Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

States when they are released for local burial or shipped directly to a consignee designated by the PADD. If remains
are to be shipped to a port mortuary in the United States or to an armed service mortuary outside of the United States,
the preparing mortuary will be as follows:
(1) Place cotton over female or male organs.
(2) Wrap remains in a sheet.
(3) Place wrapped remains in a plastic bag. The bag will be heat sealed or sealed with plastic tape.
(4) Wrap clothing (including underclothes and hose) and secure inside transfer case.
(5) If appropriate clothing, insignia, and ribbons for soldiers are not available in the command, the items needed,
including sizes if appropriate, will be provided to the receiving CAC or port mortuary as appropriate. The mortuary
affairs representative in the United States will obtain required items. Of extreme importance is that information
concerning required items be complete and accurate.
e. Inspection of remains. The mortuary officer will inspect remains, using as a guide the checklist on the second
page of DD Form 2062.
f. Placement of remains in transfer case or casket. Remains will be placed in a transfer case or casket, as applicable,
in such a manner as to—
(1) Create an appearance of rest and composure.
(2) Secured to ensure maintenance of position during transit.
6–8. Documentation required (RCS: CSGPA–1744)
Required reports (those assigned requirements control symbols (RCSs) are as follows:
a. DD Form 2062 (RCS CSGPA–1744) will be initiated by the preparing mortician on all remains prepared in the
armed service mortuary facility outside of the United States or on a contract basis. The port mortuary in the United
States (port embalmer or port contract funeral director and department representative) will complete the applicable
portion of the second page of DD Form 2062 when remains are processed through the port. If the data and amount
collected from the sponsor is not indicated on the DD Form 2062, this information will be sent separately to CDR,
PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D), Alexandria, VA 22331–0482, as soon as it is available.
b. The following documents will accompany the DD Form 2062:
(1) DD Form 2064. Page 1 of this form will be completed by medical authorities; the appropriate portion of the
reverse side will be completed by the mortician preparing the remains.
(2) The civil death certificate, if available.
(3) DD Form 2065 (Disposition of Remains-Reimbursable Basis) on reimbursable cases.
(4) Identification documentation. See requirements in paragraph 8–12.
c. On State Department requested cases the following additional documentation is required:
(1) Letter from the American consulate requesting the mortuary services desired.
(2) Photocopy pages of passport of decedent containing picture and identification data.
(3) Receipt for payment of mortuary services and evidence that payment has been deposited.
6–9. Compliance with health and transportation laws
a. For protection of the embalmer, Armed Forces Public Health Guidelines will be followed (app I).
b. The Army mortuaries outside of the United States will comply with State, Federal, and foreign health and
transportation laws concerning preparation and shipment or interment of remains. Compliance with procedures indicated
below is mandatory when remains are shipped to a port mortuary in the United States.
(1) Regulations of the Public Health Service provide that remains of a person dead from a quarantinable disease
(cholera, plague, louse-borne relapsing fever, smallpox, louse-borne typhus, and yellow fever) will not be brought into
a port under control of the United States unless the remains are properly embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed
casket or transfer case, or are cremated. When the transfer case is used, remains will be wrapped in impervious
material. Leakage or active decomposition of these remains presents a serious health menace. Therefore, to ensure
compliance with U.S. Public Health Service requirements, the following procedures will be observed:
(a) Thoroughly wash the body with an effective disinfectant.
(b) Disinfect all orifices.
(c) Pack all orifices with cotton saturated with an effective disinfectant.
(d) Use a higher concentration or greater quantity of embalming fluid.
(e) Thoroughly aspirate and inject all cavities.
(f) Thoroughly rewash the body with an effective disinfectant.
(2) A gummed label, 2 by 4 inches, bearing the word, “CONTAGIOUS,” will be affixed to the outer surface at the
head end of the shipping case or the metal transfer case.
AR 638–2 22 December 2000
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