NYC-WTC_000174805

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

AFIP Letter / Vol. 159, No. 5 / October 2001 13

Operation Noble Ea^le: Histotechnicians provide valuable support at Dover; all enlisted play vital role at AFIP

F lor three recent graduates of AFI P's Base Port Mortuary, however, their Tri-Service School of Histo- training took on new meaning. technology who served as autopsy In mass fatality operations at assistants at Dover following the Pentagon Dover, forensic investigators utilize a terrorist attack—the assignment was series of staLiuns to conduct victim once-in-a-lifelime. One that AIC Earl identifications. And the histotech- Gibson, Amn Tashanda Ashford, and nician,s were there to help, moving HM3 Marco Mendoza, all histotech- victims from station to station, nicians, will never forget. assisting with the recovery of personal It was the first time in the school’s effects, and even taking notes for the history that its students and some staff pathologists. Their valuable assis­ participated in a mas.s casualty identifica­ tance wa.s needed at every station. tion operation. In all, about 30 histotech- “They were terrific,” said team leader nicians volunteered and deployed to Bruce Ensign, Maj, USAF, MC. Dover to help forensic pathologists in the “Thanks to their help, our pathologists identification process. The histotech- were able to conduct their investiga­ nicians rotated throughout the operation, tions more rapidly and efficiently.” working 3 or more days before being HM3 Mendoza said working in the replaced by other histotechnician rein­ morgue proved to be a very moving Air Force MSgix Joy WilHams mid Chris Sepulveda forcements before returning to the AFIP. experience for him, with the knowledge provided supporf al AFiP. “1 volunteered to help because I wanted that just a few hours before, the victims to learn something, and I knew AFIP has had been alive and serving their country advisors for their respective services. some of the best pathologists in the at the Pentagon. “It w'as real emotional,” They coordinated and provided work world,” said AIC Gibson. “Before I went he said. “I wanted to participate. In fact, a schedules for 35 to 40 enlisted AFIP to Dover, 1 didn’t underst.and the whole lot of U.S wanted to help out, and being at servicemeniber.s to help out in the process of how casualties; are handled Dover gave u.s a chance to help the aftermath of the Pentagon terrorist attack. there.” forensic pathologists.” Amn Ashford said Servicemembers’ assignments ranged Traditionally, as part of their training, she adjusted to her new role quickly. from driving, courier duties, and guarding histotechnicians are taught to assist “This wa.s nothing like I could ever AFlP’s perimeter to assisting pathologist,s pathologist.s in autopsies in a sterile imagine. It was a really different experi­ at Dover. Military personnel cut orders setting at a medical facility. Up until the ence. I think the training has given me an for personnel tasked to deploy to Dover. September 11 terrorist attacks, the recent edge over my counterparts.” “Nearly all military personnel here were graduates received most of their training Behind the scenes at AFIP, Army involved in this mission,” MSgt William.s inside the classroom. When they were MSG Daneen Harris and Air Force MSgt said. tasked to work at the Dover Air Force Joy Williams are two senior enli.sted Enlisted personnel and officers at AFIP helped man a specially created Emer­ gency Operations Center, headed by Lt Col Larry Shaw, AFIP’.s chief of staff for Administrative Services, said Air Force S OAFME forensic MSgt Chri.s Sepulveda, NCOIC of the j photography staff who deployed histotechnicans. “Once it was I led the Dover operation I from left: TSgt Michael recognized that the Pentagon terrorist ’ a I Godwin, USAF; TSgt attack wa.s an emergency, we needed a I Louis Briscese, USAF, place to track and record information between the AFIP, the FBI, the Surgeon NCOIC; PHC(SW/AW) I Sean Doyle, USN, General, and everyone who needed to coordinate with us. The Emergency LCPO, andPH3 Operations Center was the nerve center, I Christopher'Williams. and Lt Col Shaw ran it,” he said. I Photo by TSgt Briscese. ‘■H - Michele Hammonds

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