Sacked for photo Americans weren't meant to see

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | 23 April | Caroline Overington

[Washington1980]

Sacked for photo Americans weren't meant to see By Caroline Overington, Herald Correspondent in New York April 23, 2004

Offending image . . . Tami Silicio's photograph of the coffins of American soldiers being secured inside a cargo plane at Kuwait airport for the trip home on the front page of The Seattle Times. Photo: The Seattle Times/AFP

Last Sunday a newspaper in Seattle, Washington, published a rare photograph of soldiers' coffins, each of them containing the body of an American who had died in Iraq.

The coffins, each draped with the Stars and Stripes, had been loaded into the back of a cargo aircraft for a final journey to the US, where they would be buried. There were at least 18 of them in the picture, which was taken by a 50-year-old civilian contractor, Tami Silicio.

On Wednesday Ms Silicio was sacked from her job, for taking the photograph and sharing it with news organisations.

Ms Silicio worked for Maytag Aircraft Corporation, which has a $US18 million ($25 million) contract to handle cargo for the US Government at Kuwait airport.

As part of that job she would often see soldiers' coffins in the back of aircraft, on their way from Iraq to burial in the US.

Earlier this month - which has been one of the deadliest for coalition soldiers - Ms Silicio decided to photograph the coffins. She asked a friend, Amy Katz, to forward the image to her local newspaper, The Seattle Times.

Ms Katz said she was "amazed" when she saw the photo. "I immediately picked up the telephone and because [Ms Silicio] is from Washington state, I called The Seattle Times," she said. "Tami wanted to share the image with the American people."

The US military generally bans photographs of soldiers' coffins, and few have been published in US newspapers during the war in Iraq. On Wednesday Ms Silicio engaged an agent, who offered her photograph to newspaper outlets for $1400 for one-time, non-exclusive use.

The editor of the Times, Mike Fancher, said in a column this week that he decided to publish the photograph on the front page because it was "undeniably newsworthy". Readers would have "differing reactions to the photo, depending on their views of the war", he said.

The managing editor of The Seattle Times, David Boardman, told the magazine Editor & Publisher this week that "we weren't attempting to convey any sort of political message".

He disagreed with the military ban on photographs of coffins, saying: "The Administration cannot tell us what we can and cannot publish."

Ms Katz said that after the picture was published Ms Silicio was "called into her supervisor's office and severely reprimanded. She explained why she did it, but they sacked her and her husband [David Landry] too". She said Ms Silicio "really wanted mothers of the soldiers to know how the coffins were handled".

In an interview with The Seattle Times, Ms Silicio said the coffins were prayed over and saluted before being shipped.

"Everyone salutes with such emotion and respect," she said. "The families would be proud to see their sons and daughters saluted like that."

She said she had seen a coffin accompanied by the wife and, in another case, by the father of the fallen soldier.

William Silva, the president of Maytag Aircraft, was quoted by The Seattle Times as saying the sackings had been for violating US government and company regulations.

Offending image . . . Tami Silicio's photograph of the coffins of American soldiers being secured inside a cargo plane at Kuwait airport for the trip home on the front page of The Seattle Times. Photo: The Seattle Times/AFP

[tuckrdout]

I don't think the images are offensive. I was impressed with the respect shown these American heros.

[cardinal4]

It sounds like the woman who took the pics was impressed, too. I dont think she did it because she was Rachel Corrie like. It sounds like she appreciated the reverence. That is of course, just my opinion..

[BigSkyFreeper]

This isn't offensive as John Kerry calling American soldiers fighting and dying in Vietnam, "assassins", while he was acting like a jackass with his own kind in the US.

[Thebaddog]

The dignity offered those souls was inspiring. I hope that we are taking care of their loved ones as well in their grief and pain.

[not2worry]

I agree. I was not offended by the photographs. It reminded me that freedom isn't free. It also demonstrated the courage of our young men and women who serve our Country and what a real "band of brothers" looks like.

God Bless those souls who have given us the greatest sacrifice to keep us free.

Also, I frankly feel that we should post those scenes from 9/11 to remind each American, each and every day, why we are fighting in Iraqi and why strength lies in power over evil.

[pseudo-ignatius]

It sounds like the woman who took the pics was impressed, too. I dont think she did it because she was Rachel Corrie like. It sounds like she appreciated the reverence. That is of course, just my opinion..

Well, it's the securing an agent and demanding $1400 a printing for the photograph that I have a problem with, if her motives were so pure.

[Young Rhino]

On Wednesday Ms Silicio engaged an agent, who offered her photograph to newspaper outlets for $1400 for one-time, non-exclusive use.

This is the part that I have a BIG problem with...profiting off of the dead is repugnant at best...she should be horsewhipped.

[Young Rhino]

Beat me to it by mere seconds. See post #8. I agree with you 100%

[bitt]

from the Seattle Times:

"Her job put her in contact with soldiers who sometimes accompanied the coffins to the airport. Having lost one of her own sons to a brain tumor, Silicio said, she tried to offer support to those grieving over a lost comrade.
"It kind of helps me to know what these mothers are going through, and I try to watch over their children as they head home," she said in an earlier interview."

I can imagine that type of association - good people, especially those who have parented well, go out of their way to help and protect when they can...

[ladyinred]

Well, it's the securing an agent and demanding $1400 a printing for the photograph that I have a problem with, if her motives were so pure.

I am with you on this.

Even more offensive to me is this story, as I am sure the intent is Bush is hiding the dead, when in truth this is US policy and has been for years. The media knows this.

[bitt]

"The Times received Silicio's photograph from a stateside friend, Amy Katz, who had previously worked with Silicio for a different contractor in Kosovo. Silicio then gave The Times permission to publish it, without compensation. It was paired with an article about her work in Kuwait."

sounds like the friend is the culprit

[Young Rhino]

Original publication is one thing. Engaging an agent and charging for subsequent publication is quite another. What was perhaps innocent at first became tainted with greed...blood money. I reiterate, she should be horsewhipped. In Texas, she'd probably be tarred and feathered...if she was lucky.

[dead]

I don't even agree with the Pentagon policy, but this woman is a lying sack of crap. She knew the policy, took the picture anyway, and sold it for profit.

She's vile.

[Cicero]

She was trusted by her employers and she broke the rules in the most basic kind of way. The photos didn't just accidentally slip out. She broke her trust and deserved to be fired.

Moreover, I don't think anyone could be stupid enough to imagine that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a notorious left-wing rag, would print this picture in the spirit of patriotism.

[cardinal4]

Yeah, you guys are right, I didnt think about the money. The appreciation of their treatment comment was probably thought of AFTER she got fired..

[FreedomCalls]

The dignity offered those souls was inspiring.

[McGavin999]

She'd better stay in Seattle because if she ventures out into the red states she's going to find herself a very unpopular and unwanted person.

If a family member wants to share a photo of THEIR soldier, that's their business, it's not for some creep like this to make a buck off of.

Talk about a sleazy, disgusting human being!

[cardinal4]

Moreover, I don't think anyone could be stupid enough to imagine that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a notorious left-wing rag, would print this picture in the spirit of patriotism.

I should have thought of that, too..

[yonif]

In my opinion, the US media should be broadcasting the caskets, funerals, etc. in order to cause people in America to be more connected to those who fall. So that the soldiers are not just a number. At least, that is how it is in Israel.