Army Action Plan: Standard Operating Procedures for Mortuary Affairs

Rd: (a) Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War
anktonnoo SOP for Mortuay Affairs

(c) NAVMEDCOMINST 53601
L BACKGROUND:
As a

enemy
consequence of &wean, battle ury and non-battie ry it s assumed that some
loss of life may occur among detainees. injury i
IL POLICY:

ITF GINO
ducts mortuary
Mortuary con affairs services in support of detainee opaadons,
services include the
sopervirion and execution of
matters pertaining to:A. Search,
civilians, recovay, identification, and evacuation of da©o
and dethaes.
U. S.
tary,
B. Recovery and
disposition, including llecti
of personal effects of deceased perso co on, receipt, recon ding.
nnel and storage
age
C. The mamma) of patinan records and reports in camection with graves
registration services. A graves registration
direction of TJSSOUTHCOM. program will only be implemented at the

!IL PROCEDURE:
long as the operational and logistical situadon patted , Mortuary affairs will not beperformed per reference (a), but "comate With" the Geneva Convention.
A. Mortuary services(current/concua ent death program) will remain in effect as
B. ri
atpects GIMO ithfortuary Affairs Officer serves as coordinating
activity for all
of mortuary affairs at GIMO and coordinates directly with USSOUTHCOM
Joint Matuary Affairs Office MAO).
C Limited mortuary savices are available at Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay.
C
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D. All U. S. remains will be handled per reference (b) and (c).
a Detainee remains.
1. If a es while in the
the JDOG Watch detainee di Dete ntion Hospital or Delta Meclical C ,
linic
Officer, Detentice Hospital Officer in Charge, Duty Medical OfficerSailor Medical Officer and 7IP SO/JMG Commander will be notified immediately.
(a) Once a detainee's body is cleared for release (by NaS), JDOG
personnel will bag the body and place it in an ambulance. Care will be given to
remove any life sustaining, tubes or lines, these must be clipped and remain intactnot

.
Detention Hospital will provide the ambulance and driver to transport the body to the
morgue.
2. Detainee
following zonal= will be cared for per refecence (a) and as amplified by the
procedures:
(a)To the extent possible, detsinee remains will
consistent with their religious tradition. be cared for in a matt
mattes
(b)TIP GTMO IOC Watch Officer will notify O
provide detaineeperaceal data. USSUTHCOM CAC and
(c)
Surgeon will coordinate a post martem medical evaluation. (c1).
.1TF GIMO Surgeon's Office will request pathologist
Aimed Forces Institute of Pathology (APIP). The AF1P/Arm a from the
ed Forces Medical thin four
(APAP) takes the request for action and a pathology team will be ready to fly wiExami
(4) hours of notification. Military Air will need to be coordinated with the 14 Strategic urs
Mobility Officer.
(1) As of May 2005, the point of contact 'spillin
the Office of g
Aimed Forces Medical Examiner Armed POW= 144)
ute of Pial......
(a) 111T
OTMO Surseon's Office will coordinatewith
and if necessary, request an Imam the nrfrom Navy Mortuary Affairs (Great Lakes). Chaplain,
(‘)
canal office hours are 0700 to 1600 Central
can be •

paged. Mortuary Affairs can be contacted
sr
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the prompts provided.

and follow
(f)
An autopsy will be =ducted in every came to document the cause of
death for afidetainees. The autopsy will be conducted at the Naval
Once Hospital morgue.
complete and Ana has released the body, banal will occur as soon as practical
(g)
OTMO Surgeon will send a copy of detainee death certicate
USSOUTHCOlf CAC (surgeon). fi to
(h) nit CF1110 J-4 Motrunty Affairs Officer will notify the
record Department
of State, who will contact the embauy of the decedent's home of and advise them
of the death and fcc a detemnination of the detainee remains disposition we

disposilion of detainee personal effects. as ll as

b 2-
G) Naval Hospital Patient Administration (mortuary services) will
coordinate with the 1117
OTMO J-4 Maury Affairs Officer to obtain cemetery
and purchase services hum base contractor for burial access
ground on Or)Detainee
personal effects will be handled by the .T-4 in the samemanner as those of U.S dece dams.
.
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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
Detection Hospital
Guaataaamo Bay, Cuba

4

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