What happens to a soldier that dies?

Well I know when my best friends son was killed in Iraq his body was flown back to the USA. There was a soldier with the body at all times. It took about 5 days after his body was brought back for the funeral The entire time 24 hrs a day a soldier stood watch over the casket. We live in a small town and he was the only one killed from our town. The wake and funeral were held in the High School gym due to the large number of people that attended. The Army also sent a female liaison officer to help my friend with all the planning for the Funeral. She was GREAT to have help. His body was taken to the local cemetery and given full graveside military honors. The kindness shown by people of the town and military and even people who came from surrounding communities was unbelievable. At the wake there was a guy there and we all wondered who he was and when he came up in the receiving line all he said to my friend was "I didn't know your son, but I served in Viet Nam and just wanted to pay my respects to a fellow soldier" He had driven 300 miles for that. Anyway I thank your brother for his service and wish him Gods speed and that he returns home safely, which Im sure he will. My apologies if I rambled on a bit but it's a subject that touches home with me. Rest in Peace My Friend Sgt. Seth Garceau killed in Iraq 3/04/05.

The military does its best to recover the bodies of our troops that have died in battle. Sometimes, it's hard to get everything especially in cases where explosives are used. Sometimes, it's an empty casket that is brought back. But they never stop searching. American servicemen who died decades ago are still returning from Vietnam and Korea.

But before they're shipped back to Dover AFB in Maryland (where all the deceased are brought to from overseas), the bodies must be identified (or an attempt made) in the field, personal effects recovered, and the body inspected for UXOs (unexploded ordnance--or bombs/missiles/bullets) and any found promptly removed. I know that in the Air Force, the cooks are the ones that do this. They handle mortuary affairs for the Air Force. So after all that is done, the body (or however much was recovered) is placed on a cargo plane and sent to Maryland for processing and proper identification. Field work is usually rushed, hurried and inaccurate, especially if the situation is bad and casualties are pouring in faster than people can work on. Back home, they have the luxury of time (in most cases) and safety from bombs, bullets and other things typically hazardous to your health in a warzone to properly identify bodies, body parts or personal effects. Sometimes, the only way to identify someone is through DNA testing. Normal methods of identification such as dental xray comparisons may not be available if the head or jaw area is damaged enough or completely gone.

The person's dogtags can be used to clue you in to their identity...but sometimes those get lost in battle or destroyed upon the person's death.

Usually, the unit that person was in will send the family all of their belongings that was there with them in the field. All their personal belongings from uniforms to pictures and so on.

Any serviceman who died in combat is entitled to a 21 gun salute. During the funeral ceremony, a 7 man team (if memory serves me correct) will fire off 7 rounds in sets of 3 for a full 21 gun salute.

The family can choose to have the deceased buried in a private cemetery or Arlington National Cemetery or any other of their choosing.

Probably the same as what happens when anybody dies. Soldiers are just ordinary people like you and me. If you are asking because soldiers are sometimes responsible for death and destruction, then I don't think that would make a difference. I think it would be the politicians who order them into battle that would be responsible for any civilian deaths. A soldier enlists either because he has no choice if his country has conscription, or maybe because he wants to protect his country and believes that is the right way to go about it. I think it would be a different story if he enlisted simply to have the opportunity to kill another human being legally.

The motto: "Never leave a man behind" includes the fallen. They will be flown back and I am not really sure how long it takes for the funeral. But most the men who are sent over there come back alive, so don't think like that, just pray and hope for the best.

It is a fact of life that everyone dies. They don't have to be in combat.

Most of the people in the military survive combat deployment without serious injury, but not everyone.

You can worry if you want to, but prayer does do much more good.

Every effort is made to return the remains to the family as soon as possible, regardless of cost.

If they are lost at sea, it is virtually impossible, of course. They are treated with utmost respect. Remember, the people transporting them could be transported themselves, one day.

if someone dies they retrieve the body and then bring it back home in a coffin with all the other bodies. I imagine you would have to wait a while for the body to come overseas but news of death would be pretty quick. Also, you shouldnt worry, Iraq isnt nearly as deadly compared to other wars :)

The military does it's best to retrieve the body. The body will be returned on a military transport. He usually will be buried with military honors in the family's cemetery plot.

they ship the bodies back on a big cargo plane