Time is 11:17 on April 30, 2013. The 'Dignified Transfer' return home of four heroes from Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | Capt. Brandon L. Cyr, Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka, Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin and Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson

The Department of Defense announced the deaths of four airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died April 27, near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in the crash of an MC-12 aircraft. The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash

A dignified transfer is the process by which, upon the return from the theater of operations to the United States, the remains of fallen military members are transferred from the aircraft to a waiting vehicle and then to the port mortuary. The dignified transfer is not a ceremony; rather, it is a solemn movement of the transfer case by a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's respective service. A dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation while in the service of their country. A senior ranking officer of the fallen member's service presides over each dignified transfer.

All returning service members are considered as "believed to be" until they can
be confirmed through finger prints, dental records and/or DNA. After a service member has been identified and prepared for return to their families, they are placed in a casket and transported to their final resting place. This process is a Solemn event; not a ceremony.

Air Force carry team carries transfer case of Capt. Brandon L. Cyr to the mortuary transfer vehicle

Dignified transfer officer orders “Present, Arms” (slow movement salute)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, Eric Fanning, undersecretary of the Air Force, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody, Maj. Gen. Jim Keffer and Dignified Transfer Host Col. Richard G. Moore Jr. stand at attention during the dignified transfer of four airmen at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, DE. The airmen died in an MC-12 crash April 27 in Afghanistan.

According to the Department of Defense, Air Force Capt. Brandon L. Cyr, of Woodbridge, VA, died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Air Force carry team carries transfer case of Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka to the mortuary transfer vehicle

Dignified transfer officer orders “Present, Arms” (slow movement salute)

According to the Department of Defense, Air Force Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka, of Kailua, HI, died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Dignified transfer officer orders “Present, Arms” (slow movement salute)

Air Force carry team carries transfer case of Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin to the mortuary transfer vehicle

According to the Department of Defense, Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin, of Morehead, KY., died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Air Force carry team carries transfer case of Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson to the mortuary transfer vehicle

Dignified transfer officer orders “Present, Arms” (slow movement salute)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, Eric Fanning, undersecretary of the Air Force, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody, Maj. Gen. Jim Keffer and Dignified Transfer Host Col. Richard G. Moore Jr. stand at attention during the dignified transfer of four airmen at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, DE. The airmen died in an MC-12 crash April 27 in Afghanistan.

According to the Department of Defense, Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson, of Rancho Cordova, CA., died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Transfer vehicle guide Senior Airman Zachary S. Szczypinski closes the doors to transfer vehicle

All returning service members are considered as "believed to be" until they can
be confirmed through finger prints, dental records and/or DNA. After a service member has been identified and prepared for return to their families, they are placed in a casket and transported to their final resting place. This process is a Solemn event; not a ceremony.

The Final Steps, Mortuary vehicle driver starts engine, and Security Forces vehicle moves into escort position in front, Transfer vehicle begins to pull away, Dignified transfer officer orders final “Present, Arms” and “Order, Arms” (slow salute) as vehicle departs, Carry team follows (by walking) transfer vehicle, with the transfer vehicle guide walking behind the carry team, Dignified transfer officer and senior ranking officer follow (walking) behind the transfer vehicle guide, ending the dignified transfer

Capt. Brandon L. Cyr, 28, of Woodbridge, VA. He was assigned to the 906th Air Refueling Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, IL. Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka, 30, of Kailua, HI. He was assigned to the 427th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, CA. Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin, 30, of Morehead, KY. He was assigned to the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, OK. Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson, 24, of Rancho Cordova, CA. He was assigned to the 306th Intelligence Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, CA.