Patriot Detail

Yesterday, I left rather quickly from my desk. The call came over the brick for a Patriot Detail. This Detail is when there is a fellow American that was killed in action and they have prepped the body for transport back home...to the United States. This soldier was from this base. He was returning back to base from a mission outside the wire when a VBIED, Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device, detonated as the Humvee drove over it. He was the driver. The others in the vehicle suffered non-life threatening injuries, very lucky but still...
The Patriot Detail is a ceremony that honors the fallen. Every time that a soldier comes through this base on the way home a Patriot Detail is called. This call came yesterday morning. All types of military members from Airman to Sergeants to LTs to Captains, Majors, Lt Colonel, Colonels, Brigadier Generals, from the Army, to Navy, Air Force, Marines, British Soldiers, Aussie Soldiers. Any and all walks of life on this bases came out to send this soldier home with a dignified ceremony and justified respect. We formed up in parallel formation, from smallest to tallest. Rank does not matter here in this formation. We marched silently toward where a Baltimore Guard C-130 was parked on the ramp. We marched past the C-130 then turned back to come back straight toward the aircraft's back ramp door. As I was marching, I noticed that the formation line was incredibly long as I was near the back of the line. It was something I will never forget, seeing the 2 long lines of nearly 300 soldiers, marching silently is one of the most heart wrenching ceremonies I've ever been a part of or witness to. As we got to the aircraft we were directed to march on either side of the door. We came to attention, did a facing maneuver to face the inside. At the designated time, they brought the flag covered casket slowly up between the formation. A slow hand salute was given as the pall bearers made their way up the ramp and onto the aircraft. It was noon time, the heat was intense, the sweat was rolling down everyone's brow, but not one person moved. A Chaplain gave a 10 minute ceremony, then it was over. And as we all filed out, and away from the aircraft, I felt emotionally drained. I did not want to do anything else for the rest of the day. I went to lunch and regrouped my feelings. I noticed that you must put that emotion into a small corner of your gut and move on. There are many people here counting on you to do your job. And we must not let tragedies like this or what happened in London affect our resolve to keep the fight IN THE BAD GUY'S BACKYARD NOT OURS. Please remember we did not start this war but we will finish it. That is that.