As we talked with everyone, the preparation for the ceremony proceeded.
A tent and podium were set up (here with the airport in the background)
and the Palauan dignitaries showed up, 5 minutes late
– to which Mason Whipps commented quite loudly,
“Not bad for Palauan time...”

The Seabees and RT-2 lined up for the ceremony formation. The C-17 aircrew stood at attention in the background. Although JPAC is a Joint (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard) effort, it was pretty much all Navy all the way that day.

Navy Seabee Unit CAT 5-33. Talking with the SeaBees
in his whites is one amazing guy: Master Diver David Gove.

Navy Salvage Diver Unit MDSU-1
(attached to JPAC for the RT-2 mission).

RT-2 set up the stand for the remains.

Once they brought out the two Pelican cases,
I wanted to be sure that if no one else was standing nearby, I was.

There were only two speakers: Captain Zukowsky and the Minister of Cultural Affairs. Captain Zukowski powerfully captured the significance of this moment in his brief message. The BentProp Project received an especially warm acknowledgment. The Minister's talk was very sincere in thanking all Americans for helping Palau during and after WWII.

Captain Zukowsky.

Closing the aluminum transfer case just before the flag draping.

Remains are finally aboard the aircraft.

Having just been taken into the hold of this C-17, these remains, as yet unidentified, are now being repatriated back into the United States of America after 60 years, 8 months and 23 days:

Page last modified 11 May 2005