Posted on 06/21/2010 9:37:17 AM PDT by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — Christian is home.
Sunday, slightly after the noon hour, a plane carrying Spc. Christian Michael Adams landed at Libby Army Airfield.
Waiting for him were family members and an honor guard of soldiers.
The homecoming was sad, somber and sorrowful, as his family watched from just inside one of Libby’s hangars as the 26-year-old soldier’s body was taken from the plane to be returned to his family, by members of his extended family — fellow members of the Army.
As the honor guard stood on one side of a red line on the tarmac, the bright sun beating down on them, the fort’s senior commander, garrison commander and two command sergeants major stood with their toes on the same line, off to the honor guard’s right.
As the civilian contract plane, a twin-engined jet, landed and taxied into position, some birds flew around the cavernous opening of the hangar, their soft chirps filling the air.
The family stood in silence, some with hands over their hearts and at least one saluting.
As the plane taxied into position, the honor guard, Maj. Gen. John Custer, Col. Timothy Faulkner and Command Sergeants Maj. Todd Holiday and Mark Barbary saluted.
Soon the quietness of the scene was broken as a hydraulic engine of the plane began and the cargo door opened.
One of the crew members exited and put up a portable ramp. Then they lowered a stand, upon which the casket with the remains of the soldier who called Sierra Vista home, was placed.
Although born at Fort Bragg, N.C., most of Adams’ life was spent growing up in Sierra Vista where he attended Carmichael and Bella Vista elementary schools, then Sierra Vista Middle School and Buena High School, from which he graduated in 2003.
Enlisting in the Army soon after high school, Adams was on his second deployment when he died in Kandahar, Afghanistan, due to noncombat circumstances on June 11. Previously, he had been deployed to Iraq from March 2004 to March 2005.
When the flag-draped casket appeared in the plane’s cargo door, there was a slight gasp from some members of his family.
The family asked not to be interviewed but graciously allowed the media to attend the arrival of his body and will allow media to be at the funeral mass for him at the Main Post Chapel at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
As a young man, Adams served as an altar server at the post chapel. Adams’ full obituary appeared in the Herald/Review in Sunday’s issue.
Taking the casket off the stand, the honor guard members marched it to the waiting hearse and then the family got into vehicles to go to the Hatfield Funeral Home.
The procession was led off the post by members of the local Patriot Guard Riders.
After the ceremony, Custer said the soldier, who was assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion of the 36th Engineer Brigade at Fort Hood as a tracked vehicle mechanic, is one of many who in the past nine years of war have returned to their families in “such a sad way.”
The Army ensures soldiers receive proper honors, an important detail as all soldiers are part of a larger extended family of service members, said the general, who commands the Intelligence Center of Excellence and the fort.
Some of Adams’ family also served in the military, but that fact doesn’t take away the pain and never can, he said.
Sunday’s ceremony is part of ensuring a family knows the Army takes care of its own, Custer said.
What happened at the airfield was more than turning over the remains of a loved one, he said.
“This is where the Army transfers ownership,” Custer said, adding the ceremony is to let the family know the Army appreciates his service “by receiving him back from the battlefield.”
Members of the Fort Huachuca Honor Guard put the casket holding the remains of Spc. Christian Michael Adams,
of Sierra Vista, into a hearse Sunday, after the body was flown into the post’s Libby Army Airfield.
Standing by the door of the hearse is Adams’ escort. (Beatrice Richardson • Herald/Review)
Prayers & thanks to another Hero & his family.
“This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”
ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN MOST OF US HAD DIED
A SOLDIER AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT APPLIED.
"SHOW ME,"
THE STERN ONE SAID,
" SOME PROOF THAT YOU ARE CHOICE AMONG THE DEAD !
SOME SAINTLY ACT ; SOME HOLY SKILL OR KINDLY ART. !
ONLY THIS, OH MAGISTRATE, OH KING, OH GOD ;
MY LIFE'S BLOOD FOR MY COUNTRY STAINED THE SOD.
FOR PROOF...I HAVE THIS PURPLE HEART."
HE GAZED LONG AT IT, THE KING ALL MANKIND'S MENTOR THEN NODDING, SOFTLY WHISPERED
... " ENTER. "
RICHARD H. DUCKWELL
Prayers and tears.
Prayers for Christian and his family.
God Bless and condolences to his family.
God bless this brave warrior and comfort his family. Prayers and thoughts...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.