Notification-of-Next-of-Kin

This short story is based on actual events during one of my early military assignments. I’m posting it early this week. I’m undergoing some minor out-patient surgery and I won’t be able to make my normal Friday morning posts. Enjoy!

One of the most difficult duties that any soldier can be assigned is to be responsible for notifying a family of a loved one’s death in the military. It’s a responsibility that is taken seriously. While this story is fiction it is based upon experience during my assignment to Fort Snelling, Minnesota in 1971-1972 between tours to Vietnam.

Notification of Next of Kin

It was a cold late winter day in southeastern Minnesota. A brisk wind blew across the runway of the International Airport bringing with it snow from the night before. Captain Paul Tyler received a message from his commander, Colonel King, to report to his office immediately.

“Tyler, come in, close the door, take a seat.

“Captain Tyler I’m giving you a difficult assignment. I’m sending you to the small town of Hudson to the Feezer family to make a notification of next-of-kin. He was assigned to a Mechanized Infantry Division in Vietnam along the Demilitarized Zone, and was killed four days ago. Because of the recent blizzard conditions we were delayed in getting the notification. It needs to be made immediately. You’ve been out with Major Dan Smith, so you know the routine. I recommend that you take Master Sergeant Emerson with you, he’s a seasoned noncommissioned officer, an infantryman and a wounded Vietnam veteran like yourself.

Please understand your responsibility in this is to make the notification as professionally and as dignified as possible. Check with my secretary; she’ll give you the packet containing the information that you need. Take time to read through it and make sure that you understand the nature of your duties and that you can provide as much information as possible to the family.”

After his briefing with Colonel King and receipt of the notification packet, Captain Tyler returned to his office and met with Master Sergeant Ed Emerson. They discussed the situation. In order to meet the stringent requirements for making these notifications they determined that they had to leave in the morning.

The two of them sat and read the report of the death of young Specialist Richard Feezer. His armored personnel carrier had run over a landmine and he and two other members of his crew had been killed. His body had been recovered and was being prepared for shipment back to the United states, arriving there around the 15th of February. Richard was from the small town of Hudson, a farm community a few miles South of Alexandria Minnesota. According to the Specialist’s records the only address that he had was a rural post number. They would need to drive into the small town and find someone who could identify where the family resided.

According to Specialist Feezer’s records he was Lutheran by faith, and after a couple of calls they were able to determine where there was a nearby Lutheran Church. Paul contacted the local pastor asking for his assistance. Reverend Nordstrom knew the family well, in fact he had baptized Richard.

The next morning Master Sergeant Emerson picked up the old green army sedan and they drove out to the small town of Hudson and contacted Reverend Nordstrom. He was familiar with the Feezer’s farm; they were soybean farmers out on the Great Plains of south-central Minnesota. This was also lake country and the Feezer’s farm sat beside a beautiful pond that was frozen over. This was an idyllic setting that one expected to find in this part of Minnesota. Silos and grain bins sat behind the farmhouse and a large barn filled with equipment sat at the end of a small road.

Captain Tyler accompanied by his Sergeant and the local minister knocked on the door. Mrs. Feezer came to the door, opened it and saw the three of them standing there. Paul could immediately see the terror in her eyes as she saw them.

She called to her husband, “Patrick, come quickly we have visitors”.

Patrick Feezer came out from the kitchen, saw the three of them, and realized immediately what had happened. He had been a young boy during World War II and had seen this play out any number of times in the local community, the death of a native son.

Gloria Feezer was heartbroken, what one should expect from the mother of a slain soldier. Patrick was stoic.

“Gloria we have guests!” Patrick Feezer bellowed, “bring us some coffee and some rolls from the kitchen.

Gentlemen, will you please come in and take a seat in the parlor. I know what you’re about to tell me and I would like for my wife and I to be seated when you break the news. I lost an uncle during World War II; when I saw the staff car and the three of you get out I immediately knew what had happened to our son, Richard.

When Gloria came back from the kitchen with a pot of hot coffee and some freshly baked rolls she sat down, her hands in her lap, tears welling in her eyes. Paul explained what had happened to their son. Her husband tried to console her, hugging her tightly and sheading his own tears along with hers.

Reverend Nordstrom asked everyone to join hands and he prayed. He prayed for strength for the family in this time of sorrow. He asked a special blessing for Paul Tyler and Ed Emerson who had this difficult task to perform. Reverend Nordstrom was the comforting rock that held them together.

Paul explained that another officer would be contacting them within the next few days to assist them with all of the details for burial ceremonies and assisting the family with anything that they needed from the military.

As they got up to leave Mrs. Feezer embraced Paul, and with tears in her eyes thanked him for what he had done. As a mother she knew how hard it was to lose a son but she also knew how hard it was for someone to make that notification. As they walked back to the car Paul broke down and with tears in his eyes looked at Reverend Nordstrom and Ed Emerson and said. “that was probably the hardest thing that I’ve had had to do in my entire life.”

Ed Emerson, that gnarly old NCO, gave his captain a hug; “you did well, you did well, Sir”

They drove back to drop off Reverend Nordstrom. He offered a prayer for the repose of the soul of Richard Feezer and offered his condolences to the two soldiers who had been required to make that terrible notification.