PHOTOS UP IN FLAMES

Skynews ^ | 3/28/03 | bedolido

[bedolido]

It is heartbreaking to watch soldiers burning pictures of their own children and letters from loved ones, writes pool reporter Martin Dillon.

Army rules force them to destroy any personal items which may give interrogators an advantage if they are captured, says Dillon, of the Manchester Evening News, who is with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Iraq.

When mail arrives there is a sense of elation among the men.

But this is soon tinged with sadness as they realise the precious messages and photos from home must be incinerated.

The only details carried by the troops are identification card, ID discs, a medical card and dollars. But all the men accept it as part of being a soldier in a war zone.

[g'nad]

I remember the burning times very well...

[boxerblues]

does this also hold true for US soldiers?

[2Jedismom]

God bless these guys...

[dpa5923]

does this also hold true for US soldiers?

Only those in forward units or moving into forward areas. Troops still in Kuwait would not have to burn items but wouldn't be allow to take them forward if they move foward.

[Salvation]

Talk about being naive -- I never realized this took place. Necessary, but still sad.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thank you g'nad.

[boxerblues]

thanks...something to keep in mind, son was in Kuwait but who knows now. I'll just have to make extra copies is all

[Billie]

I hadn't realized they would have to do this. So very sad. And you had to do the same thing, 'nad? I guess I'm just remembering all the war movies of the soldiers who carry with them letters and pictures of their loved ones.

[ArrogantBustard]

As reported elsewhere on this forum, pilots "sanitize" themselves (even to the point of removing wedding ring) prior to a mission. No sense giving saddam's minions any information.

[g'nad]

burned 'em all... came home with nothin'...

[boxerblues]

How sad... but I can see why it would be necessary, just never thought of it

[HairOfTheDog]

This is an image that is staying with me... I can see it. a spot in time indeed.

[hardhead]

One thing we can be sure of, there are several hundred (thousand?) Iraqi (your choice to add Muslim) scum who are burning eternally.

[MHGinTN]

With this new threat of terrorists (Hamas, al Qaeda) tied into Iraqi 'resistance', it is even more important not to carry any connection to the home with them. The terrorists can exploit the photos and addresses to terrorize here in the U.S. It is one of the objections I have to the alphabet networks airing interviews with the families of captured or killed Soldiers.

[Servant of the Nine]

(What the #@!! is a quagmire, anyway?)

It's what lives in Helen Thomas' underwear?

So9

[photogirl]

bump

[Mystix]

yeah so do I bro

[KarlInOhio]

7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Iraq.

The only details carried by the troops are identification card, ID discs, a medical card and dollars

This looks like a British unit name. Why do they have dollars then? Did they already burn all their pounds? Did beat a bunch of Americans in cards? Did some Aussies or Canucks sneak in with their so-called dollars?