Was on horn with the Armydog who wasn’t feeling to well yesterday
knowing I don’t do teevee in form or fashion he started right in first thing
informing me they all are sonsofbitches in a 8 hour period throughout the day
didn’t matter what station was carrying Memorial Day activities
the Korean War veterans were mentioned twice
” I do sound braggadocious I don’t mean to sound like that”
No, you don’t sound like at all my friend
you speak those who answered the call never came home
Armydog I wonder if Clint Eastwood throughout his life has felt the same sort left out feelin
“what ya mean”
Clint Birthday is on Memorial Day
While in the Army in 1951, he hitched a ride on a Navy Douglas AD-2 Skyraider
that ran out of fuel and ditched in shark-infested waters. He paddled a raft for two miles to safety.
Four years later he made his first credited appearance in
“Francis in the Navy”
That made the Armydog cuss at me
you sumbitch if you think I’m call you Britannica you can forget that nonsense
you ugly bastard”
then he says check your email
he sent me that posted picture
Ok I see it what of it?
” I was thinking how many new garden tools I’d need to buy to bribe the wifey with
into having her picture taken as that
” Once a dog, always a dog I told him”
He just hang up laughing
Be it open casket or closed
Attention to detail is front and center
Staff Sgt. Miguel Deynes is making sure the uniform is just right for a U.S. Army pilot
who was killed in Afghanistan
There is a very specific process once a fallen service member is returned home. The bodies are flown back to the United States on a cargo jet. A team of service members wearing white gloves carry the flag-draped coffins to a white van that takes them to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner
The remains are washed, hands are scrubbed clean, and hair is shampooed. If necessary, the bones are wired together and damaged tissue is reconstructed with flesh-toned wax. Sometimes, they will use photos. Sometimes, they just intuition to recreate the wrinkles in the faces and the lines around the mouth or the corner of the eyes
“It has to look normal, like someone who is sleeping.”
Once the body is ready then the uniform is prepared. That includes putting medals in the proper order on the ribbon rack above the uniform’s breast pocket.
During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 10 to 20 bodies were arriving every day.
The embalmers often worked all night to get the bodies home on time. This can take an emotional toll on them, so the mortuary has a large gym to allow workers to blow off steam. Many say they are haunted by how young the fallen soldiers are and by how many of them leave behind small children. That’s why Sgt. Deynes says they are advised not to do research into the backgrounds of the soldiers
“If I knew the story of every individual who went through here, I would probably be in a padded cell.”
The dress uniform being prepared in this particular case will be in a closed casket. Even so, it will be perfectly tailored, starched and pressed. Everything will be checked down to the last detail.
Sgt. Deynes says
“The family is not going to see it. I do it for myself. It’s more than an honor.
It’s a blessing to dress that soldier for the last time.”
Memorial Day is about these service members and the families they left behind
