It appears that you find offense because a stereotype of men was being played against in the postings.
I think your offense is an example of a conditioned, female response that is hypocritical but considered acceptable in our culture.
If the comments had been about a male officer who had went missing, the failure to ask directions stereotype would have been well played on FR and you would have found no offense.
It is difficult to respond to a person who has decided he knows what I think.
I don't like a US military officer or private being laughed at under any serious circumstances. THAT was and is my chief objection to the replies, particularly because the officer in the article had gone missing, which could easily indicate foul play was in the mix. Not realizing the extent to which the original article had been expanded, I stated that I was appalled that her apparently being beaten could be taken in such a laughable way. That is the response I would have had whether the officer were a male or female.
You could just look in the mirror and say, What the heck, I'll try to be an ounce more considerate next time one of our military goes missing.
Or, what the heck, you could just keep on trying to defend your current policy.