Cannon airman contributes to mortuary mission

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — Providing dignity, honor and respect is what Airman 1st Class Matthew Bokesch did for four months while deployed to Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations here. The Air Commando, assigned to the 27th Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, along with three others from career fields ranging from maintenance to security, were the first outside specialties to serve as part of a carry team for this sacred mission.

Typically, the carry team is comprised of airmen from the services career field who deploy to Dover Air Force Base, Del. Each team consists of eight individuals who transfer the remains of fallen service members when they arrive at Dover Air Force to their final resting place.

The transfer case is moved from the aircraft to the dignified transfer vehicle with solemn, deliberate movements before being transported to the mortuary.

For Bokesch, the experience showed him the care and honor in full circle. It was also a reality check.

“There are people doing stuff bigger than you,” said the public health technician who was on his first deployment. “It’s time to give something back.”

Staff Sgt. Chris Hill, a programmer assigned to Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph Air Force Base said he also felt fortunate to be part of this mission. Although at times it can be stressful, he said it was worth it.

The experience is something the people, regardless of their background, will remember. The initial strength training can be grueling and the members of the carry team faced hot sunny days, late nights or early mornings.

It was tiring, said Bokesch, but good.

“You become emotionally tied to it,” he said.

Hill has five years of base honor guard experience that helped prepare him a little for what to expect.

What he wasn’t prepared for was the emotion from families who come to witness the dignified transfer of a loved one. In his experience in the past, the people he provided honors for were older and lived a full life, he said.

The airmen trained, drove vehicles, steamed and folded flags and carried the fallen with dignity, honor and respect. They experienced something outside their Air Force specialty and they each left with something in return — pride from being part of a special mission.