Knee Deep in the Hooah!

I know this policy has been reviewed by Gold Star families, and they were divided on it. I respect Gold Star families immensely, but I absolutely can not agree that this policy protects military families at such a painful and vulnerable time.

My biggest contention (outside of the fact that I believe the media just doesn’t need to be involved in this process at all) is families are expected to make this decision shortly after learning about their soldier’s death. It is clinically accepted knowledge that shock and numbness is a primary response. Often people who receive news of a tragic death will report later that they stayed in “automatic pilot” mode for a period of time in order to “go through the motions” in the days to follow. They have arrangements to make, family members to call, and a lot of people calling them — usually they can barely find a minute to themselves during this time. Now, on top of all of that, they get to listen to the option of whether or not the media should be allowed to come — I am assuming that they will have to listen to quite a bit of reassuring that the policy will protect their soldier’s dignity, etc. Why? Why is this one more thing that a new Gold Star family should have to think about? Why? Can anyone answer that question?

Why?

We are being told how it will be done, but not person has given a very compelling argument as to WHY the damn ban was lifted to begin with.

If I ever had to answer that question (God, please forbid!) I would say to the person asking “Close your eyes. Picture your beloved child in a coffin. For a second focus on your baby’s face laying there motionless. You will never touch him again. He is dead. Now, can I come take some pictures of his coffin and plaster them in the papers? Can I bring cameramen and get a good scoop about your dead child?”

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Gates Signs Policy Change for Dignified Transfer Operations at Dover
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Excerpt

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has approved a policy change that, under strictly delineated conditions, allows media filming of dignified transfer operations of fallen servicemembers’ remains at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

The new policy is slated to be implemented April 6, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters today. If immediate family members consent to media coverage, Whitman said, reporters would be provided the basic information on the servicemember and the expected time of arrival of the flight bearing the remains.

SNIP

In a March 25 memorandum that outlines procedures for the new policy, Gates wrote he’d determined on Feb. 27 “that the [Defense Department] policy governing media access to the dignified transfer of fallen servicemembers at Dover Air Force Base would be modified to allow media access, when approved by the immediate families of the individual fallen.”

SNIP

Whitman pointed out that the remains of fallen servicemembers are transported to Dover around the clock in an expeditious manner. When the new policy takes effect, he said, the Dover Air Force Base public affairs office will post to its Web site that a dignified transfer approved for media coverage by the fallen servicemember’s family is to take place, along with the time and some other particulars. The media, Whitman continued, also may opt to subscribe to an e-mail notification system that would provide similar information.

The military will take photographs of dignified transfer operations to provide to families that approve media coverage, Whitman said.

Each dignified transfer operation takes about 15 minutes to complete, Whitman explained. Dover public affairs personnel, he said, would assist media to gain access onto the installation, providing briefings, and take them to the flight line.

SNIP

Decisions regarding media coverage of the dignified transfer process at Dover should “be made by those most directly affected — on an individual basis — by the families of the fallen,” Gates told reporters during a Feb. 26 Pentagon news conference. “We ought not to presume to make that decision in their place.”

Per the memorandum, the following actions are to be taken in conjunction with implementation of the new policy:

– The undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness and other Pentagon elements will revise defense regulatory documents to reflect the new policy at Dover;

– Deceased servicemembers’ remains will be transferred from the combat theater of operations to the Dover facility as soon as possible;

– The primary next of kin will make the family’s decision regarding media access to dignified transfer operations at Dover;

– Families of deceased servicemembers will be briefed on the option to allow media coverage of the dignified transfer at the time of notification of the member’s death or as soon as possible thereafter;

– If the primary next of kin permits media access at Dover, reporters will be given the name, rank, military service and hometown of the “believed to be” casualty. A more complete identification of the deceased servicemember, including unit, place, date and circumstances of death, will be released following the confirmation of the casualty’s identity at the Dover mortuary, and then only 24 hours after the last of the deceased’s next of kin have been notified of the loss; and

– Primary next of kin and two other family members may travel to Dover at department expense to observe the dignified transfer operation. The services may fund the travel of additional family members on a case-by-case basis.

The secretary’s memorandum also directed the development of a long-term plan to obtain the preference of individual servicemembers regarding media access to dignified transfers should they become a casualty while on active duty.

SNIP
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

RELATED POSTS ON KDH