DAY 31: Fallen Soldiers

Mon, 26 September 2005

When a coalition member is killed here in Afghanistan, the whole base assembles at the aircraft ramp for the Fallen Soldier ceremony – a solemn military tribute to honor and send off the dead soldier(s). From afar, I’ve witness the ceremony while I was on the other side of the ramp unloading our cargo early in our tour. However, this was my first opportunity to attend a ceremony in person.

We assembled around midday in the hot Afghanistan sun into groups we’re assigned to. The Air Force members coalesce into one large group and in turn several Army units and Coalition forces gather into their recognizable formations. Our first sergeant then marches us onto the flightline right up to the aircraft’s ramp. The group halts and then performs a “left face”. Across the 10-foot wide corridor, another group halts and performs a “right face”. Additional units follow suit and soon there is a huge gathering of troops in a perfect formation with a long corridor provided for the procession. We wait for about 15 minutes and then the ceremony begins.

A Scottish bagpipe starts off the procession by playing a tribute song to honor the fallen soldiers. I’m not familiar with the song’s name, but it’s a tune familiar to us all and very solemn in nature. It immediately sets the tone for this event. Soon, five HMMMVs pull up and park alongside the formation. Each vehicle contains a casket with a draped American flag containing a deceased member from the previous day’s crash. Surrounding the deceased are eight soldiers who then unload the casket and become the pallbearers. A ninth soldier appears from the passenger seat and follows right behind each casket as if he is “protecting the head.”

The entire formation is then ordered to “Present Arms”, a marching order for each member to render a sharp salute. Each group of pallbearers then begins a double-time step to proceed down the corridor and towards the aircraft ramp. As each casket passes by, the enormity of the situation starts to hit each and every one of us. Emotions run high as the passing of each deceased soldier marks another poignant moment. The heartrending event finally starts to impact us on an individual level – I can hear troops all around me start to sniffle and tear up. Soon, even I become overwhelmed by this touching ceremony and begin to tear up as well. Given the duration of the event and our aching arms, not a single soldier or airman drops their salute. When the final casket passes by, an announcement is made to “Order Arms” in which we complete our salute and bring our tired arms down to our sides.

During the entire ceremony, dust devils formed along the runway and moved in the direction of the formation. Several of these vortices passed close by – close enough to witness the details of the swirling vortex and the associated debris field. I’m not a particularly religious person, but if you look deeply into this scene you could see a metaphor in it. With the passing of each dust devil, a soldier’s spirit was being lifted to a higher place. Wherever their souls are, may they rest in peace.

Fallen Soldiers #9 and #10Combat Rescue Save #15