The Fort Polk Army Casualty Assistance Center (CAC) is a department of the Directorate of Human Resources. Our mission is to assist Army families, both active and retired, in their time of bereavement.
The Fort Polk area of responsibility includes the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and nine counties of eastern Texas (Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, and Tyler).
You may contact the CAC 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday at (726) 780-0422. For after-hours emergencies, please call (726) 780-1470. The CAC is closed weekends and Federal holidays.
Our office will provide assistance within the parameters of Casualty Operations to Survivors. If the deceased Soldier is a Soldier for Life (Retiree), our office will assist you in reporting the death to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service for stoppage of retirement pay and initiation of the Survivor Benefits process.
Upon the death of an active army duty service member, military army dependent, Army retiree, or anyone who previously served in the Army, we ask you to have the following information available when you call:
- Full Name
- Social Security Name
- Rank
- Unit (Active Duty Only)
- Circumstances surrounding the death
- Next of Kin (NOK) contact information
Request Military Funeral Honors
Military Funeral Honors for deceased Army Active duty, Army Soldiers for Life (Retirees), and Army Veterans may be requested from the CAC. When requesting funeral honors for Army Retirees and Veterans; families must supply proof of military service (DD Form 214) to the Funeral Director, who in turn will submit a request to the CAC at least two business days prior to the Service/Burial.
Funeral Directors may call (726) 780-0422 or email (usarmy.polk.id-readiness.list.dhr-military-funeral-honors@army.mil) for request forms or questions during normal Business Hours. Additionally, Funeral Directors can download the form here: Military Funeral Honors Request Form
The CAC does not issue a Burial Flag for Funeral Honors. If you need a Burial Flag, please complete the VA Form 27-2008. Please present the VA form along with the DD FM 214 to the local US Post Office and they will issue one flag free of charge.
The CAC does not keep service members' DD FM 214s or have access to any service members' DD FM 214s. Please download the "Requesting Military Records Packet" for information on how to obtain a copy for Burial/Funeral Benefits. Additionally, the CAC is not able to provide a status of the DD FM 214 request.