Family Upset Over Marine's Body Arriving As Freight

S***head headline editors at Channel 10. Matthew Holley was a soldier not a Marine.

The Corps doesn't pull crap like this.

Thank you for this post, digger48.

So the question is, is a Body Escort assigned to each KIA until the remains are turned over to a private funeral home (or the government, if interred in one of the National Cemeteries)

"But in reality, many are arriving as freight on commercial airliners -- stuffed in the belly of a plane with suitcases and other cargo. Click here to find out more!"

My, my. How sensational! Something to be excited about! No agenda here...seeing Barbara Boxer's name with this tells the whole story.

I can't speak for the other services but I know that all Marine remains have an escort from Dover to the home of record, after they have been prepped for burial. Upon arrival the escort debarks from the plane and meets the casket planeside. He/she then escorts the remains to the funeral home and then stays for the funeral.

SIC

I haven't seen the answer to that one.

You an Aussie, digger48?

MARADMIN 057/05
««-----------------------------------------------------»»

Date signed: 02/09/2005 MARADMIN Number: 057/05
R 021130Z FEB 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 057/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MR//
SUBJ/CASUALTY PROCEDURES IN SUPPORT OF OEF/OIF III DEPLOYMENTS//
REF/A/MCO P3040.4E/-/-//
REF/B/USCENTCOM MORTUARY ESCORT POLICY DTG 212037Z NOV 03//
POC/KENNETH JONES/CAPTAIN/MRC/(703) 784-9512
/EMAIL:CASUALTYSECTION@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES INFORMATIONON POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES SPECIFIC TO OEF/OIF III. THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS
AMEND OR AMPLIFY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES EXISTING IN REF A FOR
OEF/OIF AND ANY FUTURE CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. PARA 2 WILL COVER
CASUALTY NOTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE. PARA 3 WILL COVER
IMPLEMENTATION AND UTILIZATION OF DCIPS FORWARD. PARA 4 WILL
COVER RECENT CHANGES TO INVITATIONAL TRAVEL ORDER (ITO) POLICIES.
PARA 5 WILL COVER THE ESCORT POLICY. PARA 6 WILL COVER THE
ILL/INJURED PATIENT TRACKING WEBSITE. PARA 7 WILL COVER
ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.
2. CASUALTY NOTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE
A. NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN (NOK) OF DECEASED MARINES WILL BE
CONDUCTED 24-HOURS A DAY.
B. UNIFORM FOR NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE SERVICE ALPHAS. A NEGATIVE
CONNOTATION HAS BEEN ATTACHED TO MARINES IN THE DRESS BLUE UNIFORM
BECAUSE OF DEATH NOTIFICATIONS. THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE PRIDE AND
TRADITION OF THE DRESS BLUE UNIFORM. CEREMONIAL EVENTS DURING THE
CASUALTY ASSISTANCE PROCESS, SUCH AS BURIAL, ARE MORE APPROPRIATE
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DRESS BLUE UNIFORM MUST BE APPROVED BY CMC (MRPC).
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APPROPRIATE MEF WITH DATE AND TIME OF NOTIFICATION IMMEDIATELY UPON
COMPLETION. CACO(S) WILL ALSO PROVIDE ACCURATE/VERIFIED NOK ADDRESS
INFORMATION, THE NICKNAME/PREFERRED NAME BY WHICH THE CASUALTY WAS
KNOWN BY THE NOK (E.G. WILLIAM->BILL, ROBERT->BOB, ETC.), AND ANY
OTHER INFORMATION THAT COULD AMPLIFY THE CASUALTY'S FAMILY
SITUATION. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USED FOR COMMAND AND CMC
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COMPLETED BY AN I&I STAFF WILL BE REPORTED TO THE MARFORRES COC.
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UNITS WILL PROVIDE NOK MULTIPLE TELEPHONE NUMBERS AT WHICH A UNIT
REPRESENTATIVE CAN BE CONTACTED IN REGARD TO THAT MARINE. IN
ADDITION, WHEN AN ILL/INJURED MARINE IN THEATER CHOOSES TO NOTIFY
NOK OF HIS/HER INJURY, THE UNIT WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH TELEPHONIC
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SPECIFIED ABOVE. IT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED THAT THE SAME COURTESY BE
PROVIDED FOR HOSTILE NON-SERIOUS INJURIES.
F. HEALTH AND DENTAL RECORDS OF DECEASED MARINES WILL BE EXPRESS
MAILED TO THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY, 116 26TH STREET, DOVER, AFB DE
