Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Amanda Johnson | U.S. Army Spec. Victor Cano, assigned to the Burbank-based 1st Battalion, 144th Field...... read more read more
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LOS ANGELES – Honor. That is what took place today and every day that these California National Guardsmen have been on mission. Honor for those who have passed, honor for those who lost someone and the honor of carrying the weight of a state and a nation through a pandemic.
These troops answered the call for a mission many do not think about, but the climbing numbers of COVID-19 everyday required it -- caring for those that comprise the increasing statistic of deceased from across our state.
“This is our home, and throughout time, the National Guard has been there to take care of our home,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nicole Farnham, assigned to Joint Force Headquarters. She is the military personnel management officer for the California Air National Guard, and officer in charge of Cal Guardsmen supporting the Los Angeles and Riverside Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office. “It’s a huge honor to come in, support and help out where these entities were overwhelmed.”
More than a dozen Airmen and Soldiers were called on to support county coroners’ offices in the disposition of human remains, said Farnham. For National Guardsmen who are trained for war and natural disasters, the collection of the deceased was not an expected mission for many.
“If a hospital is not able to keep the cycle going, it impacts their operations,” Farnham said.
The cycle comprises of the intake, treatment, release of those recovered, or care for those who pass. The staggering number of deceased has a ripple effect in the amount of patients admitted for treatment centers.
“While we’re on the backside of that, literally and figuratively, we’re an essential component in the cycle of life,” she said.
With 10 million residents in the county of Los Angeles alone, hospital beds and intensive care units have hit maximum intake. Medical professionals asked emergency medical technicians to find those they could save, and let those who could not be saved, to be left with those who cared for them. The stakes became worse every day.
These Airmen and Soldiers volunteered, accepting the mission even with scarce detail. But after a few days on duty, they were even more determined to fulfill their daily tasks.
Two pairs of hands held on to each gurney that transported a deceased. They were covered by white linen and a medical bracelet carrying their identity. The hands transporting them ensured they were carried to their next destination with care and security. They would not be lost or forgotten. They would be treasured, as any family member would be.
An appointed representative and investigator from the Los Angeles Coroner’s office escorted every individual. The service members were their guardians. They ensured that respect, fidelity of care, and honor were recognized in every step of the process.
The wheels of the truck jostled as each person was loaded for transport to the next location. Wheeled stretchers with cardboard boxes were at the ready as remains were lifted into place, a name written upon each box.
Joshua, Sylvia, Hunter, Tyler, Jerry, Eric… the list went on.
“When I heard the names for the first time of the bodies we were looking at, it went down inside of me,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Dwayne Clavon, a religious affairs noncommissioned officer with the Long Beach-based 224th Sustainment Brigade.
At first, he said it was easier not to know the names. Hearing the names and the history of each person made the task more personal. However, after the first few days, the names became easier because he knew he was caring for someone’s person; a family member.
The daily routine for this small group consisted of reporting for attendance, ensuring all had proper personal protective equipment, and ensuring each had the right mind to take on the day.
“We are trained to handle all types of emergency situations that involve massive fatalities. From searching and recovering remains, as well as handling hazardous environments,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cody Wheeldon, a fatality search and recovery specialist with the Channel Islands-based 146th Airlift Wing. When he was asked to assist with this mission, he simply replied, “sign me up.”
As California National Guardsmen, these uniformed personnel carry a unique duty. The Cal Guard has dealt with fires, providing COVID-19 testing, vaccination for COVID-19, and supporting local food banks with manning. All of these missions hold a significant physical strain on a person. This mission presents an exceedingly difficult mental strain as well.
“The biggest challenge is the mental aspect,” Wheeldon said. He was an enlisted Sailor in the U.S. Navy in 2013. This isn’t the first time he’s dealt with life-jeopardizing situations. While in the Navy, his ship was hit by a missile where he had to react to a devastating event. Since then, he’s worked with U.S. Marines and Army personnel in combat areas and witnessed the effect of high-risk environments on each person. He saw how devastated they were at the loss of their shipmates, and how afraid they were for their own lives.
Some of the most difficult situations are when these service members relate to a case.
As a human, it is hard not to, in this kind of environment, Wheeldon said. When you see a child or an infant, it’s difficult to detach emotionally and mentally. In addition to the constant smell, whether you’re actually in the presence of the scent or it’s connected to a memory, it doesn’t go away. Mentally, it discharges you, he said.
Tackling unclaimed or unidentified remains makes the job even harder. Yet, these service members take heart in the one thing they can do for these unknown casualties. Provide respect and deliver them to their final resting place, said Wheeldon.
The challenges are a daily battle, but they aren’t without merit. With the daily runs these troops do from LA County’s coroner’s office to the regional hospitals requesting support to collect remains, the civilian to military interaction is always marked with gratitude.
“When the hospital administrator looks at you and goes, ‘thank you. I can keep going today, because of you,’” said Farnham. This is exactly the affirmation needed to support the mission, she added.
“This is absolutely the heart of humanity,” Farnham said. These guardsmen encounter something society does not talk about or deal with regularly. For most of these service members, this is the most meaningful work they have ever done in their careers, she said. “That’s the core thread right there; the humanity and the dignity, honor, and respect that we bring.”
These Cal Guard members are charged with the sacred duty of caring for our fellow citizens after we can no longer save them. With the virus still running rampant upon our streets, this is the message Wheeldon wanted to convey as his last thought before ending his day at the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office.
“Get your vaccination to help decrease the spread of it. Wear your mask to give respect to those individuals, and understand the person you are actually talking to may have someone who’s affected by this,” said Wheeldon. “You don’t know. We don’t know. But we’re here for you. And we want to do everything for our part.”
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2021 20:04 |
| Story ID: | 388720 |
| Location: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Final Respects: Cal Guardsmen support the living while caring for the deceased, by SFC Amanda Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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