FTA: In addition to the two cases of lost body pieces, the Air Force reviewed allegations that mortuary officials acted improperly in sawing off an arm bone that protruded from the body of a Marine in a way that prevented his body from being placed in his uniform for viewing before burial. The Marine's family had requested seeing him in his uniform but was not consulted about - or told of - the decision to remove the bone.

People don't want to know what done to their dead loved ones for a traditional funeral with a viewing. I prefer a private viewing with immideate family then a closed casket. If the body isn't recommended for viewing, then why put the family through it?

Philip J. Fry: I didn't realize falling from a chair can be fatal.

You need to RTFA first. And yes, falling out of a chair can be fatal. Why do you think we have AFOSH?

Satanic_Hamster: Could be worse; could be the navy looking for missing seamen.

Win.

*shakes your hand*

kiwimoogle84: Satanic_Hamster: Could be worse; could be the navy looking for missing seamen.

Win.

*shakes your hand*

Oh come on.

Point02GPA: kiwimoogle84: Satanic_Hamster: Could be worse; could be the navy looking for missing seamen.

Win.

*shakes your hand*

Oh come on.

*Shakes his moneymaker*??

At least those in leadership positions are taking their lumps instead of all the shiat rolling downill. And I agree that the family doesn't want to know the gory details about how they got that Marine into his uniform.

AirForceVet, do you remember a story a couple years ago in "Air Force Times" about the mortuary at Dover? (I'd search and link it but unless one subscibes, I don't think they could read it anyway). I seem to recall being extremely impressed with the seriousness with which those assigned there took their mission. It had never occurred to me, either, that doing that kind of work could be as psychologically damaging. Several of the workers there exhibit signs of PTSD.

And they wonder why fallen Marines are escorted all the way home and into the ground.

R.A.Danny: And they wonder why fallen Marines are escorted all the way home and into the ground.

Once their bodies are prepared at Dover, they are escorted to their final resting place.

Link (new window)

prompting the Air Force to discipline three senior officials for "gross mismanagement."

Emphasis on "gross."

Oddly prescient...

This is a photoshop contest waiting to happen.

Oh, so many emotions get tossed when bodies and their parts are mismanaged.

Really, there's no right way this can get handled, and it seems like the Air Force is doing about the only thing it can. Hopefully, this will be seen as just a tragic aberration and not a sign of some kind of horrible disregard for soldiers overall. Because that's all it seems to be at this point.

8DragonFark: freetomato: At least those in leadership positions are taking their lumps instead of all the shiat rolling downill. And I agree that the family doesn't want to know the gory details about how they got that Marine into his uniform.

AirForceVet, do you remember a story a couple years ago in "Air Force Times" about the mortuary at Dover? (I'd search and link it but unless one subscibes, I don't think they could read it anyway). I seem to recall being extremely impressed with the seriousness with which those assigned there took their mission. It had never occurred to me, either, that doing that kind of work could be as psychologically damaging. Several of the workers there exhibit signs of PTSD.

A friends brother flies the unmanned drones. Based in continental US (not sure where). Apparently he is also showing signs of PTSD- although the brass never considered them susceptible to it.

Guess what: Killing lots of people over an extended period of time may be hazardous to your mental health. Dealing with large numbers of dead bodies over an extended period of time may be hazardous to your mental health. War in general is not good for its practitioners in the long term.

EnglishChef PolishInventor GermanHumanitarian: How the hell does an Airman get hit with an IED? Was there an poolside attack during beer night in Qatar?

Dumbass.

First of all, the Air Force has explosive ordinance disposal technicians. I attended a Bronze Star ceremony for one last summer. They also have combat controllers and security forces on ground patrol.

Second, the casualties of ALL branches of the service are processed through Dover.

But surely you know that and I just fed a troll. Because nobody is that stupid, right?

moto-geek: Who's going to foot the bill for this? Heaven nose.

We didn't kneed that.

RoxtarRyan: Uh oh... hope these aren't the same mortuary affairs Airmen that are going right to wok in the chow halls afterward.

/yes, the services squadrons do both
//enjoy your meal! I'll be off base grabbing some Subway.

I imagine it is safe to assume if you are assigned to Mortuary Affairs at Dover, you are not skedaddling off to the chow hall to flip burgers after prepping remains. Every base I've eaten at has civilians behind the fry line. I think the only time I've ever had a person in uniform serve me a meal is during an exercise.

This is a disheartening story, but I can't help but think that like any organization that is stressed out and task saturated, some mistakes ocurred. I imagine these mistakes were revealed as part of a periodic inspection (not sure what the mortuary affairs get - a Unit Compliance Inspection? That is where they pick you apart from top to bottom to make sure you are following the regs to the letter. But you know that, Ryan, that is more for the non-USAF types). The bottom line is those servicemember's remains were delivered to their final resting place, and I doubt the families were even aware that 3 oz of their loved one might have been mixed in with the remains of the guy who died next to him.

It's not like this happened (joke):

This woman goes into a funeral home to make arrangements for her husband's funeral. She tells the director that she wants her husband to be buried in a dark blue suit.

He asks, "Wouldn't it just be easier to bury him in the black suit that he's wearing?"

But she insists that it must be a blue suit and gives him a blank check to buy one.

When she comes back for the funeral, she sees her husband in the coffin and he is wearing a beautiful blue suit. She tells the funeral director how much she loves the suit and asks how much it cost.

He says, "Actually, it didn't cost anything. The funniest thing happened. As soon as you left, another corpse was brought in, this one wearing a blue suit. I noticed that they were about the same size, and asked the other widow if she would mind if her husband were buried in a black suit. She said that was fine with her. So... I switched the heads."


/hate to joke about this stuff
//hubby is flying over Afghanistan as we speak

freetomato: "So... I switched the heads."

Cid_Highwind: freetomato: //hubby is flying over Afghanistan as we speak

Sheez lady, whatever happened to OPSEC? You know there are Farkers in the Taliban ready to launch SAMs at a moment's notice!.

I was properly vague. If shiat goes down, I blame YOU. Because!