Remember fallen heroes, their families
By 1st Lt. Wayne Capps, 315th Airlift Wing
/ Published January 19, 2006
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Recently, the Air Force gave me the opportunity to fly on a mission that made me experience feelings that could only be described as heart-wrenching. It also made me feel more proud to be an American and a member of the U.S. military than ever before.
Our mission was scheduled to last just over a week. We were going to display our aircraft at an international air show, a pretty good deal for the folks tasked with the mission.
The only drawback was the trip was over Thanksgiving, and we would have to spend our holiday displaying the C-17 to the people of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates instead of spending it with the people we love.
Thanksgiving came and went as we spent our last day showing off the jet followed by a little last minute shopping for souvenirs for family members to try to make up for not being there over the holiday.
While we complained a bit about missing our families, we had no idea what one of the last legs of our mission had in store for us.
The following morning, the 5:00 a.m. departure came early, and we left Dubai and headed to Kuwait for quick stop to pick up some cargo bound for Germany.
When we arrived in Kuwait, we were informed that we would be transporting human remains. We also found out one of the fallen soldiers would be escorted by his father-in-law, an Army colonel.
The mood of the entire crew changed quickly; many of us had never transported fallen soldiers before.
As the truck carrying the caskets pulled up to the aircraft, we lined up at attention behind the aircraft to pay our respects and a combination of Air Force, Army and Marine pallbearers took their position behind the truck.
The first flag draped casket was pulled from the truck and was carried onto the aircraft; the aircrew with nearly 30 onlookers slowly saluted the fallen hero as he passed.
When the group of pallbearers returned for the second casket, there was a slight change in the group. A colonel now marched in the middle of the formation in the place of a young airman. Tears were running down his cheek as he helped pull each casket off the truck and load them on the aircraft.
Everyone standing at attention knew this must be the fallen soldier’s father-in-law. He was taking his family home. Tears welled up in the eyes of almost everyone watching, including mine.
After all six caskets were loaded on the jet and the plane was in the air, the colonel quietly left his seat and went back to the last casket in the row and sat down on the floor by it. He sat there on the floor with his hand on the flag for the entire eight-hour flight. The sight was enough to bring a grown man to tears.
As I watched the colonel sit with his fallen son-in-law, I began to think about the importance of family. I could not imagine what his family was going through.
I don’t think I will ever forget the sight of that colonel sitting quietly on the floor of the aircraft with his hand on the casket. When I think about him and the six soldiers we were privileged enough to bring back home, I will think about my family and how fortunate I am to have them.
As the new year approaches, think about those fallen heroes and what they gave up to ensure their families are safe from terrorism in their own county. Also think about that colonel and his family as they have an empty seat at their table this year.
Human nature sometimes makes us take our loved ones for granted, but this New Year, tell them how much you love them and say a little prayer for the families having those empty chairs at table.