Travis assists in dignified transfer of unidentified remains

Published Nov. 1, 2005
By Airman 1st Class Tiffany Low
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AMCNS) -- During a dignified transfer here Oct. 24, the remains of a person believed to be a U.S. military service member, were transported to the Joint Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, on a Travis KC-10. The remains were delivered to the POW/MIA Accounting Command for identification.

Earlier this month, the body of an individual -- wearing an unopened parachute with the words “U.S. Army Air Corps” on it -- were discovered by ice climbers in Kings Canyon National Park, east of Fresno, Calif.

The remains were first transferred to the Fresno County morgue for examination and then flown from Travis AFB to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii.

According to Tara Sutherland, 60th Services Squadron mortuary affairs officer, remains of servicemembers are usually sent to CILHI first for identification before it comes through the base.

“This was a unique situation. We felt that this person, who was possibly in the military, should have at least some kind of respect shown as he was being transported,” said Ms. Sutherland.

Approximately 50 Travis members rendered proper respects as six members of the base Honor Guard escorted the transfer case to the KC-10.

“I felt honored and privileged to give the proper respects to someone who might be part of our history,” said Senior Airman Ismael Rodriguez, Honor Guard trainer.

Although respects were given to the individual, a flag was not placed on the transfer case because the remains were not identified.

“We don’t know who the person is and can’t assume he was military because of the uniform and the [U.S. Army Air Corps] parachute he had on,” added Ms. Sutherland.

However, when the remains are identified to be that of a fallen servicemember, a flag will be draped over the casket and presented to the next-of-kin, she said.

According to Paul Emanovsky, a forensic anthropologist with CILHI, it is unusual for them to find remains of somebody who died more than 60 years ago. However, based on the conditions of the remains, there is a good chance of identification.

He said identification may take weeks, even months, depending on several factors.

Part of the identification rests on the availability of records that can be compared to the remains, mitochondrial DNA and family reference samples, Mr. Emanovsky said.

He said individuals who think they are related to the individual are encouraged to provide blood and tissue samples so they can be compared to that of the remains.