Honoring our Shipmates: The Heritage of the Military Funeral and Burial at Sea

Corpses are no longer buried at sea, only cremated ashes. I had the honor of being the custodian of two deceased Master Chiefs.

Contrary to old war movies, sailors who die at sea are not buried in the ocean. Ships have body bags for every crewman. They are not cheap. Corpsman had them stored in the sea bag locker. Due to legal issues, and a doctor is not aboard or cannot be flown to the ship quickly, the sailor is body bagged and placed in the freezer or reefer depending on how fast the body can be delivered to qualified medical staff.

We would always video the ceremony, take photos, and had a nautical chart with the spot marked and signed by the CO that we would send to the family.

I want to be buried at sea when I die. But I want my body to be frozen, not chemically preserved, so whatever's left of my body after organ/tissue donations can become fish or crab food.