By Tiffany Williams –
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — Long before Air Force One touched down Wednesday morning, preparations were already underway on the flight line at Dover Air Force Base for one of the military’s most solemn traditions.
The mission was not about ceremony alone. It was about bringing four American service members home.
The dignified transfer followed a series of deadly attacks and military operations that unfolded over several days in Jordan and Iraq.
On Saturday, U.S. Central Command announced that two U.S. service members in Jordan had been killed in action as U.S. and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on July 17. Officials also reported that one service member was missing in action.
CENTCOM said four additional American service members were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and later discharged. Other personnel evaluated for minor injuries returned to duty.
Out of respect for the families, military officials initially withheld the identities of the fallen and the missing while notifications were being completed.
The following day, CENTCOM announced that unidentified remains had been located at the attack site in Jordan after an extensive search. Officials said an examination process to verify the remains was underway.
Separately, CENTCOM announced that another U.S. service member was killed in action July 18 in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. A second service member sustained a minor injury and continued receiving medical treatment.
The Department of Defense later identified the four fallen service members as Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York; Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina; 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas.
Sgt. Rampersad was assigned to 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany. He was believed to have been killed in action during the July 17 enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Officials said his status had previously been listed as missing before it was updated to Duty Status–Whereabouts Unknown and believed deceased. The incident remains under investigation.
Sgt. Swinton was assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Officials said he was killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed one-way unmanned aerial system on July 19 at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. That incident also remains under investigation.
1st Lt. Feehan served with 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Pvt. Gonzales served with 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany.
Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump departed Washington to attend the dignified transfer before traveling to Georgia for a scheduled event.
Marine One arrived at Joint Base Andrews shortly before 9:45 a.m. The President exited the helicopter, returned salutes and briefly spoke with reporters before boarding Air Force One.
The President said, “We’re going to Dover … to honor our heroes and they’re indeed great heroes. All of them said, very strongly, that we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon, so we’re going to honor them…for me it’s one of the hardest things to do as president but it has to be done.”
He added “A poll just came out, Americans don’t want high gasoline prices but they’re not against the war, that just came out loud and clear.”
The President also said, “All I’m gonna say to families is we love you, we love your child…”
Air Force One departed Joint Base Andrews shortly after 10 a.m. and arrived at Dover Air Force Base approximately 20 minutes later.
After landing, the President greeted officials before traveling to privately meet with the families of the fallen service members.
According to a White House official, the private meetings took place before the dignified transfer ceremony began.
Greeting the President at Dover Air Force Base were Col. Jamil Musa, commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, and Chief Master Sgt. Elijah Edwards, command chief of the 436th Airlift Wing.
As preparations continued on the flight line, military personnel positioned transfer vehicles near the rear cargo ramp of the C-17 aircraft carrying the transfer cases.
Army soldiers assigned to the carry team stood in dress uniforms wearing white gloves beside the waiting vehicles.
Members of the media observed from a designated area while military leaders and distinguished visitors assembled nearby.
President Trump remained near the aircraft along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George LaNeve, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle and other senior military leaders. Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Chris Coons of Delaware also attended.
At 11:42 a.m., an Air Force officer announced, “Wheels Rolling,” signaling that family members were approaching the flight line.
Moments later, another announcement declared, “Family in sight,” as buses carrying relatives arrived.
The families exited their vehicles and moved into position near the aircraft.
At the command of “Present Arms,” the carry team and distinguished visitors rendered salutes as the first transfer case was carried from the aircraft.
The process was repeated for each of the remaining three transfer cases.
The ceremony unfolded in silence except for military commands directing each movement.
As the fourth transfer case was loaded into its vehicle, a family member could be heard crying.
The carry team maintained its salute until the vehicle doors were closed.
One final salute followed as the transfer vehicles departed the flight line carrying the four fallen service members.
After the ceremony concluded, President Trump departed with Defense Secretary Hegseth before returning to Air Force One.
Several members of 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan’s family later boarded Air Force One after the President offered them transportation to Georgia.
Air Force One departed Dover Air Force Base shortly before 1 p.m. and landed later that afternoon at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia.
The President then departed for his scheduled event, accompanied by members of the Feehan family.
The dignified transfer marked the return home of four American service members whose final mission ended thousands of miles away but whose journey concluded on American soil, surrounded by family, fellow service members and the traditions of military honor.