Each week, a squad of Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) is set aside from the typical ceremonial tasking to take upon itself a most difficult honor. These Soldiers are on call, 24 hours a day, weekday or weekend, to receive the remains of America's fallen heroes at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, DE

Time is 15:00 on April 8, 2013. The 'Dignified Transfer' return home of a heroes from Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward and Civilian Contractor, Hyun K Shin

A dignified transfer is the process by which, upon the return from the theater of operations to the United States, the remains of fallen military members are transferred from the aircraft to a waiting vehicle and then to the port mortuary. The dignified transfer is not a ceremony; rather, it is a solemn movement of the transfer case by a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's respective service. A dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation while in the service of their country. A senior ranking officer of the fallen member's service presides over each dignified transfer.

Dignified Transfer Host: Air Force Col. John Devillier, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, Major Gen. John G. Rossi, Director, Army Quadrennial Defense Review Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff and Chaplin (Major) James Parrish, US

Army carry team moves the transfer case containing the believed to be remains of Army Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward to the mortuary transfer vehicle

Air Force Col. John Devillier, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, and Major Gen. John G. Rossi, Director, Army Quadrennial Defense Review Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, salute at Dover Air Force Base, DE

All returning service members are considered as "believed to be" until they can be confirmed through finger prints, dental records and/or DNA. After a service member has been identified and prepared for return to their families, they are placed in a casket and transported to their final resting place. This process is a Solemn event; not a ceremony.

According to the Department of Defense, Army Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward of Oak Ridge, TN., died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Army carry team moves the transfer case containing the believed to be remains of Civilian Contractor, Hyun K Shin to the mortuary transfer vehicle

Dignified transfer officer orders “Present, Arms” (slow movement salute)

Air Force Col. John Devillier, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, and Major Gen. John G. Rossi, Director, Army Quadrennial Defense Review Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff.

Hyun K. Shin, of Hesperia, CA who worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a civilian employee with the Department of Defense, was killed in Afghanistan on April 6, 2013, according to an Air Force news release.

All returning service members are considered as "believed to be" until they can
be confirmed through finger prints, dental records and/or DNA. After a service member has been identified and prepared for return to their families, they are placed in a casket and transported to their final resting place. This process is a Solemn event; not a ceremony.

Air Force Senior Airman Tameca Burnett closes the door of a mortuary transport vehicle containing transfer cases containing the believed to be remains of Army Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civilian Hyun K. Shin at Dover Air Force Base, DE. According to the Department of Defense, Shin of Hesperia, CA., and Ward of Oak Ridge, TN., both died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Dignified transfer officer orders final “Present, Arms” and “Order, Arms” (slow salute) as vehicle departs

Carry team follows (by walking) transfer vehicle, with the transfer vehicle guide walking behind the carry team then the Dignified transfer officer and senior ranking officer follow (walking) behind the transfer vehicle guide, ending the dignified transfer

Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, of Oak Ridge, TN, Spc. Wilbel A. Robles-Santa of Juncos, Puerto Rico, Spc. Deflin M. Santos, Jr. of San Jose, CA died April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul, Afghanistan with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The attacked also killed Foreign Service official Anne Smedinghoff.
Hyun K. Shin, of Hesperia, CA who worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a civilian employee with the Department of Defense, was also killed in Afghanistan on April 6, according to an Air Force news release.