150916-F-BH566-940

by SrA Ryan Conroy

150916-F-BH566-940

A Special Tactics Airman pounds his combat controller flash into the casket of Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley's funeral procession, Sept. 16, 2015, at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Sibley was a Special Tactics Airman who recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom's Sentinel, and was shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, and died of wounds sustained in the attack. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Conroy/Released)

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Photographer's Narrative

 

This was a difficult shoot, due to the overwhelming emotion felt by everyone present. This was a fallen special tactics member’s funeral procession at NAS Pensacola, where his family, friends and unit were all in attendance. These are the hardest days to shoot, to completely close yourself off to the emotional moments happening around you and focus on honoring and respecting another’s sacrifice through imagery. It was an unusually quiet morning, and a time-honored tradition for special tactics Airmen is to pound their career’s flash insignia, which they earn once completing their respective training, into the casket of the deceased. Each member of his unit stepped up to the casket and pounded their flashes in a silent reverence to their comrade.