May - June 2002

DMORT National Commander's Column
By Thomas J. Shepardson

These past 12 months have been the busiest year in DMORT history. We in DMORT and the Office of Emergency Preparedness want to express our deep appreciation to the many dedicated members who have made the extensive deployments possible by their hard work and their extended stays away from family and businesses. We all know that words will never sufficiently express what is in our hearts. We can all take pride in the fact that we have, no matter what role we played, helped America heal. We have also given back to our country, in a small way, for all the blessings America has given to each of us. We never know when someone will enter our lives in the future and say "Thank you for being there when I needed you." That exact event happened to several of us at the National Disaster Medical System conference in Atlanta. Let me explain.

Following a presentation on Tuesday afternoon on the World Trade Center by Shiya Ribowski, from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City, I, as moderator of the session, was thanking him for a most informative presentation. A gentleman came forward, shook my hand, and said "Thank you for being there for my family." This gentleman talked to me for some time, explaining whom he was and how he happened to hear about the conference and get an invitation to attend. Since the conference program was over for the day, I asked him to please repeat what he had told me, on the following day for all of the attendees present. He said that he was flying to Washington, DC that evening for a ceremony at the White House, but he offered to fly back at his own expense the following day to express his gratitude to everyone. He did this, and on Wednesday spoke from his heart to those present.

He explained how much everything that DMORT does, from recovery, to identification, to family assistance means to someone who has lost a loved one in a disaster. He knew first hand. His name is Ken Thompson and he lost his mother in the Oklahoma City bombing. He wished that he could meet each and every one who is a member of DMORT and personally say "Thank you" for all of your dedicated, loving work.

Many other interesting things happened at the conference, which are reported further in this newsletter. The organizers are to be commended for putting together a most fact filled and interesting conference.

The response to the September 11, 2001 attack on America is ongoing for DMORT. Our mission in New York has been extended. We will be in the New York City Medical Examiner's Office until July 1st. We have been able to fulfill the requirements of this mission only through the hard work and dedication of all of you.

In addition to this ongoing deployment, DMORT has also been deployed to Walker County, Georgia to assist the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the crematory recovery efforts. The capability and dedication of our people never ends.

NDMS Conference 2002 in Atlanta

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The 2001-2002 NDMS Awards were held in Atlanta on April 14. The following DMORT members were honored with the "2001 NDMS Response Team Distinguished Member of the Year Award":

DMORT I Joseph Allen
DMORT II Renee Hill
DMORT III Marilyn London
DMORT IV Paul Taylor
DMORT V Susan Atwood
DMORT VI "Chuck" Smith
DMORT VII Gayle Onnen
DMORT VIII Gary Refsland
DMORT IX Robert Hennis
DMORT X "Katie" Sullivan

Congratulations to all of these recipients, as well as everyone else who was recognized at this event.

NDMS 2002 National Conference Recap
The NDMS National Conference was held in Atlanta, GA on April 13-17, 2002.

The purpose of the conference is to promote interaction between local, state and federal practitioners and policy makers. Expert faculty from a variety of agencies, as well as volunteer and academic entities present on key topics, such as weapons of mass destruction, clinical medicine, mental health, disaster teams, and international coordination. Networking with these experts and other leaders in the field of emergency management allows participants to access current emergency response and coordination capabilities.

For those D-mort members who were not able to attend this conference, the following is a brief recap of the D-mort portion of the program.

Living the Worse Case Scenarios: WTC 2001, AA FLT 587, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and Disaster Mortuary Teams (DMORT)
Speaker: Shiya Ribowsky
This presentation defined the responsibilities, structure and staffing of the NYC-OCME, and their response to the events of September 11 and AA FLT 587. The D-mort response, role and interaction with the department's operation during these incidents were presented from Ribowsky's perspective.

How a Deployment Works
Speaker: Charles Hutchins
This session clarified exactly who, when and how team members are activated, and their responsibilities on a deployment. In addition, questions related to the response team interaction with the Management Support Team were addressed.

NTSB Update: Where We Are & Where We Are Going
Speaker: Frank Ciaccio
Ciaccio reviewed the understanding between the NTSB and D-Mort teams in the event of a major transportation accident. The relationship between the two agencies has grown, with a strong and committed partnership toward a common goal: the identification and assistance to families of transportation accident victims.
Since recent events, changes have taken place in the procedures, duties and responsibilities of the Family Assistance core group, DNA station in the morgue, and the FBI evidence response teams for victim identification.

NDMS Web Site Training
Speaker: Kelly Burkholder-Allen
This session described the mission for the Training and Education FWG (Functional Working Group) to develop the structure for a program that would meet the educational needs of the DMATs, DMORTs, and VMATs. The best solution for all was to provide distance learning - hence the NDMS Response Team Online Training Program. D-mort front-loaded their sessions to combine the authoring and editing by utilizing the Forensic Oversight Committee. Due to an abundance of challenges, this program has been delayed, but in the end it will be unparalleled.

Local Government - DMORT Operational Coordination
Speaker: Paul Sledzik
This presentation reviewed the coordination efforts that occurred between local government(s) and Disaster Mortuary Teams (DMORTS) in the response to the attacks on the WTC and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A coordination of the Coroner's Office, FBI,
DMORTs, MST, EOC, etc. were discussed.

Now There Are Two
Speaker: William Ambler
Ambler described the first portable morgue, assembled by the OEP in 1998 and currently located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The second portable morgue, in Rancho Cordova, California, was modeled after the first one; it consists of seven 463L military cargo pallets, with all new and upgraded equipment to fully support full forensic autopsies. Additionally, advanced hardware and software were added for use by the Family Assistance and Information Resource sections.

Victim Identification in a Multi-Agency Process: WTC 9/11 and Beyond…
Speaker: Fred Seim
This presentation demonstrated how the city of New York and D-Mort were able to define the end-to-end processes and procedures for managing the collection and exchange of WTC 9/11 missing persons, victim ante- and post-mortem information. This system satisfied both the City and D-mort's requirements, and can be reproduced for use in other disasters where victim identification and death certificate issuance challenges exist.

Thank You D-mort
Speaker: Ken Thompson
Ken Thompson expressed his personal experiences with D-mort and others from the first responder community. His mother was the last victim identified at the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, following the explosion on April19, 1995. Ken Thompson felt that the people of D-mort handle family members and the deceased with such respect and care, that it enables family to retain their dignity during an incredibly difficult time of their lives.

Family Assistance Training
Speakers: Robyne Bohn-Borik, Sharon Brysons, Christie Whitaker
This session gave an overview of the role of the Family Assistance Group and D-Mort in the Family Assistance Center. The FAC becomes an integral and vital part of the disaster response, when deaths are involved. What a family experiences at the FAC often becomes the reality of the disaster for them. Therefore, the interaction between responders and families has deep impact. The Family Assistance Core Team performed a skit, illustrating an interview process. They also reviewed aspects in gathering ante-mortem information, as well as other dynamics of a FAC.

Computer Education Training
Speakers: Don Bloom and Jim McGivney
This presentation analyzed the incident, illustrated the lessons learned, and discussed the impact, challenges, and demands on the Information Resource Center, during the WTC incident. Don Bloom reviewed the VIP program, and Jim McGivney discussed WinID.

Thank You DMORT
Ken Thompson
Director of External Affairs
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism

It is with great pleasure that I am writing this letter to the ladies and gentlemen of DMORT. My name is Ken Thompson and I am the Director of External Affairs for the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism. My job has entailed working directly with the victim's family members of the World Trade Center. I have had the honor of being in New York City eight times since September 11th to try to help the family members and first responders deal with the mental effects of this attack.

Everything started on a beautiful day in April 1995. I was working in Oklahoma City about five miles from the Murrah Building on April the 19th. When the Murrah Building exploded I looked out the window and saw the smoke rising from the building. I turned on the television and discovered that there had been an explosion at the Murrah Building. My mother Virginia Thompson worked for the Federal Employees Credit Union on the third floor of the Murrah Building. When I saw the front of the devastated building I had this feeling in my heart that my mother was gone. I contacted my family and spent most of the day searching for my mother at St. Anthony Hospital. It is so ironic that I was born at St. Anthony Hospital 29 years earlier and here I was searching for my mother at this very same hospital.

The first evening my brother, sister and I reported to the Family Assistance Center and then spent the next 17 days at the Center waiting to hear from the Medical Examiner's office regarding the recovery of my mother's body. At the end of the 17 days, the search at the sight had to be stopped due to the building being too fragile to continue the search. Due to the fragility of the building there were three people still in the building that the first responders were unable to reach. The Medical Examiner's office called my family upstairs at the Family Assistance Center to give us the news. We thought like all the other families that our mother had been recovered. When the gentleman came in to speak to us, he told us that, unfortunately, they were unable to recover our mother; it was the toughest time I have ever had in my life. The rescuers had been pulled off the pile the night before due to the instability of the building and the possibility of it collapsing on the workers.

Our mother was in the building until the building was imploded and brought down. On Memorial Day 1995, the final three bodies were brought out of the rubble and our mother was the last to be identified three days later.

The reason I tell you my story is because of you and the people you help. Without the people of DMORT, as well as many other facets of the first responder community, I would not be where I am today. The people of DMORT handle family members and the deceased with such respect and care it enables the family member to retain their dignity at an incredibly difficult time of our lives. The efforts of DMORT do not go unnoticed. When dealing with my tragedy, I learned to trust those who were attempting to help my family. It is with this trust that I am able to move on in life and try to make a positive impact on our country. The wonderful people of DMORT never get to hear from the victims' family members and it is time you know what a difference you have made in our lives.

In 1995 many people came to Oklahoma City to help those of us in need. After many tough times, it is possible to love life again. It is now my turn to say thanks and give back to those who reached out to us so unselfishly. I hope that my future contact with those that have been affected by September 11th will have a positive impact on the lives of the people I am able to touch. I know DMORT has made a huge impact on my life and what you do for the victim's family members is truly amazing.

I have two things in life that drive me to give back. I spend every day of my life trying to make my mother proud of me and I want to say thank you to those who helped us in the toughest time of our life.
Thank you for taking care of the families.

Thank You from NYC
March 7, 2002

I met so many of you as the events unfolded at the OCME in NY, but
Circumstances precluded any kind of in depth thanks on our (NYPD) part.
As I look back, I can see how we (NYPD) were on autopilot, and I didn't anticipate the relief and support you provided as you arrived. I think in many ways you gave us the luxury of taking your support for granted, especially in the early days, when none of us knew if we'd live to see the next day, and had not even heard of DMORT. But you were there with us, away from your families and the security of home. I can honestly say that you were the cavalry and the NYPD and NYFD owe you an enormous debt.

Thank you!
Sgt. Timothy Breen
Missing Persons Squad NYPD

Interview with Dr. Hirsch
By Dennis McGowan

Six months after the September 11th attack on America, members of the DMORT team assigned to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City were still hard at work assisting the OCME staff with the process of identifying victims from the World Trade Center. During those months, questions had arisen in the forensic community regarding DMORT's presence and performance in New York, questions that I posed to Dr. Charles Hirsch, Chief Medical Examiner of New York and his Director of Medicolegal Investigation, Mr. David Schomburg.

First on the list was the process whereby DMORT was deployed to New York. Dr. Hirsch explained that the disaster plan maintained by his office included requesting DMORT when the number of fatalities reached a critical number, and that the plan was implemented almost immediately. Schomburg explained that on the morning of September 11th it became obvious that the number of fatalities was unknown, but clearly exceeded the threshold for requesting assistance, and that other locations in the US were also going to be facing the same need. In keeping with the agencies pre-plan, he called for DMORT's deployment and the Mobile Morgue as soon as the situation became clear. Within minutes, Cliff Oldfield, Team Leader for Region 2, who happened to be in the city, arrived at the OCME. Reflecting on that morning, Schomburg remembers thinking, "Is this all we get?" He admits that there was a bumpy start to the utilization of DMORT resources, particularly where the Mobile Morgue was concerned. It was moved several times before it's eventual use, in a modular fashion, at ground zero. Rather than considering this a shortcoming, Schomburg cites the flexibility of the Mobile Morgue as a success. The most important thing, in his view, was that "It was here."

One thing that both Dr. Hirsch and Schomburg agreed upon was the need for a DMORT "user's guide." They were initially unsure of the nature and quantity of the resources that were being provided by DMORT, and would have liked to have a much better understanding of DMORT's operational guidelines. Another area that was unclear to the authorities in New York was the relationship between DMORT and the Management Support Team (MST), which had an effect on OCME operations when key DMORT leadership was pulled out and was unavailable to OCME management. In an event like the World Trade Center disaster, where the scope of the incident, and the time frame in which it will be mitigated is not immediately clear, but evolves slowly, Schomburg is an advocate of "No limit" management. Fundamentally, this means that whatever resources are needed will be secured and available for as long as the need exists. Schomburg also suggested that, if and when a guide is developed, it be widely distributed to Medical Examiners and Coroners across the country for inclusion in their local planning process.

Since six months had passed, I was interested in getting a report card for DMORT's contribution to the WTC effort, and when I asked Dr. Hirsch to evaluate our performance, his one word answer was "Superlative." Both he and Schomburg were impressed with the caliber of the DMORT personnel, with particular praise for Tom Shepardson, who, in Schomburg's words "Really understood what was needed."

A second area that I explored with Dr. Hirsch was his decision to forego autopsies on the WTC victims and the fact that he had not requested additional Forensic Pathologists for the WTC incident. He explained that in any investigation of death there are six questions that need to be answered. They are: "Who is the decedent," "What happened," "Where did it happen," "When did it happen," "How did it happen," and "Who did it?" Since the incident was seen on television, obviating the answers to most of the questions, the only one remaining was the identity of each victim. Thus, the efforts of the OCME were directed specifically at the identification process, and the more than thirty Forensic Pathologists on the OCME staff were adequate to manage the task. Dr. Hirsch noted that the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in Queens in November resulted in autopsies on all of the victims since the circumstances left most of the investigative questions unanswered.

Finally, I posed the question of lessons learned from the WTC disaster. Without hesitation Dr. Hirsch identified the single greatest lesson as "Planning." Prior to September 11th the OCME, along with other city agencies, had developed plans and had exercised those plans, for casualties numbering in the hundreds of thousands. It was this experience that led to the early request for DMORT and the expectation that the needed support would be forthcoming. Schomburg reinforced Dr. Hirsch's statement and added, as a word of advice to jurisdictions that have never experienced a large life loss incident, "You can't wait. Plan for disasters and exercise the plan." He also says that including DMORT in the plan "is a very good idea."

The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
Joni L. McClain, MD
President, NAME

This article is the first of a series of articles concerning NAME that will appear in the DMORT newsletter. DMORT is also providing articles for the NAME NEWS that will be distributed to all of the members of NAME.

The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) is the national organization of physician medical examiners and coroners, medico legal death investigators, and medico legal system administrators who perform the official duties of medico legal death investigation in the United States and other countries. NAME was founded in 1966 in order to foster the professional growth of physician death investigators and to provide a means of disseminating professional and technical information for the continuing improvement of the medico legal death investigation system in the United States.

NAME's official journal is The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology and is published quarterly. An annual meeting with scientific peer reviewed papers and poster presentations takes place in the fall. The next meeting will be held in Shreveport, LA, September 27, 2002- October 2, 2002. An interim meeting is held each year in conjunction with the annual American Academy of Forensic Science meeting. DMORT has made presentations at previous annual meetings.

NAME serves as a resource to individuals and jurisdictions seeking to improve medico legal death investigation by continually working to develop and upgrade national standards for death investigation. NAME inspects and accredits medico legal death investigation offices that meet NAME's standards.

NAME as an association and through its members maintain active cooperative relationships with the College of American Pathologists, American Society of Clinical Pathologists, and other professional organizations. NAME representatives participate and serve in an advisory capacity to federal, public, and private organizations on projects of mutual interest.

NAME is currently actively working together with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in developing a guidebook concerning the surveillance and case management of bioterrorism cases. NAME is also developing a Mass Fatality Plan that can be used and adapted to any community. Both of these projects are receiving high priority this year.

Membership in the National Association of Medical Examiners is open to all physicians, investigators, and administrators who are active in medico legal death investigation. The annual dues include a subscription to the journal.

NAME's headquarters is currently in St. Louis, MO. Any questions or issues that you would like to see addressed in this column can be sent to the following:

Denise Settlemoir
Executive Director, NAME
1402 S. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63104

Phone: 314-577-8298 ext 2
NAME's official website: www.thename.org

On a personal note, I have worked with DMORT for many years and I have found it to be a highly professional and dedicated organization. I look forward to strengthening this relationship and answering any questions that DMORT members may have of NAME.

REGIONAL EVENTS

Region III April Training.
Daryl Sensenig, CEM. Region III Administrative Officer

DMORT Region III "the Caretakers of Heroes" held a training session at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg Md. on April 19, 20th and 21st. The Friday evening activities were limited to check in and social time at the Command Post Pub.

The schedule for Saturday and Sunday included the following activities:

An overview of recent DMORT Activities that included reports from two of the team members that had been deployed to Walker County Georgia. Wallace Miller, the coroner that oversaw the United 93 response, spoke about his experience working with DMORT and other federal agencies. Dennis Dirkmaat, Region III anthropologist, provided an overview of the search and recovery aspects of the response and discussed victim identification issues.

A representative from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory provided a "DNA for Dummies" session to introduce the team to the many facets of DNA work.

An FBI representative discussed the Bureau's role in the search and recovery efforts at the Pentagon disaster. There was a critique of the Somerset. Pa. (United Flt. 93) deployment held as a breakout session by the team members that were deployed. The session was coordinated by Joyce Williams, Dave Williams, and Warren Tewes. During that time a new member orientation session was also held.

Ryan Morris, a police officer with Pennsylvania State University along with DMORT III members, provided a presentation on the threat of terrorism and the consequences of the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

A mental health professional from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation made a presentation regarding stress and disaster workers.

There was a cadaver dog demonstration as well as a presentation on the role of the FBI and NTSB in mass fatalities incident.

Region III anthropologist and "Volunteer of the Year," Marilyn London did a session on the design and implementation of morgue operation protocols. This session was based on the work done in Somerset. Pa. to document DMORT activities and provide a chain of custody protocol that met the needs of the FBI in dealing with a crime scene.

Saturday evening saw the second, "Region III Pocket Billiards Tournament." This seemingly innocent pool tournament was a big favorite from last year's training and is an excellent team building exercise. Everyone had a good time because none are very good at playing pool. That way the competition was pretty even and enjoyable.

This was our second training session at the N. E. T. C. and the feedback from the team members remains positive. As funding permits, we may hold a second training session later this calendar year.
Region 4 & 6 Annual Combined Training
August 2-4, 2002

The training for DMORT Regions 4 and 6 is quickly approaching. The training will be held at the Weston in Charleston, South Carolina August 3 and 4. Below is an itinerary of the training that has been put together as of this date. Please note however, that we are continuing to build the training itinerary and a complete schedule will be forthcoming.
Training Itinerary
Overview of WTC New York deployment, Tom Shepardson
MST, The support we need, OEP representative
DNA The full scoop, David A. Boyer, MFS AFDIL
Speaking to the press, Humpty Dumpty Revisited, Pat Brewer
Dental, Digital X-Rays (hopefully), Representative
Family Support, A support session, not a marriage counseling, Christie Whitaker
DMORT WMD, full scale set up and walk thru on Sunday, WMD Team
Advanced VIP and Information resources training, Bob Shank and others from NY

Events
Friday, Aug. 2, 6:30pm, ICE BREAKER and registration
Saturday sessions begin at 8:30am and will end by 5:00pm
Late registration will begin at 8:00am
Sunday sessions begin at 8:30am and will end by noon
"all WMD will need to report at 7:30am"

Note: several major airlines fly into Charleston International Airport and it is only about a 15 minute cab ride from the airport to the hotel, since everything is within walking distance from the hotel, a rental car is unnecessary, and the cost to park it will be about $15.00 per day. Transportation is easily accessible if needed by cab, bus, or carriage.
As has always been the case, DMORT Region 4 and 6 will not collect a registration fee from our members. Out of region members, other than those affiliated with DMORT WMD who will be assisting with the setup Sunday, will be charged a $35.00 registration fee to help offset some administrative cost. These checks may be made to DMORT 4 Support.
Hotel Information
The Westin Francis Marion
387 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403, USA
Phone: 843-722-0600, Fax: 843-723-4633

Rooms are $119.00 per night for single and double occupancy
Deluxe Guest rooms are 129.00 per night
tax of 12% will be added
Reservations may be made BEFORE June 15, 2002
NOTE: you MUST identify yourself as DMORT in order to get the special room rate
**** the rates we have established with the hotel will be offered 2 days prior and 2 days after the meeting dates should you want to stay longer also.

Region 5 and 7 Training

MEET US IN ST LOUIS!
October 4th, 5th and 6th, 2002

DMORT Regions 5 and 7 are pleased to announce that their long planned (since 1999) joint training session will take place in the renowned city of St Louis with Dr. Jim McGivney of St Louis University as our host.

Our tentative program will begin with an informal get-together on Friday night October 4.

Saturday, October 5, will open with an orientation session from 0800-1000 for newcomers (old timers can sleep late). Win ID and VIP computer sessions will start the day for everyone else at 1000, followed by overviews and discussion of 9/11 (WTC, Somerset and the Pentagon) and the Walker County, GA, missions until 1800 (with time out for lunch and breaks).

Training will conclude with a Sunday morning session from 0800-1200 focused on "our" New Madrid Fault and its earthquake possibilities and preplanning (this was set up before the recent NE earthquake).

Faculty will include Dr McGivney, Don Bloom, Bob Shank, S/A Paul Messner (who is also FBI ERT) and other members of the Region 5 and 7 teams as well as Frank Ciaccio (Forensic Manager, NTSB) and Fred Corral (Commander, Region IX). The program is still in process so please feel free to share your ideas with us.

Several other significant speakers have been invited and are checking their calendars, including a businessman who was in one of the WTC towers and escaped.

Details regarding housing, etc will follow.

Region 8 Training
DMORT Region VIII Training, June 21-22, 2002,
The Spine Education and Research Institute, Thornton (Denver), Colorado
The scheduled training seminar for the Region will convene at 0800 Friday, June 22, and adjourn Saturday at 1700, June 23. The seminar, co-chaired by Rhett Buckley and Scott Moser of Colorado, will be held at The Spine Education and Research Institute, 9005 Grant Street, Number 100, Thornton (a suburb of Denver), Colorado (720) 540.7379.

Agenda, Friday, June 21

0730 Bus will depart for Institute (Participants staying at the Renaissance Hotel should assemble in lobby)
0800-0815 Welcome to Denver, Rhett Buckley and Scott Moser, Seminar Co-Chairmen
0815-0915 Region VIII DMORT Administration and Team Business, Lance Peterson, Regional Team Commander, Alan Siddoway, Regional Team Deputy Commander, and Julie Stringer, Regional Team Administrative Officer.
0915-1015 History of DMORT, Don Heer, Past Regional Team Commander
1015-1030 Break
1030-1200 Site Recovery, Diane France, Ph.D., Forensic Anthropologist
1200-1300 Lunch (Hosted)
1300-1500 Victim Identification Program, Don Bloom, DMORT Region V, Niles, OH
1500-1530 Break
1530-1700 Continuation of Victim Identification Program, Don Bloom
1700 Bus will depart for Renaissance Hotel
1800 Dinner (On Your Own)

Agenda, Saturday, June 22

0730 Bus will depart for the Institute (participants assemble in hotel lobby)
0815-1015 Family Assistance Center, Christie Whitaker, Family Assistance Center Core Group Leader and Member, DMORT Region IV, Newberry, SC
1015-1030 Break
1030-1200 Continuation of Family Assistance Center, Christie Whitaker
1200-1300 Lunch (Hosted)
1300-1530 Forensic Odontology
1530-1600 Break
1600-1700 Region VIII DMORT Administration and Team Business, Lance, Alan, and Julie
1700 Adjournment
1705 Bus will depart for Renaissance Hotel

Lodging for the training seminar will be at the Renaissance Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, Denver (303) 336.5337. Because Region VIII DMORT will pay for the lodging, do not call the hotel to make your room reservations. We will make the room reservations for you on receipt of your registration form. In addition, because of budgetary constraints, it is requested that you consider sharing a room.

You must pay your own transportation expenses including transportation from the airport to the hotel. The Blue Super Shuttle costs $16 one-way and $30 round-trip. Rental cars and cabs also serve the Denver community. Transportation from the Renaissance Hotel to The Spine Education and Research Institute will be provided at no charge Friday and Saturday by DMORT.

Region 9 Training

The Region IX Annual Training Session will be held at the River Palms Casino and Hotel in Laughlin, Nevada from June 17-20.
Meeting highlights include:
Guest speaker, Dr. Thomas Noguchi - former L.A. County Coroner
Well renowned Odontologist, Dr. Jerry Vale, will speak on the significance of odontology in disasters.
Overview of the 2002 NDMS Conference in Atlanta
DNA role in disasters
Mental health debriefing issues
Death certificates during disasters
On-line NDMS training
Tom Shepardson will speak on NYC-WTC.
This 2 Day/3 Night session will include all presentations, lunches, and daily "post-meeting unwinding" in an exciting casino atmosphere. D-mort members from ALL regions are welcome. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
Please contact Fred Corral at fcorral@co.la.ca.us for additional information, questions, or registration.

Region 10 Training

The Region X Training Session will be in SeaTac, WA (between Seattle and Tacoma) on Sat/Sun - July 28 & 29. The annual training will be in conjunction with the Washington State Dental ID Team. Classes will include both the WIN-ID computer program and the VIP program. Also, coming to the beautiful Northwest (not too hot, not too cold, not too wet and not too dry...it's just right).

There will be representatives from the NTSB, OEP, FBI and DPMU. Members of all other regions are also invited. Please contact Duane Bigoni at dbigoni@attbi.com for additional information or questions.

WMD Team
Training
MAY 17-19

The DMORT-WMD Team held their most recent training in May in Winston-Salem, NC along with the North Carolina Special Operations Response Team. Decontamination equipment was set up and every member of the team worked in full personal protective gear. Volunteer "victims" included OEP's own Carol Gregory. New equipment has been delivered to the team's home in Rock Hill, SC and is in the process of being incorporated into the mobile cache. Special attention was focused on team member's personal health considerations including proper hydration and rest.

Achievement announcements

Darrel Carmichael (region VII), DMORT's heavy equipment operator, has received his Level 3 certification from the Towing and Recovery Association of America. This is the highest level of certification offered by the towing industry. He is the 87th recipient in the history of this award. Our congratulations to Darrel on his outstanding achievement!

Leonard Parker (Region4) was just named Officer of the Year for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, in part due to his DMORT duties in NYC.

Condolences

D-mort IX would like to express its deepest sympathy to member, Walt Lietz, who lives in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Walt's mother recently passed away. Fred Corral requests all D-mort members to please take a moment in your prayers to remember her.

It Began As An Ordinary Day

The following is a personal account by Fred Corral - Region IX Commander:

October 10, 2001 began like any other day, but progressed quite differently. I was driving to work in my Toyota 4-Runner, when suddenly my steering wheel started to shake violently, and my truck began fishtailing down the busy L.A. highway. I was in the fast lane of traffic, and swerved towards the carpool lane. I tried to apply the brakes, but they locked up, and began to emit smoke. My truck was out of control! I later discovered that my left rear Firestone tire had blown out. My only thought was to exit the freeway safely, without hurting anyone or myself. As I attempted to change lanes, I was caught off guard by a big rig that was in the lane that I was about to enter. At this time, I snapped my neck. I accelerated and continued my attempt to exit the freeway. In doing so, I nearly struck surrounding vehicles; a nearby driver lost control of his van, and collided with two other vehicles. As I persistently struggled with the wheel, I thought my truck was going to flip over very soon! I finally managed to pull off the road, onto the shoulder. I had snapped my neck three times (The seatbelt worked!), but my neck was numb, and I could not move. Using my cell phone, I dialed 911. EMT's transported me to a local hospital. After a series of tests, I was diagnosed with a mild concussion and a cervical neck injury. My recovery has been slow and agonizing, but I know that I could have been killed. I appreciated everyone's get-well thoughts, support, and prayers. I am a motivated, spiritual individual and have never given up hope.

I was deployed to NYC-WTC on October 12. Due to the accident, I was unable to go to New York, but I am a firm believer that IF things are meant to be, they WILL happen. I assigned D-mort IX members to deploy at the Pentagon, Pennsylvania, and NYC-WTC: I was just happy to assist in the tragedy in any way possible. I was and continue to be so proud of D-mort for their hard work and dedication that they displayed. I heard nothing but positive feedback from those at the NYC-M.E.'s office. As a Commander, it is not only a reflection on my region, but also all D-mort members. They should all be congratulated for their outstanding job!

When I arrived at the NYC-M.E.'s office on March 11,2002 - the six month anniversary of the WTC disaster, I attended a memorial service at Memorial Park. I will never forget that moment. Allan Clark, one of our D-mort logistics officers introduced me to NYPD Captain McKiel, who oversaw NYPD personnel, assisting at the M.E.'s office. Capt. McKiel introduced me to two VIP's. I later learned that they were Israeli Army Officers who were also Rabbis, assigned to an army mortuary office in Israel. Because they had to catch a flight back to Tel Aviv, they only had a limited amount of time to tour New York. With the assistance of Allan Clark, I was privileged to accompany the two Israeli Officers on a "police detective-escorted tour" of the M.E.'s office, Staten Island, and Ground Zero.
Staten Island was where the WTC debris was sifted and processed. It was also a graveyard for emergency vehicles. There was a number of official, police, and emergency vehicles that were destroyed on 9-11; they were crushed beyond recognition. There were rows of vehicles one stacked on top of another. We then went to Ground Zero. This sacred ground is beyond words and description. We walked through the temporary morgue, and then toward a cross that was made from the steel debris, which overlooks the entire site of Ground Zero. As we looked at the area that once housed the twin towers, I asked the Israeli Officer what he thought of all this destruction. With tears running down his face, he replied, "Now the world knows: this is the beginning of the end of terrorism." He motioned, with his arm held out waist-high, and said, "Since a small boy, all I have known in my country has been death. We live our lives as if it were our last days on earth. Now with sadness, the U.S. has suffered this same pain." I then asked what he thought might be in store. He responded, "Bombings, suicide bombings." Then, we walked to NYFD Station #10, which was across the street from the WTC. We went to the rooftop and saw the large hole at ground zero, and watched as the recovery efforts continued. The Israelis spoke to each other in Hebrew, and then looked at me, and said, "The USA will prevail." We then drove back to Manhattan and dropped the officers off in front of a restaurant. As they walked away, they said, "We will defeat the terror on earth."

As I sit in my office in L.A., I reflect on my experience in New York. It has made me think of the peace that we have here, unlike the unsettling issues occurring in Israel today. What different lives we live on this earth. God Bless us All!

The Hug Thing
By Tami J. Schroder, Region 4

When I attended my first DMORT annual training session as a very new DMORT member, Dennis McGowan introduced me to Fred Berry for the first time. I stuck my right hand out and was in the middle of saying "I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Berry" when I found my right hand squashed between me and Fred during a large hug. Fred's response was "My name's Fred, and welcome to the family." It was a very warm welcome into the DMORT team, I thought. Dennis, amidst a huge grin, explained I should expect a lot of hugs from DMORT members. Being very new, I kept my mouth shut and tried not to stick my right hand into anybody else's stomach the rest of the day…and got lots of hugs.

In my family, we only hugged people we were related to, but I could adapt. I chalked the hug thing up to Southern traditions. I had already assimilated grits into my life (I'm from Arizona) so I knew I could adjust to anything; after all, this was DMORT IV, in the heart of the South. In the South, things are different. Why, I'd even used "y'all" and "fixin' to" in a sentence in conversation. Back in Atlanta I brought Dennis to tears (laughing) when I told him "DMORT people are the hugginest people I've ever met in my life." I also told him I had never been made to feel so welcome in a group or more part of a team in my life.

Inevitably I was activated for the WTC disaster along with hundreds of other DMORT members. Once there, the scale of what had happened clouded the senses, and I was absorbed in work at the Medical Examiner's Office. One morning I walked to a drug store down the street from the ME's Office, and while standing in line in DMORT uniform, a woman put her hand on my arm and said "I don't know what you're doing, but I know you're here to help. Thank you." I was speechless - literally. I squeezed her hand and smiled. Walking back to the Office, I realized I hadn't seen one New Yorker avoid eye contact, or NOT speak on the street. Every one met your eyes and at least nodded. Even the police officers eventually got used to seeing us and started saying "How ya doin'?" Eventually, I learned to respond with "How YOU doin'?" (Thank you to Johna Lewis, the epitome of the Southern Belle, for explaining the appropriate response to me.)

After a few days, I finally made my way outside to pay my respects as the remains of a Member of Service were transported in to the ME's Office. Standing next to three firemen, I wanted to tell them how much I felt for them and their loss, but I couldn't put it into words. While I was standing there feeling absolutely miserable for not being able to say anything, I made eye contact with the nearest firefighter. Unbelievably, I found my arms went around his neck and squeezed. I hugged him. I didn't say anything. He hugged me back and said "thank you", then walked back to his truck with his squad.

Over the next few weeks, I didn't even realize the leaves outside had changed color. I hope that was the result of being on morning watch for two months. What I did notice was a change in people around me, DMORT and New Yorkers alike. At every shift change, the police officers smiled and called us by name; we brought them coffee, they brought us coffee. We asked each other if we needed anything. And we hugged each other at the end of our shifts.
Somewhere along the line, The Hug Thing finally became clear to me. I realized that often there are no words to say what you feel, or what you want to express to someone else. Sometimes there are no words as effective as a hug in conveying support or happiness or sympathy or affection. I began to understand that speaking Southern, or Southwestern, or even New Yorkese didn't matter in the middle of a hug.

To those of you who greeted me warmly that very first DMORT meeting: Thank you. Now I understand: A hug is what your arms do when your heart has something to say. Hugs to my DMORT family.

A Word about Forensic Oversight

At the direction of Tom Shepardson, National Commander, D-MORT has formed an Oversight Committee representing its forensic disciplines. Chairing the group of four is Dr. Fred Jordan, Chief Medical Examiner of Oklahoma. Other members are Dr. Jack Kinney, (private practitioner and forensic odontologist), Dr. Mitch Holland, (DNA and molecular biology, formerly of AFDIL and currently in private corporate practice), and Dr. Harrell Gill-King, (forensic anthropology, Director of Human Identification at the University of North Texas).

At its first meeting in April at OEP headquarters, the group established several operational goals; Specifically, to achieve and maintain standards of scientific practice and in human remains recovery and identification through
(1) Training-The committee will continually review training protocols and develop regionalized programs tailored more closely to the needs of medicolegal authorities who may be faced with mass fatality incidents
(2) Articulation-The group will begin to interface D-MORT with the medicolegal system through professional publications and organizations such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the National Association of Medical Examiners.
(3) Members of the committee will assist OEP during deployments by helping to tailor deployment rosters to the unique features of each incident. In this connection, an attempt will be made to ensure that a mix of 'seasoned' and new D-MORT members are co-deployed to improve training and provide continuity.

Additional functions under consideration may include (1) formal review and critique of the scientific component of deployments, (2) screening and recruitment of scientific professionals, and (3) a possible role in early situation assessment to improve efficiency of deployment of scientific personnel.

The group, which is an advisory body, reports to Commander Shepardson and Admiral Knouse. All members are also functioning D-MORT specialists within their own regions.