“The circumstances of a military death can be sensitive enough not to be disclosed. It is that simple.”
I had a friend who was a commercial pilot (used to service his King Air ) whose father disappeared during a surveillance flight off the coast of Russia in the 60’s. The info was classified and he tried for years to get it. He finally passed away without ever knowing what happened.
Any thinking man can realize that we do necessary clandestine activity and to prevent an enemy from knowing our capabilities the circumstances of a death can remain classified.