As several have said, I think they should have been informed. They were well trained big boys and girls.
It would be one thing if someone inside their family made the judgement call about informing them, but not an outsider who didn’t know them intimately. They put their lives on the line and someone sitting on the ground couldn’t square up with them and tell them the truth? OK, if it was just a minute or milliseconds I can see it, but even then...
On the other hand, I never shared the details of my son’s post-mortem autopsy. Of course at that point it doesn’t matter, but I wanted to know everything.
Sir, please accept my sincerest gratitude for the sacrifice and loss of your beloved son. I can never thank you nor him enough for my freedom.