As I mentioned in the message to staff, this is a profile I had to do for my English class. The instructor, being a professional editor, strongly suggested I had this piece published. So what came to mind initially, was to share it on the TPS blog. Enjoy the read:
The Kuwait deployment was supposed to be an easier tour than the usual for Sergeant Eoff. This being his last deployment before completing four years of service in the Marine Corps, it would be a smoother transition into civilian life. Those words are almost soothing to Eoff, and he leans back and into the sofa’s fabric as he recalls.
The overview of the mission there seemed simple and laidback, nothing compared to the stressful shifts in Iraq. He had the choice of declining, since he was so close to his end date, but chose to accept the mission. It was a five-Marine operation that basically confirmed numbers of aircraft arriving and departing. All the ground work was being done by civilian contractors. Eoff, as the staff chief, had the luxury of picking his team. He selected Sergeant Lupercio and Sergeant Graham to each being a shift leader with a junior Marine for each. Everything was ready and after a few months of preparation, they departed to Kuwait only to find additional tasks that were never mentioned.
It was usual that upon arrival nothing went as planned, or that you ended up doing something you did not even train for. Although the secondary mission at the airport had a unique twist to it this time around. The Marines there had inherited the responsibility of conducting angel ceremonies for fallen angels arriving and departing from that airport. It was prior rotations that had accepted the responsibility, as nobody else dared to do it. Before the Marines took over, poorly executed ceremonies occurred, and at times the bare minimum personnel did not even show up. A Marine at the time made the executive decision to have Marines lead them from now on, and having a chaplain present. They were responsible for organizing it and gathering enough people to conduct it. Six are needed to carry the case, and one more to call out the commands from the outside. Within the six, one called the commands to direct movement of that six-person detail. The one outside directs anyone else standing outside in two columns that lead to or from the aircraft.
The additional task was not a huge workload. It was just that he had to gather enough people to conduct one, and that was like pulling teeth at times. Within weeks, a constant flow had been achieved. At times not enough personnel attended, but they made do. It was the attention to detail that was paramount. The movements had to be slow, all precisely 4-second count moves, marching just as slow and perfectly harmonized. The flag upon the transfer case had to be pulled tight, make sure no foreign debris was on it or that it was damaged. The mortuary affairs personnel dealt with this mainly, but between transfers it shifted the flag or something fell on it and Eoff was quick at correcting it. Just as quick as correcting those helping but goofed around before the ceremony started. It was easy to take the matter lightly as one becomes accustomed to the task, but Eoff never let it get off track, nor did he let his sergeants or junior Marines do it.
One thing he never got fully accustomed to was the weight of the transfer case. Eoff ‘s casual voice tone comes to a sudden stop as he corrects his sitting posture. He pauses briefly as if to prepare himself to what he is about to say. After the pause, he continues with a stern yet gentle voice.
Cases on average weighed between 250 lbs and 300 lbs. When a service member expires, they are transferred to the States with everything they have on at the time of perishing. That is usually forty-plus pounds of additional weight. The case alone weighs about 60 lbs, plus the human weight and the gear, and the packs of ice to preserve the body. He states how 250 lbs or more was the average weight. It never settled right with him lifting the case expecting that heavy weight and only receiving 70 lbs of resistance. It gives a grim look at the proper name of an angel ceremony: human remains ceremony.
It became everyday work and had created some sort of callus to it. He along with the other Marines had learned to endure it. These missions had one thing in common: they never had a personal connection. He did not personally know any of the angels.
One day he received a phone call that a VIP was coming through and staying in the Marines office until her outgoing flight departed. VIP information was never exact, so he had to resource together some information. The VIP was a really good friend of his, Sergeant Martinez. VIPs like such are usually Marines going back home on emergency leave. While she was going back for this too, she was also an escort to an angel. Angels typically had an escort, normally a good buddy of theirs. Only that Martinez was escorting no buddy. She was escorting her husband. Also a good friend of his. Eoff takes another pause. This time a lengthier one than the previous. The expression in his face is indescribable; it looks as if it is physically painful to recall all of it. That’s the personal touch Eoff did not want to experience. It was devastating. To make matters worst, she was to wait at the office until their flight departed, which was a two hour wait. Words would not manifest themselves. What could he possibly say? Are there words to make her feel better? What are the right words to express your condolences?
She initiated conversation by asking questions. One of the questions was a request to see his body. He immediately thought it wasn not the best idea. Not being able to talk her out of it, he had no choice but to ask mortuary affairs about the possibility. The building was very secure, and upon letting him in, he saw the body of the husband. He instantly knew she could not see him, not in that condition. They all agreed she was not to see him, but to compromise they could let her have a moment of silence with him. Case was to remain closed. He escorted her there, they pulled out the case and everyone else faced the opposite way to give her a few private moments. She was then escorted back, and she participated in the ceremony when the time came.
Eoff explains how the entire deployment was a learning experience. While not entirely a pleasant one, it had made him into a more appreciative person. He has since then taken more importance to the little things in life, the things that we see so often that we make the mistake of taking them for granted. “It’s the liberals that are the spoiled brats,” he jokes, chuckling out loud. Common among any service member are liberal jokes. He explains how he actually does not mind liberals, liberalism doesn’t sound half bad. He has pros and cons for all, whether it be liberal, conservative, statist, or libertarian. It’s what liberals have become what he strongly disagrees with. Everything has become sterilized, to where the sue-happy population stays in their little bubble filled with entertainment.