Media Witness Return Of War Casualty For First Time In 18 Years

DOVER, Del. — For the first time since an 18-year ban on news coverage of returning war dead was lifted, the media witnessed the arrival Sunday night of a soldier killed overseas.

After receiving permission from family members, the military opened Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to the press. An eight-member team wearing white gloves and camouflage battle fatigues carried the body of 30-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers of Hopewell, Va., off a military jet in a solemn ceremony on a cool, clear night.

Myers was killed April 4 near Helmand province, Afghanistan, when he was hit with an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense said.

The ceremony under the yellowish haze of airport floodlights took about 20 minutes with Myers' wife and other family members in attendance.

Myers was a member of the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron with the Royal Air Force in Lakenheath, England, one of the bases the U.S. Air Force uses in the country. He was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery last year in recognition of his efforts in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Department of Defense said.

The new Pentagon policy gives families a choice of whether to admit the press to ceremonies at Dover, home to the nation's largest military mortuary and the entry point to the U.S. for service personnel killed overseas.

Critics of the previous policy had said the government was trying to hide the human cost of war.

President Barack Obama had asked for a review of the ban, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that the blanket restriction made him uncomfortable. The administration will let families decide whether to allow photographs.

For example, if several caskets arrive on the same flight, news coverage will be allowed only for those whose families have given permission.

The ban was put in place by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, at the time of the Persian Gulf War. From the start, it was cast as a way to shield grieving families.

There have been several exceptions since then, most notably in 1996 when President Bill Clinton attended the arrival of the remains of Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and 32 others killed in a plane crash in Croatia. In 2000, the Pentagon distributed photographs of the arrival of remains of those killed in the bombing of the USS Cole and in 2001, the Air Force distributed a photograph of the remains of a victim of the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon.

One objection to lifting the ban had been that if the media were present, some families might feel obligated to come to Dover for the brief, solemn ritual in which honor guards carry the caskets off a plane. Few families now choose to attend, in part because doing so means leaving home and the support system of friends at a difficult time. The sudden trip can also be expensive and logistically difficult to arrange.

Comments

[CDLopez]

If the kids that the president and the Congress have are sent to a war zone. Things would change real fast, they would talk and we would have less to argue about.
It is not only sad but outragous the way are young people have been sent to war.
Their lives have been changed if they survive.
25% of the homeless are vets that is something the people should not let happen. As a American I am ashamed of this.
We should never accept this no matter the cost to fix it. The people of this nation need to demand that are vets are cared for.

[MHT73]

Lifting this ban was the right thing to do, and even more so because of the fact that the human costs of these wars are being borne disproportionately by those from disadvantaged communities, and out of view of many others. We need to be reminded of their sacrifice, and reminded often. Many of the comments on this post are from service members or families of service members, and to all of you, thank you.

[PadriVeum]

how convenient-we get to see the RIGHT coffins at the RIGHT times...but the every day cost of imperialism...that's kept somewhere behind reality television, celebrity gossip and stories about bristol palin's baby-daddy.

[Carmc]

As a Canadian, I think it is a very important that this ban has been lift. Here when our fallen soldiers return, the repatriation ceremony is film for TV with the families permission and the procession has a police escort down HWY 401 which has now been renamed the Highway of Heroes. Every time anyone of our men or women return home thousand people, police officers, firefighters and paramedic workers turn out and line the over passes of the Highway of Heroes to pay tribute to the sacrifices these soldiers have made as well to honour the families who have also suffered great loss. I don't see this as exploiting but as a tribute. It has become an emotional as well as heart breaking tradition for many .

[mocha59]

I watched with my husband who fought in the Gulf War and performed the duty we all witnessed last night multiple times.
Our hearts aches with sorrow and grand pride.
Thank you White House Admin.

This cost is the most important of them all.

[knerd]

Grand First Lady Barbara Bush said it best on Good Morning America, March 18, 2003:

"WHY SHOULD WE HEAR ABOUT BODY BAGS AND DEATHS? IT IS NOT RELEVANT. SO WHY SHOULD I WASTE MY BEAUTIFUL MIND ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT?"

http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/barbara.asp

[knerd]

Grand First Lady Barbara Bush said it best on Good Morning America, March 18, 2003:

"WHY SHOULD WE HEAR ABOUT BODY BAGS AND DEATHS? IT IS NOT RELEVANT. SO WHY SHOULD I WASTE MY BEAUTIFUL MIND ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT?"

[ejay579]

Welcome home Brothers and Sisters. May the promise that is America finally be fulfilled. Those of use on the seemingly endless return journey will forever have in our thoughts. Welcome home Brothers and Sisters. Welcome home.

[babyboomerorig]

To those who took Bush at his word in 2001 when told to go shopping, it's important for you to see what this man has given us. This soldier came home from Afghanistan, but over 4200 came home from the war in Iraq that should never have been fought.

Bush 41 should be embarrassed at his behavior during such a solemn, devistating time for these soldiers friends and families.

[Hu1b]

I should like to correct the story; Sg't. Myers was a member of the United States Air Force, the 48th Fighter Wing of which has as its' home an airfield belonging to the RAF called RAF Station Lakenheath.

I was with the 48th in '62-'65.

[BBackSoon]

I was looking for the right words.

I called my 14 year old daughter to watch (also on MSNBC) and explained why it was so important.

I also had tears running down my cheeks.

[florit]

i heard that the first bush initiated this policy because he was caught on splitscreen gigling with reporters, as american coffins were shown being unloaded from panama.

[nicole473]

True.

[MacManLB]

I tearfully watched the soldier come home on MSNBC. I watched it with my 9 year old son. The shame of hiding our sacrifice for 18 years will be washed away with our tears.

[trunk65]

The whole policy started when the first President Bush appeared on a news broadcast, smiling and joking, right after a clip was shown from Dover. So, in reality, the whole thing was based in politics and image building. Not as exciting as a conspiracy, but sadly true,

[spartanmom]

This was my worst nightmare for fifteen months.

I watched this in tears because I believe that I owe it to all our fallen to bear my little bit of pain in their honor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp9sWGxjFQ8

[florit]

sounds like youre a fan of pumpkin head.

[dphilip]

Will the families receive any royalties for staring in this DNC commercial?
Bush was so wrong to hide them.
Obama is so noble to expolit them.

[spartanmom]

Not a military mom, I guess.

[MadCroation]

Bush exploited them to show the world he was not the gutless coward he was when he hid under his momma's skirts rather than fight for his country in Vietnam!

[MNinWI]

You don't make sense. You can go now-bye bye.

[nk007]

How is Obama exploiting them? Didn't you read the post? Families of fallen soldiers and marines get to decide whether to have media coverage or not. Exactly why do you think this exploitation that will star in a "DNC commercial/" The trouble with you right wingers is you think that everyone thinks as you do: that is exploit any tragedy, such as 9/11, for political gains. All I can say is please stop projecting!

[nicole473]

A really pa.thetic and transparent attempt to exploit a s.ad and moving situation for your own political ends.

Obama is not exp.loiting them, but you certainly are.