I’ve no idea other than it has supposedly been a Navy custom, but the article states where that custom has been ignored on a few occasions.
The Navy may leave the bodies of it’s people where they fall when their ships sink, but IIRC, the Marine Corps does not, unless they just absolutely cannot recover them.
I’m retired USAF, and I want these guys home, escorted there by their Marine brothers. If we have to stomp the flaming crap out of Libya to do it, I’m fine with that. And if they want a grumpy old USAF Master Sergeant to help, I’d be honored.
My scout troop held the flag ceremony here in 1966 in the presence of Imelda Marcos and many Americans. This is the American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila. After concluding the ceremony there was a very low flyover by jets from Clark air Base. They came from behind startled us all.