In the New Yorker
This month's New Yorker features a story , "Two Soldiers" (sorry, not available on-line, but you can always pick up a copy or read it at the library), describing the military's method of handling the remains of soldiers killed in action, illustrated by its specific handling of the bodies of Specialists Solomon Bangayan and Marc Seiden of Bravo Company of the 82nd Airborne, killed in action together in Baghdad on January 2 of this year.
Mortuary affairs is a relatively small and, from the descriptions in the article, professionally and sensitively operated unit of the army that sees to it that the bodies of those killed make it home for burial. The respect displayed by those in this unit toward those in their charge. When Dan Baum, who wrote the article, mentioned to Douglas Howard, a civilian trainer in Mortuary Affairs, how ceremonious and expensive the handling of fallen soldiers is, Mr. Howard responded "it is, quite literally, the least we can do for them." And so it is. These fallen have given, as Lincoln said, the "last full measure of devotion." This nation owes them the respect shown them by Mortuary Affairs. My gratitude goes to those who have fallen, as well as to those who, in the name of all of us, treat them thusly.
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