Dover Air Force Base mortuary

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Biden attends the dignified transfer at Dover for service members killed in Jordan

President Biden watches the dignified transfer of the remains of the three U.S. service members killed in the drone attack in Jordan, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., on Feb. 2. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Biden attends the dignified transfer at Dover for service members killed in Jordan

February 2, 2024 • It is one of the most solemn tasks for a commander-in-chief, bearing witness as the bodies of fallen service members return to U.S. soil at Dover Air Force Base.

Trump Travels To Dover AFB For Dignified Transfer Of 4 Americans Killed In Syria

As President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo watch, a U.S. Navy team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Scott A. Wirtz, Saturday at Dover Air Force Base. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

National Security

Trump Travels To Dover AFB For Dignified Transfer Of 4 Americans Killed In Syria

January 19, 2019 • The president met privately with family members Saturday morning. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan also traveled to the ceremony.

Military Mortuary Employee Allegedly Offered Peek At John Glenn's Remains

The Air Force says it is investigating allegations that an employee at the military mortuary at Dover Air Force Base offered to show the remains of John Glenn to Defense Department inspectors. Above, a photo of the former astronaut and U.S. senator as he lay in state at the Ohio Statehouse in December 2016. Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Military Mortuary Employee Allegedly Offered Peek At John Glenn's Remains

May 26, 2017 • DOD inspectors declined the offer and "at no time viewed the remains" during a review of the mortuary at Dover Air Force Base. The Air Force says it will investigate the incident.

Report: Hundreds Of Troops' Ashes Were Dumped In Landfill

June 8, 2011: The coffins of four U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq arrive at Dover Air Force Base. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

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Jose Luis Magana/AP

The Two-Way

Report: Hundreds Of Troops' Ashes Were Dumped In Landfill

December 8, 2011 • "The incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops" were disposed of in a Virginia landfill instead of being treated with dignity as families were promised, The Washington Post reports. That's far more than first reported.

Steve Inskeep speaks with Craig Whitlock

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The Two-Way

Air Force Mortuary Dumped Remains Of War Dead In Landfill

November 9, 2011 • Air Force officials told The Washington Post that some troops' body parts were incinerated and then taken to the landfill in Virginia. The mortuary said it changed its policy in June 2008 and that now the cremated remains are buried at sea.