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IDENTIFICATION. DELAYS IN SENDING THESE RECORDS WILL RESULT IN
EXTENDED STAYS AT DOVER.
G. IAW SECTION 546 OF THE NDAA FOR FY04 AND PUBLIC LAW 108-136,
NAMES OF THE DECEASED OR ANY OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WILL BE
WITHHELD FOR 24 HOURS FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF NOTIFICATION TO
THE NOK. DIRECT COORDINATION WITH HQMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS IS REQUIRED
PRIOR TO RELEASE OF ANY INFORMATION.
H. COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS WILL ENSURE ALL MARINES REVIEW AND
UPDATE THEIR RED AND SGLV 8286 PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. THE USE OF
MARINE ON-LINE (MOL) TO UPDATE ADDRESS INFORMATION IS ENCOURAGED.
BENEFICIARIES CAN NOT BE CHANGED ON MOL.
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EFFECTS DEPOT (JPED) LOCATED IN ABERDEEN, MD. THE JPED IS
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(PE) OF DECEASED AND INJURED/ILL MARINES TO THE ASSIGNED CACO. THE
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EFFECTS TO THE NEXT OF KIN. MARINE PERSONNEL ARE ASSIGNED TO THE
JPED TO ENSURE MARINE STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED. COMMANDERS ARE
REQUIRED TO INVENTORY AND SHIP ALL PERSONAL EFFECTS OF THE DECEASED
AND INJURED/ILL LOCATED IN THE THEATER OF OPERATIONS TO: 54TH
QUARTERMASTER (QM) COMPANY, PE DEPOT, CAMP WOLF, KUWAIT, 09336, DSN:
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MORTUARY. JPED PERSONNEL WILL PICKUP AND PROCESS THE PE AS IT
ARRIVES.
3. REPORTING UNITS WILL UTILIZE THE DOD CASUALTY REPORTING SOFTWARE
KNOWN AS THE DEFENSE CASUALTY INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM-FORWARD
(DCIPS-FORWARD) TO GENERATE THE PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT (PCR).
DCIPS-FORWARD GREATLY REDUCES THE NUMBER OF ITEMS TO BE COMPLETED BY
FORWARD REPORTING UNITS. DCIPS-FORWARD DOES NOT RELIEVE UNITS OF
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A. THE SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE AT: WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL (SELECT
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SIDE, THEN SELECT "CASUALTY ASSISTANCE," THEN SELECT "DOWNLOAD DCIPS
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EXPANDED VERSION OF THE HASTY REPORT AND THE OLDER VERSION WILL
PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: (1) FOR DECEASED REPORTS,
COMPLETE DCIPS-FORWARD ITEMS: 01 (REPORT TYPE), 02 (CASUALTY TYPE),
03 (CASUALTY STATUS), 04 (REPORT NUMBER), 07 (CASUALTY CODE), 08
(SSN), 09 (LAST, FIRST, MIDDLE NAME), 12 (RANK), 13
(SERVICE)/(COMPONENT), 14 (UNIT)/(UIC), 24 (DIED IN/OUTSIDE OF A
MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY), 35 (DUTY STATUS), 36 (INCIDENT
DATE/TIME), 37 (PLACE OF INCIDENT, CITY, STATE,COUNTRY), 39
(CIRCUMSTANCES), 40 (INFLICTING FORCE) IF HOSTILE, 57 (DATE/TIME OF
DEATH), 58 (PLACE OF DEATH, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY), 59 (CAUSE OF
DEATH), AND 60 (BODY RECOVERED). IN ITEM #4 (REPORT NUMBER), THE
UNIT WILL ESTABLISH AND ENTER THEIR 3 CHARACTER MCC CODE, FOLLOWED
BY YEAR "05" AND THE REPORT NUMBER BEGINNING CONSECUTIVELY WITH 001
THROUGH 999. EXAMPLE: "D8205001." PROVIDE A UNIT POC IN ITEM 39
(CIRCUMSTANCES)(2) FOR INJURED/ILL, COMPLETE DCIPS-FORWARD ITEMS:
01 (REPORT TYPE), 02 (CASUALTY TYPE), 03 (CASUALTY STATUS), 04
(REPORT NUMBER), 07 (CASUALTY CODE), 08 (SSN), 09 (LAST, FIRST,
MIDDLE NAME), 12 (RANK), 13 (SERVICE)/ (COMPONENT), 14 (UNIT)/(UIC),
35 (DUTY STATUS), 36 (INCIDENT DATE/TIME), 37 (PLACE OF INCIDENT,
CITY, STATE, COUNTRY), 39 (CIRCUMSTANCES), 40(INFLICTING FORCE) IF
HOSTILE, 42 (HOSPITAL NAME, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY),44 (PROGNOSIS).
PROVIDE A UNIT POC IN ITEM 39 (CIRCUMSTANCES).
D. REAR PARTIES WILL ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE
SUBMITTED AND WILL SEND A SUPPLEMENTAL IF A HASTY REPORT BY A
FORWARD UNIT IS MISSING ANY OF THESE REQUIRED ELEMENTS. REAR
PARTIES ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS UNTIL A MARINE
IS RETURNED TO DUTY. REPORTING DOES NOT STOP WHEN A MARINE LEAVES
BETHESDA.
E. THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION GROUPS ON THE GLOBAL ADDRESS LIST
WILL BE USED IN THE "TO" BLOCK FOR SUBMISSION OF PCR(S). FOR
