TSgt Dale Mathews’ casket arrives on a frigid night in Indianapolis, escorted by a USAF honor guard, with LaPorte County Capt. Mike Kellems and Det. Jeff Wright saluting at left.
Foreword by Mike Kellems; story by Maj. Dale (last name withheld), USAF
Photos courtesy of Reflections Photography (click to enlarge)
FOREWORD: On Jan. 24, 2014, myself (LaPorte County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Kellems) and LaPorte County Sheriff’s Detective Jeff Wright assisted in escorting U.S. Air Force Tech. Sergeant Dale Mathews home to LaPorte County for the final time. TSgt Mathews was killed earlier in the month during a helicopter training exercise in England. Det. Wright had attended school at New Prairie with TSgt Mathews and offered the escort to his family.
All members of the military who die in the line of duty receive a military escort from the time they leave the mortuary services in Dover, Delaware, until they are buried. TSgt Matthews was escorted by one of his longtime friends, a major in the US Air Force. The major wrote the following story about escorting his friend home for the memorial service at New Prairie High School and on to Arlington National Cemetery for burial. I received the major’s email in late February and was extremely moved by what he wrote. I felt strongly that it should be shared with our WNLP readers. I asked the major for permission to publish his letter, which he granted. For security reasons, he asked that the last names be redacted.
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I just wanted to thank everyone for such overwhelming support during the escort of TSgt Dale Mathews, USAF Combat Rescue, from Dover, DE, to his final resting place on the hallowed hills of Arlington National Cemetery. As Dale’s and my journey began, it became apparent that, even though I consider myself the most emotionally put-together person in any room, I was not prepared for the outpouring of pride and patriotism displayed for my friend. I am sure this message won’t reach everyone deserving of thanks, so please share with anyone involved with Dale’s movement or the movement of ANY of our fallen soldiers.
We departed Dover AFB, DE, on the frigid afternoon of 24 Jan after the great folks from Air Force Mortuary Affairs prepared Dale for burial and sent him off with honor. I had a page full of questions about the upcoming days, but the AFMA people, especially Chris, helped to put my concerns aside and for that, I thank them.
We traveled to Philadelphia, and after preparing Dale for transport to the aircraft, I made my way to check in through security and up to the gate. While at check in, I told the US Airways agent that I was escorting a fallen soldier and asked if it was possible to get my checked baggage loaded next to his casket, allowing for a quick departure upon arrival and avoiding having to go back through baggage claim. The agent called up a baggage handler who, somehow amongst the thousands of other bags, got my bag loaded right next to his casket.
USAF Maj. Dale salutes his friend’s casket at the end of the service at New Prairie High School.
I proceeded to the gate and told the gate agent that I would need someone to escort me to the flight line for the loading of TSgt Mathews’ casket. She looked at me wide eyed for a moment, then said that she had never done this before. I replied that I hadn’t either and we would figure it out together. A few minutes later, my apprehensions were dissolved as the US Airways chief pilot introduced himself to me and told me he would walk me through the loading and departure. He escorted me onto the plane before boarding began and introduced me to the flight crew. The crew, having never heard of Dale Mathews, were nevertheless very saddened by his loss and wanted to know about him, his life and his family. We even shared a tear or two as I talked about my best friend as we waited for Dale’s casket to arrive.
When his casket arrived, the chief pilot escorted me down to planeside for the transfer. His casket was transported in a special baggage cart with a silhouette of a praying soldier on the side, providing for both the function required for flight line/aircraft operations as well as the dignity our fallen heroes deserve. While his casket was moving up the conveyor being loaded, all other movement in the area stopped. Most of the ground crew were standing with their hands over their hearts, but I noticed several (obviously former military) joining me in rendering a salute. Once Dale was safely loaded, I thanked the ground team for such a meaningful send-off and made my way to my seat for a solemn flight to Indianapolis, which was even colder than Philly and had a blizzard bearing down on it.
While taxiing into our gate at Indy, the pilot asked the passengers to remain seated as I departed to transfer Dale from the airplane. As I made my way down the stairs to the flight line, I was taken aback by the amount of vehicles. I expect a hearse and a 7-person USAF Honor Guard team. What I saw as I stepped into the well-below-zero temperatures and howling wind were about 4 vehicles, 4 police escorts, a hearse, 20 or so people, and 7 popsicles wearing USAF Honor Guard uniforms, having what appeared to be mini-seizures. Dale was unloaded by the fine ground crew of US Airways and transferred by the Honor Guard to his awaiting hearse.
I was taken to the lead escort vehicle, driven by Captain Michael Kellems of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, Dale’s home county. Also in the vehicle were two of Dale’s closest friends growing up, Lisa and Robert. Following us was Dale’s hearse driven by Frank, of Kaniewski Funeral Home, with another of Dale’s best friends, Robbie. Several vehicles followed the hearse with Dale’s mother, stepfather, father, and many other friends and family members who love Dale dearly. Amazingly, all these folks almost didn’t make it down to Indy due to the blizzard in northern Indiana. Once Dale was secure in his hearse, we all loaded up for the 180-mile trek to South Bend, IN.
