The officer of the day called the servicemembers to attention, and the group saluted in unison. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jimmy Browning asked all present to remember the American, fallen by an improvised explosive device.
A few minutes later, 46 Soldiers boarded the plane, filing in alongside the tightly secured casket. Two pallets followed, holding bags wrapped in plastic and straps, stacked more than five feet high.
The entire time, the loadmasters supervised the placement of the cargo, securing it tightly to the floor of the aircraft.
Stacked side by side on the cargo seats, Soldiers lined their helmets and bags inches from the metal casket. As the engines vibrated, the Soldiers slept, read or simply stared ahead at the dimly lit casket. On takeoff, the C-130 was full to capacity.
When the plane once again touched down, Sergeants Decker and Freeman asked the Soldiers and Airmen closest to the casket to stand and render a final salute as the casket was carried off.
There would be one more stop before the end of the mission. It was almost dawn when the crew landed the C-130 at their home base, but the loadmasters’ job wasn’t complete.
After everything and everyone was gone from the aircraft, Sergeants Decker and Freeman cleaned the interior of the plane and organized the cargo seats, leaving the C-130 ready for its next flight.
