Photo By Staff Sgt. Fatima Konteh | U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Lisa Sullivan, Mortuary Affairs Specialist, 962nd Mortuary...... read more read more
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif., June 20, 2016 – Losing a loved one is an experience that can be very challenging to deal with, and it’s something that U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Lisa Sullivan, 962nd Mortuary Affairs, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER), Anchorage, Alaska, has experienced firsthand. However, knowing that person is being cared for with respect and that, even after death, they can bring life to another reassures that their existence was meaningful and their spirit will continue to live on through someone else.
In the U.S. Army Reserve, Sullivan is a Mortuary Affairs Specialist where she cares for the bodies and personal artifacts of deceased service members. She also has a civilian career with Life Alaska in Anchorage where she transplants organs from the deceased to those who are in need of tissue or organ donation.
“I had a friend who worked there in the past, and he recommended it to me,” she said. “He said, ‘You would probably like this because it's similar to what you do in the Army.’”
Born in Texas, Sullivan moved to Anchorage as a child with her mother and older brother. Last year, she lost her brother to suicide.
“Surprisingly, 89% of the donated organs we receive are from suicide victims,” Sullivan said. “It definitely hurts me. It’s heartbreaking at times, even devastating, but I have to keep those emotions at bay and remember that what I'm doing is for the benefit of someone else.”
During Combat Support Training Exercise (CSTX) 91-16-02, Fort Hunter Liggett, California, Sullivan was able to apply this motivation and civilian experience as she worked alongside the 349th Combat Support Hospital, Bell, California, during training missions. As the largest U.S. Army Reserve training exercise, CSTX 91-16-02 provides Soldiers with unique opportunities to sharpen their technical and tactical skills in combat-like conditions.
“This is my first time training with a medical unit, and it was a unique experience – not just for me but for the medical personnel as well. We received mock remains and worked together on the identification paperwork,” said Sullivan. “They didn't know a lot about the process initially, so this was a great opportunity to bridge gaps and educate one another on our roles if we were mobilized.”
Part of her duties are to identify personal effects of the deceased and ensure they are shipped back to the service member’s family, but, primarily, her duties are to recover, preserve and evacuate deceased personnel to their designated destination. As difficult as it may be to work in this field both in the military and civilian career field, Sullivan prides herself in giving someone else a second chance to live a healthy, full life.
“I make it my top priority to ensure the personal effects that belong to the Soldier return to their family members,” said Sullivan. “It is such an honor to safeguard these service members.”
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2016 15:55 |
| Story ID: | 202134 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Service, Compassion and a Second Chance at Life, by SSG Fatima Konteh, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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