Sad ... Very sad.

**mnjamie** · 12-13-2005, 07:01 PM

Family Upset Over Soldier's Body Arriving As Freight
Bodies Sent To Families On Commercial Airliners

UPDATED: 10:19 am PST December 12, 2005

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.

http://www.10news.com/news/5504608/detail.html

**Mr. Purple** · 12-13-2005, 07:03 PM

thats sickning

**shockzilla** · 12-13-2005, 07:15 PM

That's terrible!!! Show our Lost Boys some respect!!!!!!

**Ltrey33** · 12-13-2005, 07:21 PM

Wow, that's messed up. They certainly deserve better than that.

**V4L** · 12-13-2005, 07:26 PM

I hate the government

**cajunvike** · 12-13-2005, 07:57 PM

We are all just FREIGHT to the current Administration!

BUT this is an abomination!!!

These young men and women are making the ULTIMATE sacrifice for ideals that we all believe in...they deserve the UTMOST respect and honor...and for our government to sell them short is nothing short of pathetic!

They deserve WAY MORE than what they are getting...the Defense Department should be ASHAMED of themselves...but I will bet that the White House will have some lame excuse handy to explain why this is happening.

**V4L** · 12-13-2005, 08:00 PM

I would be pissed even if I wasn't in a war to be sent home that way.. But these heros deserve way more.. Bush is too cheap to fork over extra money for proper transportation

**Ltrey33** · 12-13-2005, 08:04 PM

Oh Lord, here we go again....:roll:

**V4L** · 12-13-2005, 08:07 PM

"ltrey33" wrote:

Oh Lord, here we go again....:roll:

:lol:

That comment up there was not a diss towards Bush!! Forgot ya can't talk politics in here :razz:

**RK.** · 12-13-2005, 08:25 PM

"mnjamie" wrote:

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.

http://www.10news.com/news/5504608/detail.html

Dead service men are not being brought back from Iraq and Afghanistan as freight. And they arrive at Dover with honers. Getting them to the families within the country is difficult. Should we send each coffin out in a C1-30 at the cost of thousands of dollars per hr? Usually when a body arrives the local VFW or reserve unit will be there to recieve it and drap the casket etc. These are arrangements that can be made locally by every family. We had a guy come home here to my community recently and that was done. Maybe this family didn't realize that they could have made those arrangements for their son.

For those of you that think this is an opportunity to bash the Bush administration, please try to show some dignity in your rhetoric. Do a little research first before typing.