After you finish, try to recall what it was that was bothering you; I couldn't.


Subject: Thoughts on a recent day at work

I had an unforgettable day yesterday and wanted to share it with you. I know
we've all sat around and discussed in detail why we do what we do and if we
will be willing to continue to do what we do day in and day out regardless
of deployments, retirement decisions, job opportunities, missed birthdays,
missed holidays, etc. This is something I wanted to share and you were the
people that came to mind. It's another reason I continue to serve. I guess
because many others do and sacrifice a lot more, some even their lives.

My crew was alerted yesterday to find that our mission had changed. We were
now a backup to a high priority mission originating from Afghanistan . When
I asked where we would be going the answer was "back to the states". Later I
learned our destination was Dover .

I was the aircraft commander for one of two C-17s that transferred the
Chinook helicopter crash soldiers back home. The crew that started this
mission in Afghanistan would end up running out of crew duty day and need
another crew to continue the soldier's journey. We just happened to be
available. After being alerted and going through our normal sequence, I
found myself at the foot of the aircraft steps.

Before I took my first step upward I noticed a transfer case close to the
door. I had only seen one in pictures. The American Flag was tucked smartly,
folded and secured on top. I paused at the bottom of the stairs, took a deep
breath and continued up with my mind and eyes focusing on making it to the
next ladder leading to the cockpit. However, as I entered, I couldn't help
but notice the remaining nineteen transfer cases in the cargo compartment.

The entire cargo compartment was filled with identical transfer cases with
American Flags. I made my way up to the cockpit and received a briefing from
the previous aircraft commander. After the briefing we exchanged a handshake
and the other pilot was on his way.

I felt a need to ensure the crew focused on their normal duties. I
instructed the other two pilots to began the preflight. I went back down
into the cargo compartment to see what needed to be done and find the
paperwork I needed to sign. The cargo compartment was now filled with
numerous people from the mortuary affairs squadron. They were busy
adjusting, resetting and overall preparing the cases for their continued
flight. Before they began I asked who was in charge because I knew there was
paperwork I needed to sign. I finally found a Staff Sergeant who was working
an issue with the paperwork. After it was complete, he brought it up to the
cockpit for me to review and sign.

There are moments in life I will never forget. For me, it's the days my son
and daughter were born. Another occurred five months ago when I had to
deliver the unthinkable news to a mother that her son was killed in
Afghanistan and although I didn't anticipate another day like that this
soon, yesterday was another. I looked at the paperwork I was signing and
realized the magnitude of the day. I glanced over the paperwork and signed.
In a way, I felt I had taken ownership of these fallen soldiers. It was now
my duty to ensure they make it home.

After confirming the preflight was complete and the aircraft was fueled, I
went outside to start my walk-around. As I walked down the steps, a bus had
parked in front of the aircraft and unloaded eleven passengers. The
passengers were fellow SEAL team members who were escorting the fallen back
to the states. I stood at the front of the aircraft and watched them board.
Every one of them walked off the bus with focus in their eyes and
determination in their steps; just as I imagine they do when they go on a
mission. I made eye contact with the lead SEAL, nodded my head in respect
and he nodded back.

Finishing my walk-around, I stopped at the bottom of the stairs. I looked up
into the cargo compartment; two American Flags and one SEAL Team Six flag
hung from the top of the cargo compartment. Three of twenty transfer cases
were visible; one with an American Flag and two with Afghan flags. I looked
up at my aircraft and saw, "United States Air Force" painted on the side and
I stood trying to take it all in. I wanted to make certain that I never
forget these images. That I never forget the faces of the SEALS, the smell
of the cargo compartment or the sun slowly rising over the landscape. It's
important that I don't forget. We need to honor the dead, honor the
sacrifice of the fallen.

I understand my role in getting these fallen soldiers home is insignificant
compared to the lives they lived and the things they did for our country.
Most of it we will never know. All I know is every American should see what
I've seen. Every American should see the bus loads of families as they exit
the freeway headed for Dover AFB to reunite with their fallen or witness the
amount of time, effort, people and equipment that go into ensuring our
fallen have a honorable return.

The very next day we took the same aircraft back overseas. We had leveled
the aircraft at our cruise altitude and I walked down to the cargo
compartment. No more American Flags hung from the ceiling. All the transfer
cases were gone.

Instead I watched a father lay with his son, cradled on his chest, on the
same spot that only yesterday held a fallen soldier. I watched a young girl,
clutching a teddy bear, sleeping quietly where the fallen had laid. I
realized so many Americans have no idea where the fallen lay.

I'm honored to be one that does.

Excellent...very well written and very true. I would love to re-post this on our blog if the author would give his permission.

If you have not seen the movie "Taking Chance" it is worth your time. If I remember correctly it was a made for HBO movie starring Kevin Bacon as the escort. It paints an excellent picture of what all is involved in returning our fallen home.

Thanks for sharing, as a 130 LM I've had some similair experiences... never on that scale though. It can be pretty overwhelming.

Wow that was awesome! I'll never forget the first time I brought 9 fallen soldiers home. Part of my duties as an FE is to do a walk through of the cargo compartment periodically during cruise to make sure there's nothing going on down there that were not aware of systems wise. I'll tell you what walking around down there all by yourself looking at those cases tied down really makes what is going on REAL. I have flown over 200 combat missions and logged over 1000 combat hours and until that day it just seemed like I was doing my job. That vision comes to my mind almost daily when I see something like a morbidly obese person complaining that they didn't want pickles on their Big Mac or somebody almost crashing their car in order to flip off the guy that just cut them off. Most Americans are so ignorant to anything outside their little world it's not even funny.

Rant off...Thanks for posting.

Who ever was the PIC, thank you for bringing them home. It brought a tear to my eyes to read this.
AvidFlyer, your right, most Americans have no idea what our troops do to protect our country. (God Bless America)

Hard not to shed a tear over those men and others like them. Yesterday the wife and I flew to Yuma AZ. rented a car and drove to Los Algondonas Mx. While in a restaurant there I over heard a man talking to another and mention that he had spent 30 years in the Army. Upon leaving the restaurant we met up with him outside and I asked him if I'd heard right if he'd spent 30 in the Army.

He replied with a proud smile on his face, "yes and you? We're you in also?"
"No sir, I've been a civilian all of my life, You've made life easier for me, but I'd like to thank you for your service to us all". I replied. I shook his hand and he thanked me with a big smile and I could tell he was a bit taken back.

That was my boys taking them home.... They ensured they had a very honerable return.

Thank you for posting. The rest of my thoughts are in Hot Air.

Eltee..your post on Globemasters took my mind back over 50 years ago..we used to watch the Globemasters out of Ellsworth AFB fly over my grandfathers ranch in South Dakota. At the time these were giants for their day with four R-4360 P&W radials and you could hear them coming for miles. Little did we know what kind of cargo they might be hauling. My personal doctor ( he does my flight physical) has told me stories of the wounded he used to accompany from Nam to Japan in the cargo holds of C-141 Starlifters. This transport service may not be as glamourous as the hot shot fighters, but it is essential to taking care of our troops all over the world. Hats off to you and your fellow crews.
HC

I, too, as a KC-10 Aircraft Commander, had the solemn privilege of bringing some of our country's finest home the final time from Iraq. It seemed to be one of the longest flights ever, knowing that, except for the grace of God, it could be any of us. Always a somber time, and never one forgotten.