Death of the Cargo 200 Van

An on-the-ground story from Ukraine

Grizzly, Philly and the Author the day before the death.

No soldier wants a ride home in the 200 van but when it comes, there’s not a choice left. Not everyone becomes Cargo 200 even though technically, we all do but under perhaps a different designation. I will save you a quick trip to Wikipedia to explain that the term “Cargo 200” refers to bodies of the dead being removed from the killing fields. It is Soviet in origin and still widely used by Ukraine in the current war. Transporting, storing, treating and preparing the dead becomes its own complex logistics chain within any war. I could write a whole book or possibly several about this, but that’s not why we are on this subject right now. Grizzly is one step in this logistics chain as he drives a Cargo 200 van to and from the front when called upon as a military volunteer. He gets no compensation for it other than to honor the fallen and to see that the families receive what remains of their loved ones who gave their lives for their country. One can’t call it a dirty job because this is one way we show our gratitude to those who fall in the fight. We make sure they are well cared for even in death. Grizzly is the type of man who handles this but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In fact, it’s a heavy burden that wears anyone down affecting them in mind, body, and spirit. But it’s also a duty which one must take seriously and only a few are able to carry out. Grizzly…