Barack Obama meets coffins of fallen soldiers

Barack Obama is greeted by The US air force's Colonel Manson Morris as he steps off Marine One at the base in Dover, Delaware, for the dignified transfer of Sergeant Dale R Griffin from Terre Haute, Indiana. Obama travelled to the base to meet the plane carrying the bodies of 18 US personnel killed in Afghanistan on 26 October Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

Obama walks with other dignitaries during the dignified transfer of Sgt Griffin Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

From left: The president; the army assistant judge advocate, Major General Daniel Wright; army special forces commander Brigadier General Michael Repass; and the air force chief of staff, General Norman Schwartz; all salute as they participate in the dignified transfer event Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP

Obama and the official party step on the back of an air force C-17 military transport plane Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

Obama is the last of the official party to walk off of the military transport plane Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP

Obama salutes with other dignitaries including the attorney general Eric Holder Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Obama salutes as a team carries the remains of Sgt Griffin Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP

Sgt Griffin's coffin, draped in the US flag Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The president stands paying his respects to the troops killed Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images