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Dot09, Thanks for the good feedback! I thought that my buddy and I working together was implied but i guess not. It really amazes me that when my buddy says "I have seen Sra XXXX assigned mortuary duties many times while stationed at Dover AFB" would not be sufficient to show the VA that I performed these duties. As far as MH I filled out a questionare once that asked basic yearly health questions. I was set up for a visit for MH and was afraid to go (the kiss of death for your career) so I never went. I ended up talking to the chaplain on the Flight line a bunch of times expressed my difficulties and eventualy he said that I needed to just do the details assigned by supervision. It was a total loose loose situation, no matter what you did you would be damned. My buddy ended up getting orders to lajes so he was the lucky one..... A huge thanks for your feedback!

OK I found a digital copy to post of the budy letter (attached). Please let me know your thoughts. Many Thanks! buddy letter clean.pdf

Dot09, Thanks for the reply. I am a little confused with my buddy satement because it does say that he worked with me doing theses duties, and described the duties while we were working together ( he was later sent to a day shift). The buddy statement does mention other things because I asked them to mention the different exposures and things that happened at dover. They also submitted the statement on a 21-4138 (I askedthem to) Would it be ok to show a copy of the buddy statement that I have (typed out b/c i don't have a scanner) tonight, and maybe see where I can ask my buddy to submit a better one with what the VA needs? Any help from the experts is a HUGE help! thanks for all of your patience :)

Sorry for making such a sh** storm for everyone regarding the 800 # I do think it is a little strange not to be able to call the regional office that is handling your claim and ask them directly if they need anything or a current status. I know with a call center they can focus on the back log but it seems something is lost or disconected from the call center and regional office....

Hiya, I was given 0% TBI and 30% headaches secondary. My tbi was well documented though so you may have more trouble?

Hi Everyone, Here is some of the documentation I have submitted since I filed a NOD. Not included is the statements for each 21-4138. My buddy statement does have a good descrip[tion of what we did when we were working together. Am I working against myself submitting all of this stuff when it is under a DRO review and clogging up the works? Thank you all for the sound advice! • AF Form 1288 (Continuation) - xx/xx/2002 • AF Routing Slip OF-41 - xx/xx/2002 • ANG Fax Cover Sheet - xx/xx/2002 • AF Form 1288 (Front) - xx/xx/2002 • AF Form 1288 (Reverse) - xx/xx/2002 • Disapproved Separation Request - xx/xx/2002 • Buddy statement 2 pages -03/2011 (previous sub.) • Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Public Affairs Article "Memories of 9/11 resonate with Dover Port Mortuary staff" 2 pages - 09/11/2011 • Washington Post Article "Air Force Mishandled remains of war dead, Inquiry finds" 3 pages - 11/08/2011 • Reuters "Military lost track of remains of war dead" 2 pages - 11/08/2011 • Washington Post "Remains of war dead dumped in landfill" 4 pages 11/09/2011 • Associated Press Article "Controversial disposal of some 9/11 remains was in line with high-level Pentagon guidance" 1 page - 02/29/2012 • Contra Costa Times Editorial "Dover mortuary incompetence warrants firing" 2 pages - 03/01/2012 • CNN News Article "Mortician resigns in misconduct probe at Dover military mortuary" 2 pages - 03/02/2012 • The News Journal (Wilmington, Del.) Article "Air Force scandal isn't finished yet" 2 page - 03/04/2012 • Washington Post Article "Dover mortuary pressed to avoid dumping of 9/11 remains at landfill. official says" 3 pages - 03/06/2012 • Free Lance Star Article "Widow's questions led to disclosures at Dover" 4 Pages • President Executive Order (EO) 2 Pages 09/14/2001 • DOD News Release Article “Stop-Loss” 1 Page 09/24/2002 • Air Force Magazine Article 3Pages 07/2002 • American Forces Press Service Article “Gates signs policy for dignified transfer operations" 3 Pages 04/02/2009 • Washington Post Article “Curtains Ordered for Media Coverage of Returning Coffins” 2Pages 10/21/2003

Many thanks Carlie!

I think my account is broken because when I reply it taks a long time for the response to post? Am I doing something wrong ??? Many thanks...

