[Chainmail]

"It is not the responsibility of the sitting President to call the families of those lost in combat. Whether they be Republican or Democrat. It is the responsibility of the unit commander."

Probably not - but if it were your son and there were only a few lost in combat at the time, wouldn't it mean something to you if the Commander in Chief called?

By the way, unit commanders only rarely call the families of the KIA; usually they send letters. The direct contact with the families is done by the Casualty Assistance teams.

So, you think that Barack Obama was right not contacting then Major General John Kelly when his youngest son was killed in combat?

[rjsimmon]

By the way, unit commanders only rarely call the families of the KIA; usually they send letters. The direct contact with the families is done by the Casualty Assistance teams.

Well aware. Did my time as a CACO. Never had to notify but handed enough flags to wives.

So, you think that Barack Obama was right not contacting then Major General John Kelly when his youngest son was killed in combat?

Of all of the evils BHO has done, I would not fault him in this arena. The caveat I would put to that is, as in the case of Gen. Kelly, it would be the utmost courtesy for the POTUS to speak face-to-face with the General, especially when he is a member of the Presidents Cabinet.