Fallen Soldier Arrives Home with Respect
This is a touching story I had to share on this Veterans day.
MAY GOD BLESS THIS AIRLINE CAPTAIN:
He writes:
My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H..R. On
this flight." (H.R. Stands for human remains.) "Are they military?"
I asked.
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'..
'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck.
You can board him early," I said.
A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck.
He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier.
He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.
The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are
still alive and still with us.
'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said.
He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he
said no.
I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and
that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen
soldiers.
The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand.
He left the flight deck to find his seat.
We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed
an uneventful departure.
About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead
flight attendant in the cabin.
'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on
board', she said.
She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year
old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home.
The family was upset because they were unable to see the container
that the soldier was in before we left.
We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four
hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .
The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing
his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him
was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the
flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to
see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch
the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation
in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything
I could do.. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to
her.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form
of e-mail like messages.
I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher
directly on a secondary radio.
There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects
you to the telephone of the dispatcher.
I was in direct contact with the dispatcher.. I explained the
situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted.
He said he understood and that he would get back to me.
Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were
going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family.
I sent a text message asking for an update.
I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following
is the text:
'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is
policy on this now and I had to check on a few things.
Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.
The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van
will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The
family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where
the remains can be seen on the ramp.
It is a private area for the family only..
When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp
and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.
Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please
pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'
I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good
job.
I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant
to pass on to the father.
The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have
no idea how much this will mean to them.'
Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing.
After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area.
The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway.
It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter
and exit.
When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were
told that all traffic was being held for us.
'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told.
It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once
we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once
and delay the family from getting off the airplane.
As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller
we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers.
He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'
I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake.
I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman,
this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make
a special announcement.
We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect.
His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life.
Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him
today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX.
Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter.
Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in
their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'
We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our
shutdown procedures.
A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door.
I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something
you just do not see.
I was told that after we came to ato exit the aircraft.
When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly
started to clap his hands.
Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft
was clapping.
Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other
kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the
aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the
ramp to finally be with their loved one.
Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement
I had made.
They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and
over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.
I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the
sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our
freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA .
Foot note:
As a Viet Nam Veteran I can only think of all the veterans including
the ones that r ode below the deck on their way home and how they we were
treated.
When I read things like this I am proud that our country has not turned
their backs on our soldiers returning from the various war zones today and
give them the respect they so deserve.
I know every one who has served their country who reads this will have tears
in their eyes, including me.
They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.
Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others
deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
My experience:
As a Viet Nam era Veteran I know what it is like to meet a fallen Soldier I have driven Officer's to take charge from the Honor Guard escorting the Soldier Home. One of the Honor Guards knew my brother in Viet Nam. 1964- 1967
Richard