Dot 09, I was actualy in the AF from jul99-jul03 guard jul03-jul10. I never tried to get help for any of this stuff because I didn't think there was a problem. It was actually the DAV that draged me up to MH to get checked out after describing my problems. This was right after leaving the guard. My current s/c is 0% TBI, 30% headaches secondary, 10% hearing, 10% shouldure 0% skin issue. I still have a slew of other probs. with smelling taste, broken bones from the TBI etc.

Please don't be ofended but this is part of what happened early at Dover. These experiences are difficult to talk about even now. My buddy letter was the same AFSC and still active duty (concerned about the reduction in force RIF). He did describe what we did at Dover but he was working a different shift half way through this hell. My buddy was at a forward deployed location in Afghanistan when he wrote up the buddy statement, but he did put his HOR and e-mail address on the statement. I contacted dover and they only keep records for 2 years, so I contacted the wing historian who said that they didn't keep many records at that time due to deployments. I even spoke with the Col. at the DPM and there isn't any one left working there from that time. This cr*p has been pushing my PTSD to the limit! Thanks for all the help everyone! Post September 11th 2001 President George W. Bush signed an Executive Order (EO) allowing the military to recall veterans in the Independent Ready Reserve (IRR), and also allowing each branch of the military, Including the Air Force to preventing separations and retirements. The Air Force chose to prevent separations from all career fields under the Stop Loss program. The Air Force with time eventually released certain career fields based on its mission goals and needs. While Stop Loss was enacted some military personnel were augmented outside their career fields to meet the High Tempo and operational demands of the mission. After my horrifying and life changing experiences working at the Dover Port Mortuary and off loading transfer containers on the flight line I became very distraught. I felt there was no way out of this personal Hell working on call at the DPM that had been created by the September 11th attacks. After all I joined the Air Force as an Aircraft Mechanic not a mortuary worker! I spoke with chaplains which were of no help other than giving a prayer, then started looking into other options to see if I could transfer to another base to end the DPM details. My research found that with the blanket Stop Loss Executive Order / Air Force Policy I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to. So I pressed on performing these difficult duties without any choice in the matter. One of the guys that I worked with (XXX) became suicidal after his experiences at the DPM. He said to me he had a huge elaborate plan of killing himself. I notified my shift supervisor that he was suicidal and after they spoke with him they determined that he was. I’m not sure what the course of action or discipline supervision took regarding this. Finally after all the Hell I had been through detailed at the Morgue Working with the fallen and their personal effects, supposedly with Honor, Dignity and Respect. I found out from DPM staff(late XXX 2002) that the unclaimed or unidentified remains ended up being disposed of with discarded medical waste in a landfill. I was in disbelief when I found out that this was in accordance (I.A.W) with DOD policy. This is when I requested separation and transfer into the National Guard. I began to realize after removing transfer containers from returning aircraft that were sometimes draped with flags and sometimes not, using box trucks because the designated mortuary vehicle was broken, only sometimes having a chaplain available for the transfer from the aircraft to the transport vehicle, and finally a DOD policy to dispose of human remains mixed with medical trash that this was the culture and policy of how the Dover DPM treats the Fallen. The ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice defending America were treated like an inconvenience by the DPM. The reality of the situation was the fallen were treated like an assembly line and very few were aware of their treatment because the media was not allowed to view any of the ceremonies (This changed in 2009 due to a new policy). The only exceptions were when a family member requested to be present when the transfer took place, which would require a special Honor Guard procession. I became so distraught and mortified over the DPM Details, treatment of the fallen and Ashes going to a landfill that I filled my Separation request to transfer to the National Guard. This was with with less than 7 months left on my active enlistment if the request was approved. My separation request subsequently ended up being denied on XXXX 2002. The reason on the denial for separation was listed as: Disapproved-Manning. I spent my remaining time at Dover trying to Volunteer for everything and anything to avoid being Augmented for Mortuary details. When my separation date came up from active duty I Immediately Enlisted with the Air National Guard because I had GRAVE concerns about being recalled through the IRR to Dover performing Mortuary details all over again! My augmentation at Dover DPM and the disrespectful treatment of remains and the life changing experiences still haunt me to this day.

