Family Upset Over Marine's Body Arriving As Freight

10 news ^ | December 9, 2005 | na

[Flavius]

SAN DIEGO -- There's controversy over how the military is transporting the bodies of service members killed overseas, 10News reported.

A local family said fallen soldiers and Marines deserve better and that one would think our war heroes are being transported with dignity, care and respect. It said one would think upon arrival in their hometowns they are greeted with honor. But unfortunately, the family said that is just not the case.

Dead heroes are supposed to come home with their coffins draped with the American flag -- greeted by a color guard.

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!

John Holley and his wife, Stacey, were stunned when they found out the body of their only child, Matthew, who died in Iraq last month, would be arriving at Lindbergh Field as freight.

"When someone dies in combat, they need to give them due respect they deserve for (the) sacrifice they made," said John Holley.

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.

"Our familiarity with military protocol and things of that sort allowed us to kind of put our foot down -- we're not sure other parents have that same knowledge," said Stacey Holley.

The Holleys now want to make sure every fallen hero gets the proper welcome.

The bodies of dead service members arrive at Dover Air Force Base.

From that point, they are sent to their families on commercial airliners.

Reporters from 10News called the Defense Department for an explanation. A representative said she did not know why this is happening.

[A.A. Cunningham]

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

The Corps doesn't pull crap like this.

[rlmorel]

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)

[rlmorel]

"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.

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

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

[digger48]

I haven't seen the answer to that one.

[rlmorel]

You an Aussie, digger48?

[A.A. Cunningham]

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

Date signed: 02/09/2005 MARADMIN Number: 057/05
R 021130Z FEB 05
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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/-/-//
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PARA 5 WILL COVER THE ESCORT POLICY. PARA 6 WILL COVER THE
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COMPLETE DCIPS-FORWARD ITEMS: 01 (REPORT TYPE), 02 (CASUALTY TYPE),
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PARTIES ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS UNTIL A MARINE
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE CASUALTY SECTION WEBSITE.//

[Wally_Kalbacken]

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

Read no further.

[river rat]

"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

[Teacher317]

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.

[brytlea]

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

susie

[VeniVidiVici]

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.

[Sloth]

Big deal. They ARE freight. Get over it.

[Windsong]

Everyone makes mistakes you know. Even Marines.

[digger48]

naw, I just play in the dirt alot

[rlmorel]

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.

[rlmorel]

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.

[SuziQ]

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

[brytlea]

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

[A.A. Cunningham]

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