Mortuary Staff Prepares Uniforms for Fallen

American Forces Press Service ^ | Elaine Wilson

[SandRat]

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., March 9, 2010 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Toro slides ribbons onto a rack, then clips the rack onto a brand-new dress uniform, the finishing touch on a lengthy process to ensure the proper medals and decorations are in place.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Toro measures the distance between an insignia and ribbon rack while preparing a uniform at the uniform shop of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 23, 2010. Toro prepares uniforms for fallen soldiers’ remains. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

He smiles as he admires his handiwork, lifting the jacket to ensure each medal and insignia is perfectly spaced and no wrinkles have invaded the carefully pressed surface.

Toro has put an inordinate amount of time and effort into this uniform, even though it’s not one he’ll ever wear. This uniform is for a servicemember who has been killed in combat.

Toro works in the uniform shop of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center here, and it’s his job to prepare the uniforms that will clothe soldiers’ remains. His job, he said, is a labor of love.

“Soldiers take pride in their uniforms, and we ensure that pride is sustained even after they pass away,” he said.

Toro’s focus is on uniforms for soldiers, but Navy, Air Force and Marine representatives also are on hand to prepare uniforms for their service colleagues. All U.S. servicemembers who die in support of a combat operation will come through the operations center here, where their remains are prepared for final disposition.

Marine Corps Cpl. Adam Knebler said it’s tough to describe the satisfaction he gets from doing this job.

“I find my work very rewarding,” he said while sliding a belt buckle onto a strap. He is building several uniforms for Marines who had arrived the night prior. “This is probably one of the most important things we can do.”

Knebler is surrounded by hundreds of uniforms and walls covered with neat rows of new ribbons and insignia from every service branch. The readily available stock helps the staff turn around the uniforms quickly. Their task must be completed by the time the remains are ready for departure home, which can take from 24 hours up to several days.

The staff’s job starts when the remains first arrive at the mortuary. It’s their job to obtain measurements, then have the uniform custom-tailored on base to ensure the perfect fit. Most families request burial in the service’s dress uniform, but the staff also has accommodated other requests.

“We’ve purchased civilian attire, such as a suit or even jeans and a shirt,” Toro said. “We’ll do our best to fulfill any request.”

For uniform requests, which make up the bulk of their work, their next step is to gather ribbons and medals; even those that have been posthumously awarded will make it onto the uniform. If needed, they will special-order a ribbon or medal, such as a state-specific one for a National Guard member, and have it shipped overnight. The name tag is the finishing touch, with a machine on hand to make them on the spot.

Once complete, the uniform will undergo a quality check. “If it’s not right, if the sleeve is too long, for instance, we’ll start over,” Toro said. Another quality check will take place after modifications, and then a third at shipping.

These extensive efforts all are aimed at making sure the uniform is perfect for the families.

“Families are going through a tough enough time. We want them to have the least stress and worry possible,” said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Richard Mitchell. When they see the uniform, he added, “we want the families to see perfection; we want the uniform to shine.”

Related Sites:
Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center
Special Report: Dignity, Honor, Respect for the Fallen

	Army Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Toro clips a ribbon rack onto a new dress uniform at the uniform shop of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 23, 2010. Toro prepares uniforms for fallen soldiers’ remains. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Army Spc. Xavier Gonzalez snips a thread off of a uniform shirt at the uniform shop of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Gonzalez prepares uniforms for fallen soldiers’ remains. U.S. Air Force photo   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[DallasSun]

Thank you for this article. Civilians never think of the things that have to be done for a fallen soldier as he begins his trip home. Bless these men who have this duty. It cannot be easy and must stay with you all the rest of your days.

[Old Texan]

God Bless the soldiers for caring for the fallen.

[Lorianne]

Important work.
Thanks for posting.

[rednesss]

I suggest watching the very good HBO movie Taking Chance.

[Arkansas Tider]

I made my wife watch the movie prior my deploying to Iraq to let her know how well I would be taken care off if something should happen.

[merry10]

Thank you for serving.

[Bean Counter]

Thank You for posting this.

[SandRat]

When you prepare the uniform for the last time for the final Posting to heaven you learn the warriors entire military career. It’s got to be as if the warrior is talking to you from the great beyond. I imagine that those that have this honor, can almost hear the warrior saying thank you for readying him for the final inspection.

[higgmeister]

My brother once worked the global notification desk at Randolph AFMPC. He was one of the guys that used the global locator to identify and contact the closest military officer to a residence of record in order to dispatch them to deliver the "Regret to Inform You Notifications."

My brother's faith in God and the USAF remains unshaken even after or possibly because of that burdensome task.

[SandRat]

NOK Duty is emotionally the hardest duty around.

[peeps36]

I’m surprised our fraudulent president didn’t get a photo op of himself preparing these heroes for burial. I wouldn’t put anything past this creep.

[GreenLanternCorps]

10,000 threads on FR to complain about Obama, and you pick this one???

Have some respect.

[MilspecRob]

My Mother never got her first husbands body back from the sunk ship in the Pacific, and this is what you have to add?

[mom aka the evil dictator]

Had that long talk with my son before he deployed the first time to make sure everyone in the family knew their marching orders and exactly how he wanted his funeral if that time came. He has a wicked sense of humor and we all had a good laugh even though it was a serious subject. I’ve got his clothes in the dresser and I am glad to know that someone else will be helping me if that day every comes. God bless all of those people.

[SZonian]

Better have a box of tissues handy when you do.

Tough movie, very compelling and moving, but tough to watch.

[real saxophonist]

Gonna say something about abortion next?

[Edgewood Pilot]

Very touching. Very humbling.

[GreenLanternCorps]

Thank you.

[higgmeister]

NOK Duty is emotionally the hardest duty around.

Officers in various liaison or staff positions around the country think they have it made until they get that phone call in the middle of the night they cannot refuse.