We didn’t make it 100 yards off the airport before, once again, I was overwhelmed with pride. Standing in the snow, braving the brutal wind and sub-zero temperatures, were dozens of Indiana Patriot Guard riders, standing by US Flags, their poles plunged into the snow, giving Dale a sendoff from Indy. Many of these riders joined Dale’s convoy as we charged north into the oncoming blizzard. As we passed through each county on the way to South Bend, each sheriff’s department picked us up, escorted us through their county, blocked off all side roads, and handed us off to the next county. Through snow drifts we plowed, peering through the oncoming blizzard. This 3-hour trip was the first time I had the privilege of getting to know Dale’s hometown friends. There were many laughs as we all discovered through shared stories that Dale’s antics as a child growing up in Indiana were only more elaborate as an adult with more experience and better funding. Frank, driving the hearse, looked a bit uncomfortable to Robbie, making Robbie more than a bit uncomfortable and forcing him to offer to drive. By the time we made it to the funeral home, we were plowing our own path through the parking lot. Thus ended the first day of TSgt Mathews’ travel enroute to Arlington.
Sat, 25 Jan was no better. With the help, once again, of the Indiana Patriot Guard, Dale was loaded into the hearse. Frank, having honed his winter hearse driving skills the night before, pushed through the snow-packed (often icy) roads and drifts to get TSgt Mathews to his funeral service at his local high school (New Prairie) and back to the funeral home. We were now in wait-and-see for the weather to clear up enough to make it to Washington, D.C.
The weather finally broke, and on 29 Jan, Dale said one final goodbye to his beloved state of Indiana as Frank, Dale and I made our way to Chicago O’Hare. Upon arrival, we found that our Delta flight had been canceled due to the ice storm that paralyzed Atlanta, Delta’s hub. No surprise … nothing is simple. Frank and I headed across the street to United’s cargo operation to see if they could get us to D.C. today and they only had one question: Would we like to depart at 1300, 1400, 1500 or 1600? It was at this moment that Elliott, supervisor of Airport Operations-Cargo, saw me on the surveillance camera in my Air Force Service Dress uniform and came out to greet us. “I didn’t know we were moving a fallen soldier today.”, Elliott said. “That’s because until about 2 minutes ago, you weren’t,” I replied. Elliot then took me to the cargo area, where we transferred Dale onto another, very dignified baggage cart with a US flag at one corner and the US Air Force flag at the other. Little did I know that behind the scenes, dozens of United people were springing into action as they prepare for the dignified transfer … something which they normally have a week or more to prepare for, but now had about 2 hours.
Elliott drove me to the terminal and helped me through security to my gate, where he left me to await my flight while he made final preparations. It was not long before a young man from the TSA showed up saying that his team, the TSA Honor Guard, was standing by and would be escorting the colors (US and USAF flags) and rendering honors. I was then approached by James, a United ground crewman and former USAF Honor Guard team member. We talked for a while and discovered that his friend and former Honor Guard teammate was on the same helicopter flight that night in England that claimed the lives of all 4 airmen. Several other United representatives, including Cal, assistant chief pilot, also greeted me and escorted me to the flight line for Dale’s transfer. Of course the cold still has not let up, but that didn’t deter about 100 folks from paying their respects. The TSA Honor Guard presented the colors under the towering cabs of the de-icing trucks lined up in a farewell salute. Their salutes were joined by myself, several other former military, and the crash-fire-rescue crews as Dale was loaded onto the plane for one final flight.
Arrival in Reagan National that evening was very similar to the arrival at Indy, with the exception of the family/friends and police escort — oh, and it was above zero degrees; beach weather. The USAF Honor Guard was perfect, as always. After the United ground crew carefully positioned Dale’s casket for unloading and ensuring the US flag was properly draped on top, the Honor Guard transferred Dale to the hearse, driven by Brian from Jefferson Funeral Chapel. This guy had it easy in comparison to Indiana: only about 5 miles, reasonable temps and no snow drifts. Nevertheless, Brian was helpful and respectful.
Dale remained at Jefferson for several days awaiting his interment to Arlington. I visited him a couple of times at the funeral home and Cory there helped me to arrange for his wife and kids to come by and say one final goodbye before his burial. On 5 Feb, we transferred Dale into the hearse on last time and drove to Arlington, where about 50 family/friends and 300 Air Force brethren awaited his arrival.
This ended my duties as the escort for TSgt Dale Mathews.
I wanted to tell this story in hopes that you all can see the part you played in it. Some small. Some large. Some unsung. All of us have a small part of the world that we control. A sliver of influence. I saw each and every one do whatever they could, no matter how small that sliver of influence, to show respect, honor, and dignity.
Everyone has significant things they have done in their lives … significant events. I have significant events as well: marrying my wonderful wife, the birth of my 3 amazing daughters, and escorting my friend, Dale Mathews.
Dale’s wife thanked me for taking care of him. She is the one deserving of thanks, for the trust she showed in me. For the honor of escorting my friend.
– Dale (last name withheld), Maj, USAF
Friends and family brave the weather in New Carlisle to honor Dale Mathews as his hearse passes by on the way to the funeral.