Casualties — UPDATED

Re. 2nd Lt. Jim Cathey (23 - 869-05 - August 2005)

Casualty Notification and Casualty Assistance is one of the toughest additional duties any Non-Commissioned Officer or Officer in the Military is asked to perform.

It is also one of the most satisfying, because you are representing your service to the family of a loved one, lost in the service of their country. Be it war, training, accidental, it makes no difference, the job of notification, assistance and final honors is tough.

I have been there. I have served as a Notification Officer. I have served as an Assistance Officer. I have served as a Casualty Affairs Officer in a Casualty Area Command.

This story, from the Rocky Mountain News titled Final Salute presents a very clear and honest picture of this aspect of our Duties and Responsibilities as NCO’s and Officers. It follows a series of events of one Marine Officer, notifying, assisting, and following through, even after the funeral. It shows the compassion of those chosen for this honor.

From the knock at the door, to the final disposition and receiving of personal effects, the Assisance Officer is there to help the family through the crisis.

Read this story. Follow the link for A MUST SEE Multimedia Web Presentation. Prepare yourself for a ride many of you, I pray, will never experience. But rest assured, if you are called upon to take on this task, you will be rewarded far beyond anything you will ever experience in your lifetime. And, if you happen to be one of those who has a Soldier standing at your door, be assured that you will be cared for with the utmost respect and compassion that no organization outside the the US Military can provide.

Thanks Pam for your post.

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