DECEASED MARINES,UTILIZE "CASUALTY PCR (USMC) - DECEASED." FOR
INJURED/ILL/WIA, UTILIZE "CASUALTY PCR (USMC) - INJURED/ILL." FOR
SAILORS, SOLDIERS, AND AIRMEN, UTILIZE "CASUALTY PCR (USN/USA/USAF)-
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CMC WASHINGTON DC/MRPC/ - CASUALTYSECTION@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL
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CMC WASHINGTON DC/OLA/MRO/ - OLAMDSUSERS@HQMC.USMC.MIL
CMC WASHINGTON DC/MMEA/ - PCRMMEA@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL
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CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD/ - HQMCSD@HQMC.USMC.MIL
CMC WASHINGTON DC/JA/ - JADMSUSERS@HQMC.MIL
CMC WASHINGTON DC/PA/ - PAADMIN@USMC.HQMC.MIL
NAVY JAG WASHINGTON DC/33/ - CACOMESSAGES@JAG.NAVY.MIL
COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA/047/ - SAFE-USMCPC@NAVY.MIL
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SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/WHLO/ - PROTOCOL.SECNAV@NAVY.MIL
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436SVS DOVER AFB DE/SVD/ - DOVER.MARINESMORT@DOVER.AF.MIL
DFAS CENTER CLEVELAND - OH/PRR-CAD/-CASUALTY@DFAS.MIL
USN/USA/USAF ONLY
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F. IN THE EVENT THAT NIPRNET IS UNAVAILABLE, PCRS WILL BE SENT TO
THE CMC (MRPC) SIPRNET EMAIL ADDRESS: MHMRCOFF@HQMC.USMC.SMIL.MIL.
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SOON AS POSSIBLE.
4. INVITATIONAL TRAVEL ORDERS (ITO)
THE 2005 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) AMENDED CURRENT
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BURIAL.
THE JFTR NOW AUTHORIZES THREE TRAVELERS TO BEDSIDE. HQMC WILL CUT
THE INITIAL SET OF ITO FOR 21 DAYS. THE NUMBER OF DAYS AUTHORIZED
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LENGTH OF STAY FOR THE MARINE.
ALSO, PER DIEM AND LODGING IS NOW AUTHORIZED FOR ALL TRAVEL TO
BEDSIDE CASES. PREVIOUS LEGISLATION PROVIDED FUNDING STRICTLY FOR
OEF/OIF.
TRAVEL TO BURIAL WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SPOUSE, CHILDREN, AND
PARENTS.
PREVIOUS REGULATIONS ONLY ALLOWED PARENTS IN LIEU OF SPOUSE AND
CHILDREN.
5. ESCORTS
A. PER REF B, CENTCOM HAS DIRECTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WILL
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FROM THEATER. THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY WILL REQUIRE ANYWHERE BETWEEN
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CAPITOL REGION. QUANTICO'S PROXIMITY TO DOVER GREATLY ENHANCES OUR
CAPABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY.
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SHIPMENT OF REMAINS. THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY IS NOT STAFFED TO
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MARFORLANT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO HOSPITALS IN THE MEDICAL PIPELINE
FROM IRAQ, TO NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER, BETHESDA AND WALTER
REED.
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ACCESS WILL BE GRANTED TO COMMANDERS AND APPLICABLE STAFF.
7. ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
A. MARINE CORPS BASES, STATIONS AND MAJOR COMMANDS WILL ENSURE POC
INFORMATION FOR REAR PARTY PERSONNEL IS PROVIDED TO HEADQUARTERS,
MARINE CORPS CASUALTY (MRPC) AT: 703-784-9512; DSN: 278; TOLL FREE:
800-847-1597; FAX: 4134; OR EMAIL:
CASUALTYSECTION@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL.
B. DETAILED CACO TRAINING INFORMATION AND A GUIDE TO BENEFITS AND
ENTITLEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CASUALTY WEBSITE:
WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL
(PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS (MR)->CASUALTY ASSISTANCE).
C. CACOS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE:
WWW.LIFELINES.NAVY.MIL.
ONE OF MANY IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE SITE IS THE 12-PART VIDEO SERIES
TITLED "WHEN DISASTER STRIKES." IT IS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE WHEN
DEALING WITH THE GRIEVING NEXT OF KIN.
D. A REPUTABLE LIST OF BENEVOLENT/PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS WHICH
PROVIDE VARIOUS SERVICES/BENEFITS TO MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES IS
ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE CASUALTY SECTION WEBSITE.//

