MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- Dignity, honor, and respect are the words they carry out their mission by. They are the people who work behind the scenes in Overseas Contingency Operations with a very delicate and crucial mission - a mission most people don't like to talk about - preparing the remains of fallen U.S. servicemembers, so they can be returned to their families.

A five-person team of Air Force Reservists from the 446th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight here return, beginning March 21, after a six-month deployment supporting Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at The Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, Dover Air Force Base, Del. 

"When they come here (AFMAO) they give all of themselves," said Senior Master Sgt. Steve Harris, Sustainment Services Flight superintendent, who is the NCO in charge of the team and wrapping up his seventh deployment. "They are willing to give their all to make sure our nation's heroes get nothing but the best care."

The Reservists are coming back to their homes in Seattle, Bremerton and Puyallup. In all, the team prepared the remains of almost 300 of their comrades in arms and performed about 100 dignified transfers. They also ensured the housing of almost 100 family members since the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen opened there in December 2010. And it doesn't matter which service it is or if the remains came from a servicemember who died in combat or one that died from natural causes - each servicemember's remains are prepared in meticulous detail. 

The mortuary affairs mission is to fulfill our Nation's sacred commitment of ensuring dignity, honor, and respect to our fallen and care, service, and support to their families.

For more information on Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, visit their website at http://www.mortuary.af.mil/ or contact AFMAO Public Affairs at (302) 677-2275 or by e-mail at afmao.pa@us.af.mil.