A newly completed yearlong probe into mortuary operations at Dover Air Force Base, Del., concluded that mortuary officials failed to react to signals that service remains were not handled properly. The investigation also determined that the mortuary staff was deficient in administrative procedures, documentation, and electronic record keeping. And the staff poorly handled communication with the family of a service member who was killed by an improvised explosive device. The family had requested to view the fallen service member in uniform. The panel concluded that the mortuary staff typically conducted its mission with “reverence, dignity, honor and respect,” according to Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz. “However, the standard is 100-percent accountability of this important mission,” Schwartz said. The Air Force has contacted family members affected by the mortuary’s errors. Further steps are under consideration.
