Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Kelsey

As a reservist, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Kelsey, 58, volunteered to mobilize for duty as a casualty notification and assistance officer.

"Most soldiers fear the time they will be asked to perform" such a role, Capt. Greg Smith wrote in his nomination letter for Kelsey, noting that "Kelsey understood fully that he would be meeting regularly with families experiencing the tough loss of a loved one, and grieving mightily, but he also knew he could help them cope with trying times and often horrible circumstances."

"He may not be holding a rifle, but in many ways the duty he performs is far more difficult and harder to accomplish," Smith said of a job that is "thankless and invisible."

Like other casualty assistance officers, Kelsey works with families of the fallen to ensure they are connected with support services and benefits programs. Moreover, he worked with local aid agencies, police chaplain systems and charitable organizations to provide additional assistance.