A dignified transfer

By LTC Melanie Meier

With no warning, all communication between Combined Operating Base Adder and the outside world was blocked. So after a day without the Internet or emails and no phone calls outside of the COB, I was eager to log on once the system returned. As I clicked onto my emails, the first one caught me off guard. It was from Mortuary Affairs and a "Dignified Transfer" for soldiers killed in action would occur at the installation's Ali Base Airfield, Tallil. The COB had lost someone this day and this was an opportunity to pay respect to our fallen comrade.

The ceremony would take place that evening at 9 p.m. I on the arrived on the airfield to find a single C-130 with the rear ramp down. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines made a human corridor in rows facing inward and leading to the ramp. As I noticed the color guard in the rear, it dawned on me that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone stood at attention and silence hung over the airfield. Then an unmarked, white truck arrived at the edge of the airfield and stopped.

In step, seven soldiers approached the truck. Two airmen opened the back and someone called the entire airfield to "present arms." As all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines saluted, the group of seven picked up the flag-draped coffin, silently marched through the corridor and onto the C-130. As they secured the coffin tightly in place, I noticed it was the Chaplain, who stood ever present and close by.

Once our comrade was secure for his flight out of Iraq, the pall bearers and Chaplain retreated as the command to "order arms" rang over the airfield. As one, the human corridor turned away from the C-130 and marched off the airfield followed by the color guard. Although I did not know the soldier's name, the dignity of his farewell touched my heart and I will always remember him.

I was also reminded that it is still dangerous over here. Now that U.S. forces have exited the Iraqi cities, attacks may increase in some areas on military and civilians. My next door CHU (containerized housing unit) neighbor, who works with the Iraqi Army every day, tells me to consider such attacks normal. It is the insurgents' way of claiming they are chasing us out.