Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.—Recently a team of Army Reserve Soldiers from the 319th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducted some specialized training here to learn the proper care and handling procedures to honor fallen comrades.
The training, which is part of a larger exercise, Combat Support Training Exercise 91-22-01, teaches Soldiers how to properly transport the remains of a fallen Soldier with honor, dignity and respect.
“Soldiers go to war and fight for their country, and unfortunately some of them sacrifice their lives in the process,” said Spc. Bianca Dos Antos, a (need her job title) assigned to the 319th CSSB, who volunteered for the training. “This is our way of being grateful and thankful for the ultimate sacrifice they made.”
Respect and honor are two of the seven core Army Values all Soldiers are expected to exemplify. The training the Soldiers received focused on the proper way to show respect and honor for those who have given their life in service of their country.
Many Soldiers form close bonds with those in their units, and losing a comrade in combat is difficult for most to deal with. For the Soldiers of the 319th CSSB, learning to properly care for their fallen comrades is how they pay their respects. “These are not just people, they are our battle buddies; people we serve with every day.”
Some of the Soldiers who volunteered for the unique training have had personal experiences with losing a fellow Soldier. One of those was Sgt. Raphael Cruz, (need his job title), assigned to the 319th CSSB.
“I recently lost a close friend, a fellow noncommissioned officer that I was stationed with in Germany for a little while,” he said. “He was killed in an accident, and I went to his funeral because I felt that it was my obligation as a friend to carry his body.”
The training the Soldiers volunteered for, involved executing precise movements that require expert coordination, discipline and timing. This display of professionalism and cohesion within the unit is a symbol of the respect for the honorable sacrifice made by the deceased service member.
While no Soldiers wishes to experience the death of a comrade, these Soldiers have taken on the responsibility of being prepared to perform the necessary services if the need ever does arise, to ensure the fallen are treated with all the dignity, respect and honor they truly deserve.