A Marine pounds his Marine Special Operator Insignia into the casket of fallen Marine Sgt. Joseph J. Murray during a funeral for Murray at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Aug. 15, 2017. Murray, 26, was one of the 15 Marines and one Navy sailor who perished when their KC130-T Hercules crashed in Mississippi, July 10, 2017. Murray was a Critical Skills Operator with the 2nd Raider Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). It is tradition in the Special Operations community for fellow members of the fallen veteran’s unit to pound their insignia into the casket as a sign of never leaving their side and a final show of respect.

Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Robert Knapp/Released.

 

Learn more about Marine Corps Body Bearers in the video below: