Airman cares for casualties with dignity, honor, respect

By Dona Fair

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del ., Jul, 2009– After an unexpected knock at the front door or a phone call, for the family and friends of service members who pay the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country, the painful process of grieving begins.

For the daughter of a Honolulu couple, the painful task of identifying the remains, scanning for unexploded ordnances, performing an autopsy, and preparing each service member for burial in a casket chosen by the family for the final trip home begins.

Air Force Capt. Sandra J. Bannan, daughter of James E. and Victoria L. Bannan of Puowaina Drive Honolulu, and the other civilian and military members who work at the 70,000-square-foot, Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, are tasked with making sure that the remains of every service member is treated with dignity, honor, and respect.

Bannan is assigned to the mortuary as the officer in charge of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center Command, Control, and Communication.

“My section is the central node of communication for all deaths in the Area of Responsibility, Air Force Mortuary Affairs global mission, and all dignified transfer operations,” said Bannan.  “We monitor all transportation resources and flights manifested with remains, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.”

Before the remains are taken to the mortuary for preparation for their final resting place, they are honored for giving their lives in the service of our country by what is called a dignified transfer.

The dignified transfer begins when the fallen military member is returned to Dover, usually within 24 to 36 hours after their death.  It is here, along the flightline and out of the sight of the media, where family members are allowed to witness the transfer.

The dignified transfer is a solemn, precision movement of the transfer case by a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's respective service.  Always conducted the same, a senior ranking officer of the fallen member's service oversees each transfer.  The transfers are conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation while in the service of their country.

“We all share the commitment to possibly have to pay this price ourselves some day, and therefore we can clearly see that everything we do on this mission must be well-executed with dignity, honor, and respect.  This is our one chance to convey our nation’s gratitude for tremendous sacrifice for each of these individuals,” said Bannan, who graduated in 1999 from Roosevelt High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in education in 2004 from the University of Georgia, Athens.

Beginning with the Persian Gulf War in 1991, a moratorium was placed on media access to cover dignified transfers.  The policy was reissued in 2001 when Operation Enduring Freedom began, and again in 2003 for all military operations.  Since 2001, more than 4,000 dignified transfers have taken place.

Because of the moratorium, few people are aware that Mortuary Affairs exists, and what their role is in preparing the remains of a fallen hero before being returned to their loved ones.

“We ensure that our fallen heroes, who have paid the ultimate price, are properly honored during their return to their families and friends.  Our duty here is to prepare the member and support his or her final journey home,” said Bannan, who has been in the military for five years.

“It is impressive how well-supported and emphasized our mission is within the Department of Defense.  Our work is truly important to our nation’s understanding that these sacrifices, while saddening and unfortunate, are important to defending our nation and our people.”

Bannan and her fellow team members continue to make sure that each military member receives the utmost dignity, honor, and respect that they deserve.