Existing comment:
Duty to the Fallen:
The Army's Mortuary Mission
Recovery:
Until 1861, there was no system for recovering fallen soldiers beyond the efforts of the soldier's comrades, but during the Civil War, the Quartermaster Department was assigned the mission of recovering the dead, identifying them, and providing proper burial. In World War I, Quartermaster Graces Registration (GR) Units were organized to perform these tasks and they continued to do so through World War II, Korea, and Vietnam as well as in peacetime. In 1991, the term "Mortuary Affairs" replaced "Graves Registration." Today, Quartermaster Mortuary Affairs Specialists work in all theaters of operations. They also serve the Teams that recover remains from previous wars.
Identification:
Identification of remains is the key step in the Mortuary Affairs process. Identification is achieved by comparing pre and post death medical and dental records, examining personal effects, and DNA analysis. During the Civil War, 42% of the dead were never identified. By the Korean War, this was reduced to 3%. With today's technology, it is likely that identification of remains will be 100%, even for those recovered years after a conflict.
Careful attention is paid to the gathering and accounting of personal effects. During World War II, personal effects were gathered and inventoried by Graves Registration personnel. Items belonging to soldiers confirmed as dead were forwarded to the family while effects of those pending confirmation were held for sixty days. Items that could aid identification were held at cemeteries. Great care was given when transporting personal effects. Armed guards were provided during shipment and civilian workers were carefully screened.
During the Civil War, soldiers were often worried that if they were killed, their comrades and family would not be able to identify their remains. The Army did not require soldiers to wear identification tags so some soldiers purchased them from sutlers or fashioned them out of wood or paper, especially before a big battle. In 1899, Army Chaplain, Charles Pierce, advocated the use of identity discs. In 1917, the Army began requiring ID discs be worn and by 1941, the more familiar "Dog Tags" began being used. This style of ID tag remains in use today.
Duty to the Fallen:
Americans expect that if their son or daughter died while on duty, the Army will positively identify the remains, notify the next of kin, and bury the soldier with proper honor and dignity. It is also expected that should the soldier die overseas in combat, the Army will recover those remains even if it takes years after hostilities have ended... but this has not always been the case. Not until the Civil War did the Army begin to recover and bury fallen soldiers on a large scale. In 1862, Congress authorized the purchase of land for use as cemeteries and in 1867, the Quartermaster General was given specific instructions on how to implement a grace marking program. Caring for the dead remains a Quartermaster mission. This duty to the fallen is owed on behalf of the Army and the Nation to the soldier, their comrades, and their family. It is a duty performed sadly but willingly. |