The herald., 1922-06-01
BY JESSIE DELL,
T2ER az ERE 2E4D

oy SGSSiE DELL,
Historian. ouartemaster Corps United States Armvl
7>O THE quartermaster corps Of the
United States army has fallen the
reVerent task of bringing home the
soldier dead, returned for burial un-
der the stars and stripes
rSTSN On March 30 last the army trans
.4NAS4R port Cambria reached New York with
NV MA l.224 lag-draped collins With her
M NJ arrival, the solemn duty of the quar-
W z4LI ternaSter corps of returning the bod
iTS5R2NN les of those who fell in France was
SNH8w& practically completed.
~ W There are left over seas now only
32J bodies to be brought back to the
united States, the last Of the HAAS of those
Americans who will be buried in the homeland
About $1,000 more will sleep forever overseas, &C.
cording TO the desires of their next of kin
AT this time it is fitting to tell our people Just
now America has been returning to the bosom Of
their native land the mortal remains of thousands
OF her sons who followed the flag
Into Into that that realm where battle flags furled
This sacred duty under the direction of Major
General Ii. L. Rogers, quartermaster general of
the army is performed by the graves registration
service through the cemeterial division and the
efficient, sympathetic and reverent manner I'm
which II is done has been q source of satisfaction
TO every one.
That one may visualize the work involved
Its methods and operations In preparing our SOL
der dead for the last jOurney-we will endeavor
to draw picture which will show, step by step
bow this has been accomplished
Early morning sun finds the field operating units
ready for the days work and with trucks con-
tanning all materials necessary-tools implements
caskets and shipping boxes-they start on their
way TO the sacred regions where lie our soldier
dead. Each unit has its corps of highy-specal-
lied and technical men in mOrtuary affairs (em-
balmprS undPrtakprS and technical
perform this service. The working squads or Ia
borers are composed chiefly of ex-service men.
Guards and watchmen attached to each unit
are also discharged American soldiers and during
the time that the bodies are under the Jurisdiction
Of operating units, this guard is constantly on
duty over them. commissioned officer filling q
dual capacity of commanding officer and inspector
is In command of each unit
Once at the graves excavating is commancod
When the bodies reached only one is al
lowed to be lifted to the surface of the ground or
" time, in order that no possible chance will be
/taken in confusing identities. This is a require
ment rigdly adhered to. The outer warming q,
the body is removed and search is made for denti-
hcation tags and marks; when found they are Sc
curey fastened to the remains; the body Is then
wrapped in new, clean blanket
Inc identification disk and long narrow strin
Oh aiumihuin, showing name rank and organiza-
ZION, taken from the cross or star which 1narked
OF the dead. Tenderly lifting and placing the nod,
in metallic contaner is the next sten us,r,
soft. fiat cushions padding to hold the bodT
steady; after this a soft, clean sheet is carafr,I
tucked ill., further insuring against the sbiftin,
OF the body during transportation
After this the metallic container ia pIacad IN
Its silk-lined casket of chestnut wood or oal ona
It, too, is securely fastened; across the head .,
the I'D Is attached a narrow aluminium strin sbovr
Ing the name. serial number rank and orcaniza.
tfon OF the soldier, and the number of the erova
and cemetery from which the body was taken
The casket Is then placed in the shippinp hov
which has been secured by the blocks of white
wood Or chestnut, covered with white plush 70
prevent marring or scratching the casket
Name, rank and organization is then stencied
on each end of the shipping case. A tag giving
the name and address of the consgnee is tackled
TO the side, and the whole box is enveoped with
our flag, which remains until the body is pIaced
on the transport for sailing
The sun sinking low in the West sees all bodies
which have been exhumed entirely prepared for
for this is another requirement which
Is rigidy adhered to. The bodies are then placed