...and with the help of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer...

Read no further.

"John and Stacey Holley, who were both in the Army, made some calls, and with the help of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, Matthew was greeted with honor and respect."

That line alone - convinces me this is a bullshit story...

Caskets may in fact, travel in the baggage area of planes. That in itself is not disrespectful..
That casket would be accompanied by someone on the flight, that will monitor the handling of the casket from the time it reaches the destination terminal....

I can positively guarantee you that no casket of a serviceman gets delivered to the parents as unaccompanied "freight"...

These parents sound like Cindy Sheehan wannabes....
They dishonor their son, by this attempt to demean the Army, with the help of the despicable Barbara Boxer.

Semper Fi

My comment from the other thread on this topic:

It's not on display, it's not being received, it's simply being transferred to its next destination. Do you expect an honor band at every stop if there's a forklift nearby to see it?

This is not a display of disrespect. It's shipping. It's also yet another MSM story written simply to try to discredit our military. (They can't do anything right, they don't honor their dead, etc. Divide the Right and conquer, as always.)

When it is appropriate, when they are being receieved or seen on a public tarmac, I feel sure that they will receive the honors they are due.

What doesn't sit well with me is the notion that the media is trying to allege that they are more concerned with honoring the fallen than their brethren in arms who are responsible for such procedures. I guaran-dang-tee you that those in uniform do not shirk that particular responsibility.

I wonder how else they would fly them? I think if they put them in with the passengers there would be an outcry.

susie

I can't speak for the other services but I know that all Marine remains have an escort from Dover to the home of record, after they have been prepped for burial.

Yup. Know of one personally that does/did this.

Big deal. They ARE freight. Get over it.

Everyone makes mistakes you know. Even Marines.

naw, I just play in the dirt alot

It's true. I think this story is a bit silly. My dad was flown to Arlington as freight, which is admittedly different than having a son or daughter coming home in a casket as a result of enemy action.

This whole thing stinks of something being made out of it for a reason. Could be another case of Liberals using the death of a soldier as a political football.

If so, how unfair and how sad for this young man and his family and friends on top of their loss.

Heh, well if that's the case, your head seems to be screwed on straight enough to ensure you are pretty good at it. Thanks for your posts.

Huh? I thought all dead bodies were shipped that way. Where else would they be?

Exactly what I think. I think it's pretty easy for someone to use the grief of a parent to further their political agenda (in this case, the administration is bad, the Iraq war is bad, etc). In my opinion that is almost as low as you can go.

susie

The only ones making a mistake here are the idiot headline editor and the puke apologist for him/her.