty unit for fatality management, the 54th Quartermaster Company. Every few months small teams are rotated out to the various mortuary affairs collection points (MACP) within the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. Multiple MACPs spread across the theater ensures fallen heroes are prepared for a dignified transfer back to the United States in a secure and timely manner.
Fatality management is considered most pertinent during wartime but is still very relevant in peacetime. The cases received in peacetime at the MACPs are just less frequent.
One such case was documented recently within theater, making it one of the first cases the members of the MACP team processed outside of their operational training.
“We do morgue rotations in Virginia, as part of our training, but I haven’t worked any military cases yet,” said Spc. Gernia Butler, a fatality management specialist assigned to the 54th Quartermaster Company.
While the theater mortuary affairs team was visiting an outstation in theater, Butler’s MACP team received a case involving a U.S. Department of Defense civilian who passed away at a foreign civilian hospital. Both mortuary affairs teams collaborated with the U.S. Department of State and partner security forces team to bring the civilian back home to their family.
The U.S. Department of State verified with the MACP team the identification of the civilian and worked with the local foreign government on receiving the death certificate and other paperwork needed to transfer the remains back to the custody of the United States.
Typically, the unit of the fallen service member oversees recovery; however, as the individual was a civilian, the MACP team was assigned to retrieve the remains.
The team coordinated with members of the partner security forces team stationed within theater as part of the allied coalition forces initiative. The partner forces provided secure transportation for the MACP team and helped ensure everyone returned to base safely.
“We don’t receive many cases so keeping up with our training is important,” said Sgt. Mekhi Maisonet, the MACP non-commissioned officer in charge. “Everyone needs to know exactly what to do when we get the call. We’re bringing home a person; we bring them back no matter the obstacle.”
Once the remains were brought to the MACP, a full body assessment was performed, and all personal belongings were inventoried for transfer. The MACP team then coordinated with Ruede’s team to schedule a dignified transfer to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
The air base is the only port mortuary within the United States; their team is dedicated to preparing those fallen service members who have died while serving overseas.
Prior to the remains being transferred to the aircraft, the mortuary affairs team places the U.S. flag on the transfer case, signifying a person who served their country with duty and honor.
The preparations for the flag can take several hours. It is ironed, steamed, folded around the transfer case, and if needed steamed again to ensure all creases are removed. Maisonet says it is a tedious process but one the mortuary affairs team holds in high regards.
“Once the flag goes on the transfer case, it’s showing the fallen service member the utmost respect,” said Spc. Will Roberts, a fatality management specialist assigned to the 54th Quartermaster Company. “They’re going home with their flag and that’s really honorable.”
To dedicate one's life to serving their country is one filled with courage and sacrifice. These Soldiers work for the families to ensure those who have fallen are taken care of after their final moments. The fatality management occupation ensures that no service members’ lives are gone unseen, untold, or forgotten.
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2025 12:19 |
| Story ID: | 549760 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 6 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Honoring the fallen, by SGT Alison Strout, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
