Dignity, Reverence and Respect: Quartermaster Soldiers Honor the Fallen

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – They are the behind-the-scene heroes, the ones who don’t serve for money or glory, but for honor.

The 54th Quartermaster Company out of Fort Lee, Va., is one of two active duty mortuary affairs units that deal with casualties. This 15-person detachment supports three of five regional commands in Afghanistan regardless of the servicemember’s home country.


“We take care of all fallen heroes that pass away here in theater and we send them back to their families,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jesus Munoz from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and a Mortuary Affairs Specialist with 54th QM Co.  “The Soldiers take a lot of pride in the work they do.”

The unit is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and resides in an isolated compound because they have to be ready at all times for casualties of war.

“It means a lot to us when we do our job,” Munoz continued. “I’m proud to be the last person who sends [families] their loved ones home from theater.”

In the area where the Soldiers work, a sign hangs up on the wall that reads three words: Dignity, Reverence, and Respect - fitting traits that best describe the character of these men and women.

“I instil those qualities in my guys,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Carlos Quintero an Aguadilla, Puerto Rico native and the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 54th QM Co. “That is what we live by.”

This is a fallen hero’s last stop before returning home. Quintero ensures that his team gives them the dignity, respect and reverence they deserve for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their nation.

 “I’m here and these guys are out there, these heroes, and they are risking their lives and getting killed,” said Quintero. “I just want to give them as much as I can of my respect, dignity and reverence.”

Munoz said that giving these brave men and women the proper honors is the main thing that motivates them and then all the technical aspects of the job just fall into place.

“Its three qualities we take when we do this job,” Munoz added. “We see the aftermath of war but it’s not the last thing that happens. We have to take care of the family by making sure the [fallen heroes] make it back home.”

They have flags for every country that has troops deployed in Afghanistan supporting the Global War on Terror. No matter where the fallen hero comes from, they put the same amount of detail into preparing each respective flag they cover the fallen with.

“The flags represent the country which that fallen hero died for,” said Quintero. “We do the same for every flag, every country we drape the flag the same way.”

As soon as a call comes in, they start ironing out any kinks and wrinkles in the flag so that it is pristine and crisp when they dress it over a silver transfer case.

 “The flag is like their uniform and you should have pride in it,” said Munoz. “We have to make it as sharp as possible.”

Spc. Jennifer Martinez, a native of Houston, Texas, and a Mortuary Affairs Specialist with the 54th QM Co., explains why it is so important to make sure the flag that covers the fallen hero is perfect.

“It’s disrespectful to have a messed up flag,” said Martinez. “They gave their life for [their country] and it’s very disrespectful to let someone leave with a flag that’s dirty or messed up.”

“The flag will be the only thing that will be seen by the family when the fallen hero first arrives back home and we want it to be flawless,” Martinez added.

Quintero added that since thier compound is the last stop a fallen servicemember will have in country, it’s important make sure everything is done to a high standard. He ensures that every single fallen servicemember going home is properly prepared for their families.

“At the end of the day, [we] know the fallen hero is going home to the families the right way,” said Quintero. “It gives me a sense of satisfaction because I know I took care of them at their last stop in country.”