A Soldier Weeps: KIA

With all the false alarms and close calls, we may sometimes forget how easily our lives and the lives of our brothers can be taken away from us...

It was a soldier from an attached platoon, and they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Down one of the main roads, they were pulling security for our incomming Logisitcal Package or LOGPAC (we just call it a CLP or "Clip"), when their vehicle was decimated by an EFP (Explosively formed projectile). Some came out alive, one did not.

I do not want to give the details of the incident (OPSEC), rather, the aftermath of it all. I was assigned to be the SCMO- Summary Court Martial Officer- which in this case meant that I had to take an inventory of the personal effects of the deceased. As I went through his belongings, I began to paint the picture of the person, rather than just the soldier. I did not know him personally, but I now know he was into comic books, played various space/ fantasy games on his PSP, and had a beautiful wife. His friends and leadership were taking it pretty hard... everyone wanted to help out with the process, be involved with their comrade for one last time... I saw many on the verge of crying, and others hid from the crowd before braking down in tears.

Now, I am at BIAP (Baghdad International Airport), where I had to personally deliver the personal affects to Mortuary Affairs. It seems as though they have a very methodical and well thought out process of getting the personal effects from Iraq to the family. I am only the first step in the process, after I hand it off, it goes to a facility in the states where they go through every item: clean and fold clothes as well as cleaning all items, go through computers, CDs, pictures to edit any obcene or inappropriate material, re-inventory items to ensure accuracy, and create a personalized wooden chest to display all the items when the family receives them. The finished product will be the final memory that the family will have of their loved one, so preparation is key to ensure this. It seems as though they have this down to a science.