From: "Rich Gauszka" 

Last month in Indiana a similar blunder happened. I'm hoping these are
isolated occurrences as it's the last thing a deceased soldier's family
needs is to see is the body arriving as freight


"Jeff Shultz"  wrote in message
news:pan.2005.12.13.15.08.30.335802{at}shultzinfosystems.com...
> That shouldn't be happening. There is pretty much an entire manual on the
> treatment and transport and honors of military dead, and if anthing else
> is happening, someone it gonna get stomped on for it.
>
> Deservedly.
>
> On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:07:18 -0500, Rich Gauszka wrote:
>
>>  Honored war dead or freight?
>>
>>
>> http://www.10news.com/news/5504608/detail.html
>>
>> Family Upset Over Soldier's Body Arriving As Freight
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> John Holley and his wife, Stacey, were stunned when they found out the
>> body of their only child, Matthew John Holley, who died in Iraq last
>> month, would be arriving at Lindbergh Field as freight.
>>
>> Matthew was a medic with the 101st Airborne unit and died on Nov. 15.
>>
>> "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.
>

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