Air Force mortuary provides compassionate service

by Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Doyle
18th Wing Public Affairs

2/5/2013 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  -- (Editor's Note: It's important for service members to remember to update their Virtual Record of Emergency Data (vRED), or Defense Document Form 93. This will allow the military to have correct and up-to-date next-of-kin and beneficiary information in case of death.)

When someone passes away there are plenty of decisions to be made.

Most of the time, military members and their families choose not to speak of such a taboo subject.

"Everyone should have the conversation with their family member," said Robert Glassheim, director of the United States Air Force Mortuary at Camp Kinser outside Naha City, Okinawa.

For every military member, Department of Defense civilian and loved ones in the Western Pacific region, the U.S. Air Force Mortuary in Okinawa is there to prepare loved ones for the trip home to the United States.

When the mortuary receives a body from the hospital or medical examiner, with permission from the family, they will begin the process of embalming, which is done primarily to disinfect the remains.

"After that process is done, then the remains are dressed, casketed and then we transfer them back to the states," Glassheim said.

As a licensed funeral director, Glassheim said he's honored to support people during their most difficult time in life.

"When a death happens, this family that's been caught up in this loss, it becomes a journey," Glassheim said. "We call that the 'grief process' and I have the privilege of helping them through this part of the journey."

Sending a loved one home is part of a complex process. The mortuary affairs staff makes travel arrangements aboard United States airlines for both the deceased and their escort.

An escort is a military member of equal or greater rank who escorts the remains back to the states. It can also be, at times, a coworker, friend or possibly a family member in the military.

The staff also notifies the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and the United Service Organization support systems to facilitate the transfer process.

"A lot of the airlines take this very seriously and provide the most awesome display of dignity and respect for our fallen that anyone could ever want for their loved ones," Glassheim said.

Glassheim said some airlines arrange for water cannons to be sprayed over the aircraft, and uniformed men and women from local law enforcement stand and watch as fallen Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors come off the plane.

"It's very heartwarming to see that - the American display of patriotism for the fallen," he said. "It tears me up to witness that or hear about it."