Warrior Farewell

A soldier died.




Last week a soldier from COB Adder was killed by an IED. Several weeks ago another lost his life due to natural causes. I will not write about the circumstances. I will tell you how we honor our fallen.

As soon as we learn of a death, dozens of actions begin taking place. We have rehearsed this battle drill because it is not unexpected. The amount of work that has to be done right away to make sure this soldier and his family is taken care of is amazing. I won’t tell you about all of it because I don’t know everything…there are lots of personal, administrative and command details that have to be tended to in a very timely manner.
When a death happens, no matter what the cause, several things go into motion. First of all we try to get the situation under control to make sure no one else gets hurt and that wrong information doesn’t get put out. It’s natural for people to speculate about the details of a death but most of the time that is not very helpful. We sort those out in due time.
Immediately a commo blackout is put in effect, that is, all communication back home stops. The phone lines are put off limits and the internet services shut down. In this day and age of instant communication we have to get that under control to prevent word of the death making it back to the families until official notification gets to them. This prevents second and third hand information from getting to the family which can be incomplete, incorrect and insensitive. The blackout lasts until the notification is made which could be a couple of days. The official notification is made in-person back in the states by trained soldiers and chaplains.
The soldier's remains must make it back to the states. A plane is immediately coordinated to take the remains of the fallen back to the states. Within hours a large ceremonial detail was coordinated. The plane lands and about two hundred of us are in formation on the tarmac. Airmen and soldiers alike in two parallel formations form a line that leads to the back of the aircraft. Our Squadron colors and the U.S. Flag blow in the stiff, hot wind. The aircraft ramp slowly dropps revealing the dark insides of the plane. The formation marches toward the back of the plane. The formation splits to form a lane ten feet wide. We stop short of the plane.
The Sergeant Major shouts a command, “CENTERRRR, FACE!” We sharply turn toward the lane. A formation of pall-bearers carries the flag-drapped casket to the plane and then into it. As the casket is secured to the deck of the plane our Chaplain said a prayer and words to send our warrior from us a final time.
That complete, the formation moved from the plane, “FORRRRRWARD, MARCH!” We move away as the ramp closes, the propellers began to turn and our friend left us for the final time to be laid to rest in the states.
Short, solemn, honorable. The farewell lasted only a short while.
Other details were taken care of. Personnel and administrative details were handled by subject matter experts. Awards he was due were processed, final payroll completed, life insurance details for the family dispensed.
A formal farewell ceremony was prepared and rehearsed. While this was taking place the soldiers from his unit were looked after with counselors working to ensure that his close friends were coping with the loss.
A final ceremony was held at our Memorial Hall which was filled with Squadron soldiers. Much like a funeral back home, pictures of our friend were posted, flags were standing, solemn music played. During the ceremony there were several speakers. Friends and leaders of our soldier spoke about him. What was he like, how did they come to know him, how he would be missed. Of course the Chaplain spoke and verses from the bible were read. At the end a 21 gun salute was rendered and Taps was played. The first volleys always take the crowd by surprise. We all salute our friend as honors were rendered.
At the end every soldier marched by the soldier’s memorial. Flags, his photo, and our soldier’s rifle, bayonet attached, stuck in the ground with his dog tags hanging from the weapon. We pass by the memorial one-at-a-time and give our final salute to a soldier who deployed, did his job, and gave his life while serving our nation.


The past few months I’ve painted you a relatively rosy picture of life on a dusty base. It's not always that rosy.


Every soldier that has lost his or her life while serving received this same type of final farewell and sendoff.

The youngest private and the highest General, should they fall, will get a similar sendoff. All are important. All are valued. All are missed. All play a part in the huge team that is assembled here. Nobody just slips away unnoticed.

SABER 02, out.