Excerpt from the buddy statement " during my time at Dover SRA (ME) and I were augmented for just about everything. Ths included mortuary duties as assigned or on call. At roll call we were debriefed our duties for that following day or night. I have seen Sra (Me) assigned mortuary duties many times while stationed at Dover AFB. Part of the mortuary details duties assigned including removing transfer...."

Hiya, I have had a terrible time using the 1800-827-1000 phone number. It seems that these guys really don't know much about your claim at the local regional office. I was wondering if anyone has ever been able to get contact info or phone #s for their regional office? Did you have to pry to get the info or file a fredom of information act request? many thanks :)

Hi Carli, The VA denied my claim for the following: You contend that in Dec 1999 through Jul 2003 while stationed at Dover AFB, your duties required you tounload fallen soldiers, and that the containers leaked, and smelled of death. Although a buddy statement was recieved from XXX, advising that he served with you at Dover AFB, where his duties involved mortuary duties, his statement did not specifically advise that he observed you doing mortuary duty. Additionaly despite that an internet printout was rendered detailing that Dover afb was home for morgue and mortuary services, your personnel records do not show that you were assigned mortuary duty. VA electronic treatment records note that you did not advise of any mental health symptoms untill fall of 2010, when you indicated that you were assigned to mortuary duty and had to process dead bodies. Prior to that your VA treatment records show that you denied having PTSD. However in 2010, you began taking medications to help you relieve mental health symptoms. You were diagnosed with PTSD based on your subjective complaints of mortuary duty. A statement recieved from the XXX Vet center notes that your in service stressors were witnessing and handling multiple bodies and body parts and moving themfrom the plane unto the mortuary area, where there was melting ice and body fluids leaking. You were given a VA examination in Feb 2011, where after examining and interviewing you, and based upon your statement that you had to take dead bodies that were in body bags, that had melted , and process the bodies, the examiner diagnosed PTSD and Mood disorder secondary to PTSD, indicating that you are in the serious symptoms range. In that you were not stationed in a war Zone, where fear of hostile military or terrorist activity is not a factorin this case, and that service department records did not corroborate your statement that you handled dead bodies, along with your DD=214 and military occupational specialty is inconsistant with this type of stressor. service connection for PTSD can not be granted. Any thoughts ??

the response from VA said: *"Your buddy statement did not specifically advise that he observed you doing Mortuary duty" + His statement did say that he he saw me assigned to mortuary details many times, worked with me as fill in himself and describes the process of what we did (transfer cases etc) *"my Military records did not reflect mortuary assignment" + We were on call to back fill the mortuary after sept 11th and there was not enough people to process unload etc. *"My military records did you did not advise of any mental health symptoms untill fall of 2010" + I joined the guard after my AD enlistment to prevent being recalled through (IRR) and was reactivated for 2 years in the Guard deployed etc. Separated in fall of 2010 and sought treatment after my separation (Honorable)

Hi Everyone! First I would like to thank Hadit for having this site! I have been reading and searching here alot and find it an invaluable resource. Ok now to my question for the experts.... I filled a claim for ptsd for my experiences at dover afb from 2001-2003 Mortuary. I was diagnosed by the va and the vet center with ptsd. The vet center said my issues were in the sever range with a GAF score of 42-45. I have been denied s/c for ptsd as of july 2011. I filed a NOD in august 2011 and requested a DRO review. since then I have submitted the following: 20+ news articles talking about Dover AFB Mortuary work scandle mismanagement etc. articles about AF blanket stop loss 2001 articles about stop loss and Ready reserve reactivation (IRR) A denied separation/ transfer reguest in 2002 to palace chase by AFPC- Reason DIS-MANNING Buddy statement that saw me being detailed for these duties at roll call Statement reflecting duties, stop loss, Enlisting in guard to prevent IRR recall, Blanket stop loss effects, transfer request denial after ashes dumped in land fill etc. My question is am I on the right track or am I running my self in circles? I am not sure if my denied transfer request helps my case or not as I saw it was only for assualts according reg.? any help is much appreciated :) Many thanks!