The Navy Mortuary Office of Navy Casualty Assistance (OPNAV N135C) ensures prompt and uniform death benefits are provided to all Navy beneficiaries worldwide. Included as beneficiaries are those missing/killed in previous conflicts such as Southeast Asia, Korea, WWII and Vietnam who have been recovered and identified. In addition, the Navy Mortuary staff coordinates the Navy's Burial-At-Sea program.
Navy Morticians (both military and civilian) are assigned to Navy Casualty with duty locations at BUPERS in Millington, TN, Dover Port Mortuary at Dover AFB, DE and USMC Casualty Branch at Quanitco, VA.
Active Duty/Activated Reserve Deaths.
Morticians coordinate funeral preparations via the Navy Contracting Officers and Funeral Directors worldwide. Together, they negotiate funeral arrangements and contract charges in order to expedite the shipment of remains. Funeral contracts provide primary care benefits for deceased active duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Active duty personnel are also entitled to secondary funeral expense reimbursements and transportation reimbursement when remains are moved from place of death to place of burial.
Dependents
When the death of a dependent residing with an active duty member stationed OCONUS occurs, entitlements for preparation and transportation of remains are provided. For dependents of active duty servicemembers serving CONUS, only transportation of remains is provided.
Retirees
Deceased retirees and their dependants are entitled to transportation only when they pass away in a military Medical Treatment Facility (MTF), such as National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, MD or Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA.
Civilian Employees
Civilian employees, who pass away while on official orders away from their normal duty station, are provided transportation of remains only.
Morticians are available 24 hours a day to provide benefits guidance and technical assistance to funeral directors and CACOs, or to answer any questions that may arise. Normal office hours are 0730 to 1600 Central Time. After hours, the duty mortician can be paged. Navy Mortuary can be contacted at DSN 882-6682, commercial (901) 874-6682 or 3858 or toll free at 1-866-787-0081.