Personnel Support Division

Field Support (PSC-PSD-FS)

Casualty Matters

Casualty Assistance and Decedent Affairs:

Mr. Roger Dray / Roger.G.Dray@uscg.mil

The Office of Casualty Matters is responsible for Coast Guard military personnel casualties, which includes death, serious illness and injury, and involuntary absence due to being missing, captured, or detained.

The program encompasses reporting, notification, assistance procedures, and long-term support to the next of kin (NOK) of Coast Guard casualties, the return of remains of deceased Coast Guard personnel, and the oversight of military funeral honors.

For Coast Guard members handling casualty matters, all references for the deaths of uniformed members (or their dependents) have been moved to the internal Casualty Response Teams page. Request access at HQS-SMB-CGPSC-PSDFS-CASUALTY@uscg.mil.

Military Funeral Honors:

24/7 - Duty Phone: 571-266-2375 / HQS-SMB-CGPSC-PSDFS-CASUALTY@uscg.mil 

Guidance for Requesting CG Military Funeral Honors Support

Funeral directors, family members, and veteran advocates requesting military funeral honors for a deceased Coast Guard veteran (including NOAA and USPHS) can contact the regional coordinator for their area: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/leaders-service-providers/casualty-assistance/military-funeral-honors (WWII Merchant Mariners with service from Dec. 7, 1941, to Dec. 31, 1946, receive honors through the Navy as they were serving under naval orders at the time of service.)

You will need the completed Military Funeral Honors Request Form and the veteran's DD-214. The regional coordinator will then attempt to schedule the honors detail with a local unit where the ceremony will occur. The Navy or National Guard typically do not and should not provide honors for Coast Guard veterans except as requested by the regional coordinator when resources are scarce. 

A minimum 24-hour notice is required, depending on travel distance, 48-72 hours may be required. For urgent requests (<72 hours), call the duty phone above, and email the documents to the email address above. 

Reporting the passing of a veteran: 

Report the passing of a retiree/annuitant via e-mail at ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil or by phone at 866-772-8724 Monday - Friday 7:30a - 4p CST. Include the following information:

• Deceased name/SSN or EMPLID: 

• Location (city/state) and date of death: 

• Type of death (natural/accidental/homicide): 

• Location (city/state) and type of burial (cemetery/cremation/burial-at-sea): 

• Location of burial (City & State) 

• Reporting Person’s name and relationship: 

• Phone: 

• E-mail: 

• Address: 

• Email the death certificate to: ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil.

Other resources:

• GOLD STAR PROGRAM
• MP3 Audio File of USCG Bugler Playing Taps (for loading into electronic ceremonial bugles)