Soldiers’ Angels - Mortuary Affairs in Afghanistan

Those who serve and die on the battlefield in Southern Afghanistan are tended to by a small group of dedicated soldiers who have been trained to provide dignity and respect to their fallen comrades.

Their responsibilities include the retrieval, identification, preparation, preservation, and transportation of the dead back to the United States. In other words, they are the ones tasked with the entire post-death process, from cleaning corpses and remains to documenting personal belongings - down to the serial number of a crumpled dollar bill - and meticulously wrapping transfer cases with the American flag before sending them back home to their loved ones.
These specialized soldiers take great pride in what they do. But their daily routine is a constant reminder of the tragedy of war and dying young. The feeling of family that takes hold in the military makes it that much more solemn an experience.

To them, those who die in combat are family. And so, theirs is a daunting task executed with a deep sense of honor.

This is a profile of a close-knit unit of those men who live and work in a secluded area of Kandahar Airfield in Southern Afghanistan.