Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-05-18
Z9lER az EHF 2E4D
BY JESSIE DELL,

Historian, Quartermaster Corps United
T<O THE quartermaster corps Of the
United States army has fallen the
reverent task of bringing home the
n soldier dead, returned for burial un-
der the stars and stripes
50 ,s<yIN On March 30 last, the army trans
iryEkSSSN port Cambrai reached New York with
IE4kF WA 1924 fag-draped cofins With her
EN IN arrival, the solemn duty Of the quar-
NS GHT termaster corps of returning the bod
kMIR$NN les of those who fell in France was
" HESSS x practically completed.
i@DO w There are left over seas now only
325 bodies to be brought back to the
United States. the last of the 4441S Of those
Americans who will be buried in the homeland.
About 81 900 will sleep forever overseas, ac-
cordIng TO the desires of their next of kin.
y At this time it is fitting to tell our people just
how America has been returning to the bosom Of
their native land the mortal remains Of thousands
of her sons who followed the flag
Into that realm realm where ,SG battle @ flags are tnrled
This sacred duty under the direction of Major
General H. L. Rogers, quartermaster general of
the army, is performed by the graves registration
service through the cemeteral division, and the
efficient, sympathetic and reverent manner in
which it is done has been a 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
to 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-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 highly-special-
lied and technical men in mortuary affairs (em-
balmers, undertakers and technical assistants) to
perform this service. The working squads or la
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. A commissioned officer filling
dual capacity Of commanding officer and inspector
Is In command of each unit.
Once at the graves, excavating is commenced.
When the bodies 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 rigidly adhered to- The outer wrapping of
the body is removed and search is made for denti-
dcation tags and marks; when found they are Sc
curely fastened to the remains; the body is then
wrapped in a new, clean blanket.
The Identification disk and long narrow strip
OF aluminium, showing name, rank and organiza-
tion, taken from the cross star which marked
the grave, is pinned to the blanket the chest
OF the dead. Tenderly lifting and placing the body
In a metallic container is the next step, using
soft fat cushions as padding to hold the body
steady; after this a soft, clean sheet is carefully
tucked in, further insuring against the shifting
of the body during transportation.
= After this the metallic container is placed in
its silklned casket of chestnut wood aor oak and
It. too is securely fastened; across the head of
the lid is attached q narrow aluminium strip show
Ing the name, serial number rank and organiza-
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 shipping box
which has been secured by the blocks of white
wood or chestnut, covered with white plush to
prevent marrng scratching the casket.
, Name, rank and Organization is then stenciled
ON each end Of the shipping case A tag giving
the name and address Of the consignee Is tackled
to the side, and the whole box is enveloped with
our 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
Is rigidly adhered to. The bodies are then placed