Travel note 10: DT details

The dignified transfer started at 1142 with an Air Force officer’s call of “Wheels Rolling” indicating the families of the fallen were en route. The same officer called “Family in sight” as their vehicles approached the flight line.

Their vehicles (a black bus similar to an airport hotel shuttle and two smaller white busses) were marshaled into position by an Air Force NCO with a procedure akin to that used for an airplane.

At that point as the family members disembarked from their vehicles, a group of DVs including POTUS, SecDef, CJE Chair Gen. Caine, and what appeared to be Army COS Gen. LaNeve, CNO ADM Caudle, and a USAF Colonel pool could not identify approached the back of the ramp and bowed their heads while a prayer appeared to be offered by one of them.

They then walked back to stand next to the cargo ramp and each rendered a salute at the call of “Present Arms” at 1150 as the carry team brought the first case off the plane.

They then walked back to stand next to the cargo ramp and each rendered a salute at the call of f “Present Arms” at 1150 as the carry team brought the first case off the plane.

Civilian DVs behind them (including Karoline Leavitt) placed their hands over their hearts instead of saluting.

They held the salute until “order arms” was called at 1152.

This was repeated for the second transfer case from 1153 to 1154, the third from 1157 to 1158, and the fourth from 1159 to 1200.

A family member (who pool could not see) was heard wailing as the fourth case was loaded into the transfer vehicle.

The carry team rendered a hand salute which they held until vehicle doors were both closed at 1203.

Then “present arms” was called once more at which the carry team, plus DVs including POTUS rendered a salute as the vehicles left.

“Order arms” was called at 1204, after which the carry detail was dismissed.

POTUS then walked over to another set of vehicles with Hegseth and got in a different armored Escalade with him.

Motorcade rolled towards Air Force One at 1206.

At 1209 the family vehicles were marshalled away from the flight line. Pool spotted several family members come off one of the vehicles before they departed and were steered in the direction of Air Force One by a White House staffer.

The DT ended with a call of “flight line dismissed” at approximately 1211.

Pool is now walking back to Air Force One, we are advised POTUS is already aboard.

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

The Independent

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