I'm
sure you don't recognize this patch unless you have been involved
in the aftermath of a significant tragic event which involved
a large loss of human life. You see a couple of acronyms here:
NDMS: National Disaster Medical Systems
and DMORT: Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team
Did that say mortuary? Yes indeed. This is the patch for the
many men and women across this country that volunteer their time
and expertise in a Federal Level Response team designed to provide
mortuary assistance in the case of a mass fatality incident or
any cemetery related incident.
Hi, my name is Robert Miller and I'm proud to say that I am a
member of DMORT Region VI, Response Team. As you can see by the
pictures on the patch, there are many medical disciplines represented.
Our team consists of Medical Examiner/Coroners, Forensic Pathologists,
Odontologists and Anthropologists, Fingerprint, Evidence, Investigative
and Computer Specialists, Heavy Equipment Operators and Funeral
Directors/Embalmers to name a few. Can't you tell we have fun
when we all get together! I have served my team in several capacities;
however, I'm officially classified as a computer specialist.
You might ask "Why does a computer specialist hang out with
all these other folks?" Quite frankly, we keep track of all
the post-mortem information that these other folks give us regarding
a disaster scene, a body, a tooth or some other bodily material
taken from a victim. We also record as much anti-mortem information
as we can about a victim collected from living family members
or friends, dental records, health records and even law enforcement
records. This would include DNA information from family members
and or items used by the victim prior to death such as a hairbrush
or toothbrush.
The computer specialist will then use the computer and some specially
designed software to compare the data for the two sides in order
to make a preliminary identification of the victim. Once this
is confirmed, the investigators will work with the responsible
coroner or Medical Examiner to make a "positive" identification
and issue the death certificate.
I cannot begin to describe the gamut of feelings that one gets
by being on the investigation team that is able to release a body
(or in most cases a partial, or just tissue) to the surviving
family. I will always remember attending the closing ceremony
at the World Trade Center when a family that was standing next
to me recognized the patch on my sleeve. This was a surviving
wife and children of a victim of the WTC attack. She came up and
gave me the biggest hug I've ever gotten, started crying and just
kept saying thank you over and over again. I held her for some
time as she fought back the tears. She explained that all she
got back to bury was a leg and she was so glad to have something
to get some closure to the incident. If you can imagine this scene
and at the same time imagine me having flashbacks of all the "legs"
that I had seen during my two tours to New York, and combine that
with the self-satisfaction of being able to serve other citizens
of this country, then you will have some idea of what this job
is all about.
As I've said before, I'm very proud to be a member of this team.
I will continue to serve my country and fellow man in this endeavor
as long as I can contribute effectively. I hope I never have to
meet you or identify you after a tragedy. But, if I do, you can
rest assured I, and every member of this team, will display the
utmost reverence for the dead and compassion for the living.
I'm
sure you don't recognize this patch unless you have been involved
in the aftermath of a significant tragic event which involved
a large loss of human life. You see a couple of acronyms here: