President Obama made an unscheduled, overnight trip to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware overnight to observe up close a “solemn dignified transfer movement,” the event which marks the return to the US of the remains of fallen service members.
Military and White House officials said this particular movement involved the incoming remains of 15 service members and 3 Drug Enforcement Administration agents who were killed in Afghanistan on October 26th. This is the first time President Obama has participated in this type of military event. The president also met with the families of the fallen.
The president arrived at Dover AFB at 12:34am after 40-minute chopper ride from the White House. An Air Force C-17 carrying the 18 fallen U.S. personnel had arrived at Dover before the president. Among the dead on board were 7 U.S. Army soldiers and 3 DEA agents killed when their MH-47 Chinook crashed at Darreh-ye-bum, and 8 U.S. soldiers killed when their STRYKER personnel vehicle was struck by IED blast in the Arghandab River Valley.
It’s a very sad and solemn reason to have the president visit our state.