The Dolores star., 1922-05-26
tIIistorii


reverent task of bringing home the
g soldier dead returned for burial uu-
der the and stripes
HsLI2N On March 30 last. the army trans.
s8tE~4& port Cambria reached New York with
wv MA l224 fag-draped collins With her
M WI arrival, the solemn duty of the quar-
~. z4IJ termaster corps of returning the bod
TSSREASI les of those who fell in France, was
NI1ASST x practically completed
@SD W There are left over seas now only
325 bodies to be brought back to the
United States. the last of the 444lS of those
Americans who will be buried in the homeland
About $1,000 more will sleep forever overseas. ac
rording to the desires of their of kin
At this time it is fitting tell our people inst
now America has been returning to the bosom of
their native land the mortal remains of thousands
ot her sons who followed the flag
Int n9 that thai ] Ts@Im whsrs s battle aass 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 in
which it is done has been source of satisfaction
to every one.
That one may visualize the work involved
Its methods and operations in preparing our SOL
dier dead for the last jOurney-we will endeavor
t" draw picture which will show, step by step
how 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-toos indictments
caskes and shipping boxes-they start on their
way to the sacred regions where lie our soldier
dead. Each unit has its corps of highly-specia
iZed and technical men in mortuary affairs (em
bamers, undertakers and technical assstants) to
perform this service. The working squads or la
borers are composed chiefly of eX-service men
Guards and watchmen attached each unit
are also discharged American soldiers and during
the time that the bodies under the jurisdiction
"A
duty over them. commissioned officer filling n
dual capacity Of commanding officer and inspector
is in command of each unit
once at the graves, excavating is commenced
When the bodies are reached only one is al
lowed to be lifted to the surface of the ground at
a time, in order that no possible chance will be
taken in confusing Identities. This is a require
ment rigdly adhered to. The outer wrapping of
the body is removed and search is made for identi
hcation tags and marks; when found they are Sc
curely fastened to the remains the BODY is then
wrapped in a new, clean blanket
Ihe Identification disk and long narrow strip
of aluminium, showing name, rank and orcanIza-
ton, taken from the star which marked
the grave, is pinned the blanket over the chest
of the dead Tenderly lifting and placing the body
in metallic cOntainer is the next step using
sort, Nat cushions as padding to hold the body
steady after this soft, clean sheet is carefully
tucked in, further insurng against the shifting
of the body during transportation
After this the metallic container is placed in
its silk-lined casket of chestnut wood or oak and
1t, too, is securely fastened; the head of
the lid is attached narrow aluminium strip show
ing the name, serial number, rank and orgaDizo
tion of the soldier and the number of the grave
and cemetery from which the body was taken
The casket is then placed in the shippinp box
which has been secured by the blocks of white
wood or chestnut, covered with white ulush to
prevent marring or scratching the casket
Name, rank and organization is then stenciled
on each end of the shipping tag giving
the name and address of the consignee is tackled
TO the side, and. the whole box Is enyeloped with
cur flag which remains until the body is placed
On the transport for sailing.
The sun sinking low in the West sees all bodies
which have been exhumed entirely prepared for
shipment. for this Is another requirement which
h risidIy adhered to. The bodies are then placed