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[THREAD] Memorial Day
I was discharged from the Army in June 1990.
When I was recalled to Desert Storm active duty in late May 1991, I was assigned to the Southwest Asia Casualty Processing office.
It was our job to report on deaths and serious injuries.
I was discharged from the Army in June 1990.
When I was recalled to Desert Storm active duty in late May 1991, I was assigned to the Southwest Asia Casualty Processing office.
It was our job to report on deaths and serious injuries.
We needed to report back to the Pentagon, report to the media, review condolence letters being delivered to the family upon notification, and make sure no embarrassing personal items were sent back home to the surviving family members from the soldier's gear,
(at that time primarily items like Playboy magazines or questionable correspondence from a non-spouse).
There were six of us assigned. 3 worked 12-hour days. 3 worked 12-hour nights. 7 days a week. Our informal motto was, "Business is good when there is no business."
There were six of us assigned. 3 worked 12-hour days. 3 worked 12-hour nights. 7 days a week. Our informal motto was, "Business is good when there is no business."
I was there for about a week when we had our first casualty situation. 3 soldiers (two sergeants and their driver), had been assigned to clear scatter bomblet duds in Kuwait.
According to the reports, they were clearing them from a Kuwaiti playground, trying to make the area safe again for children to play.
They had collected quite a few of these bomblets as the day wore on.
They had collected quite a few of these bomblets as the day wore on.
Temperatures on the Gulf were getting hotter and hotter. 115 was the norm. I personally sat through a 126-degree day under a tarp strung between trailers on King Abdul Aziz Airbase.
I don't know how hot it was this particular day, but we were in code black. So, temperatures were over 115 and humidity was extreme (near supersaturation).
While these soldiers were out collecting bomblets, something happened.
While these soldiers were out collecting bomblets, something happened.
The best guess is that the sun "cooked off" a bomblet. This created a chain reaction as one bomblet after another exploded.
Three soldiers, and their truck, were blown apart.
Three soldiers, and their truck, were blown apart.
The destruction was so bad that at the collection point (military speak for the combat morgue), I found they had filled four body bags with truck parts, sand, and body parts.
I was assigned to PFC Joshua Fleming, the driver. My first job was to try and verify his remains.
I was assigned to PFC Joshua Fleming, the driver. My first job was to try and verify his remains.
You see, shortly before I arrived, a mistake was made. Someone was mistakenly reported as dead when they were just seriously wounded. After the family was mistakenly told their child was dead, the Army had to apologize for the incorrect notification.
From that point on, the Army wanted double verification on fatality casualties where possible.
With Fleming, this was a trial by fire. Verification was impossible. My recollection is blood, sand, flesh and truck parts.
With Fleming, this was a trial by fire. Verification was impossible. My recollection is blood, sand, flesh and truck parts.
I didn't know Fleming in life. But I learned a lot about him in his death.
I had to make sure his commander's letter was appropriate and contained nothing to disturb the family. I had to go through his stuff and decide what could and could not go home.
I had to make sure his commander's letter was appropriate and contained nothing to disturb the family. I had to go through his stuff and decide what could and could not go home.
As I did my job, I knew that had I arrived a few weeks earlier, and him a couple weeks later . . . Our positions could have been reversed. I might have driven the truck. He might have been writing the report.
I was a single channel radio operator, I wasn't a casualty processor.
I was a single channel radio operator, I wasn't a casualty processor.
My recollection is he was not a truck driver. When he and I arrived, we were placed where the Army needed us, regardless of job.
It's now almost exactly 27 years since he died.
It's now almost exactly 27 years since he died.
Over time, I wondered if his family knew anyone else remembered him. I decided to contact his mom and dad a few years ago.
It turns out shortly after Fleming died, his mom died. According to the articles I found, it seems a broken heart may have played a roll.
It turns out shortly after Fleming died, his mom died. According to the articles I found, it seems a broken heart may have played a roll.
Unfortunately, a few years before I began my search his father had also died. My research showed no siblings. And, I could not find any other family.
On this Memorial Day, I may be the only one who is thinking about him in a real world sense.
On this Memorial Day, I may be the only one who is thinking about him in a real world sense.
Joshua was an anonymous truck driver during Desert Storm's aftermath. But let's not forget him.
Please join me by raising a glass (of water, beer, wine or other tasty beverage) in a toast:
To Joshua and everyone else who gave their bodies and lives for our country.
To Joshua and everyone else who gave their bodies and lives for our country.
Thank you.
P.S. After posting the above, I did some further research expecting to find an Aunt or an Uncle. I found Joshua had a sister. After additional digging, I found her. I told her about my tribute to Joshua, and I sent her a copy.
She wanted to share that she has, and always will, love Joshua, and appreciates the tribute. She has two young children, a beautiful daughter, and a wonderful son, who remind her in many ways of her mom, dad, and Joshua.
To SF and her children, thank you for your brother's service.
Consider reading this to your friends and family as you gather. Remind them what this holiday stands for.
For those of you who have discovered this after Memorial Day, feel free to print out and save a copy to read at next year's Memorial Day gatherings :)
This was the Video I made for his sister.
