Mortuary work can be emotionally draining, so those working here have the option of being transferred whenever they choose. Jones said that workers at the depot perform as a team and look out for each other. Everyone takes lunch break at the same time because each section is interdependent on the other, and "it adds to the camaraderie," he said.

Army Master Sgt. Alfred Venham, who has run the archival operation at JPED since returning from Iraq in 2003, said everybody reacts differently to what goes on here. "There are times that I get emotional and upset, but you just have to keep moving forward and do your job," Venham said. "If you let it get to you too much, you're not being beneficial to your operation or the soldiers around you."

Military chaplains often visit the facility, and depot workers sometimes get together to socialize and blow off steam, Shari Lawrence, an Army public affairs officer, said. "Sometimes you have to laugh," she said.

During the photographing and cleaning phase, items are inventoried a second time before going to the final stage, where they are checked against a master list for a third and final time. The belongings are then packed for shipment via two-day delivery service.

Army 1st Lt. Robin Eskelson helps run the last phase in the process and has final say before personal effects get shipped to families. "It's the final check to make sure everything is up to standard," she said. "We don't want to send anything home that is not in proper order."

Certain items are not sent to families, including anything that would cause additional anguish, hazardous material, and government property. Items that could potentially harm other belongings during shipment also are withheld. These items might include things that are prone to leaking, such as an open bottle of shampoo, Jones said.

Marvon Scott, a personnel specialist who helps pack belongings for shipment, said it's important for items to be neatly packed before being sent to families. "We want the loved ones to receive the items in such a manner that they know that the person who packed them took time and care," he said.

The Joint Personal Effects Depot was stood up following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The depot is exclusively a wartime operation. It was originally housed at Fort Myer, Va., but was moved to Aberdeen in mid-2003. Some of the mortuary specialists working here were involved in collecting personal effects from the Sept. 11 victims at the Pentagon.

"I don't think there's a soldier here who is not proud of what they're doing and has the utmost respect for what goes on here." Venham said. "It's an honor to do what we're doing."