The Final Trip Home

As we all take a minute to remember the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, I wanted to pay tribute to the first fallen hero my crew and I carried on his first leg home back in the late spring of 2004.

I was on my first deployment as an Aircraft Commander flying slick C-130s out of a place in Southwest Asia that I am sure many who are reading this post, have transited through on our way to other garden spots throughout the region. This particular night started out like any other night during my time on this deployment. We received our cargo manifest, our threat brief, and then we briefed the mission plan for the night. Takeoff was uneventful and we began our six plus hour trek to our destination as the sun was setting over the Gulf. About an hour or so out from landing, the navigator called the Air Terminal Operations Center (ATOC) to inform them we were inbound with our cargo and requested parking and upload information. The voice came back over the radio and let us know that we would be uploading a pallet of tires and one HR or Human Remains. This information took us back for a second, because none of us had ever hauled HR before and HR was not what was on the original manifest from ATOC. The rest of the flight in to our destination was a bit solemn. When we landed, the ground party taxied us in front of the main terminal. The whole Battalion was standing in formation for the transfer which was quite the spectacle. Once we shut down, I caught up with Corps Chaplain and learned that the Hero we would be carrying home, was named Corporal Young, United States Marines. My crew and I lined up on either side of the ramp, stood at attention, and watched as the Honor Guard carried Corporal Young on to the plane. The blue field of the flag leading the way one last time as he departed the field of battle. Once the service was complete, we stood by as his friends came by and paid their last respects. The one image that will stick with me for the rest of my life occurred when one of his friends took a knee by the casket, with his rifle by his side, placed his hand on the flag and proceeded to cry as he said goodbye. I didn't get his name but I could tell that he and Corporal Young must have been close. He was the last one to depart the cargo compartment before we buttoned up and headed back for the night.

The flight back was quiet. Everyone on the crew took a minute to talk through the experience of the night. At one point I checked off headset and headed back to the cargo compartment and observed the casket on the floor of the plane. The contrast of the flag against the starkness of the cargo compartment struck me as I thought about everywhere our flag had flown up to that point and the number of heroes that had gone before Corporal Young. I quietly thanked him for his sacrifice and found my way back to my seat and flew the rest of the way home. When we arrived back at home station, we were met with another Honor Guard for a dignified transfer to another vehicle and our contribution to Corporal Young's final trip home was complete.

I would like to take a moment to thank Corporal Young and all of those who went before and after him for there sacrifice for this great nation. I was honored to help him start his final journey home. Unfortunately, he was not the last hero my crew and I carried off the battle field but those experiences are stories for another time. For those of you that have lost loved ones, friends, brothers, and sisters, thank you for your sacrifice and I pray that you find comfort in knowing that they will never be forgotten by those that served with them. Their sacrifice was for something larger than themselves and for those of us who still wear the flag on our shoulders we need to honor that sacrifice by continuing to strive to get to a place where that sacrifice won’t have to be made again. Thank you, Corporal Young, you are not forgotten.