Memorial Affairs

Soldiers Magazine, April, 2004 by Melanie Walker

I GREATLY enjoyed the May 2003 article on the 21st Theater Support Command's U.S. Army Memorial Affairs Activity, Europe, in Landstuhl, Germany. The mission of this unique unit is probably one of the least recognized and most quickly shied-away from. It truly takes special Soldiers to carry out the tasks required to care for Soldiers' remains.

Before joining the Army Reserve I was an active-duty Navy mortician. When I switched to the Army Reserve, the Army recruiter said, "We don't have mortuary affairs as an Army MOS."

It would have been nice to have all of my civilian education and work experience, military skills and previous Navy Enlisted Classification recognized. If nothing else it would have been nice to have the MOS that recognizes my skills--skills that are especially important in wartime.

Kudos to the Soldiers of the U.S. Army Memorial Affairs Activity from someone who understands what it takes to do the job they do.

SGT Melanie Walker

via e-mail