Red Fridays

[lcapaul]

Originally Posted by rdiaz

Mr. Capaul, as you were Sir, NCOs and Staff NCOs do inform Families of the death of troops, there arent always enough Officers to go around ,and yes there are Marines assigned specifically to escort our fallen brothers in arms (and probably in the other services to) and in fact there are Platoons specifcally for funeral and burial detail, how would I know? Well I know because I particpated in at least 3 burials of fellow fallen Marines in the Chicago Area and had to pull duty as a Casualty Assistance Officer, so unless My entire 8 plus years in the Marine Corps was a dream I don't think its "patriotic B S"



Respectfully

Rodrigo E. Diaz
Ssgt USMC

"You don't hurt 'em if you don't hit 'em."
- Lieutenant-General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller

The Marines operate differently than the Army then, Officers in the Army inform family of Deaths, of course there are so many Army Officers who's duty is to do nothing but jockey a desk for most of the carreers that there are plenty to go around.the Army also has Platoons or teams assigned for burial detail, where I took part in several. Since the beginning of the Iraq War though one of the major complaints by families who have lost members has been the way that the bodies have been shipped, if any are escorted its a rare thing, most are shipped Airt or Surface freight, not escorts, only notice that a "package" has arrived.

This "letter" is about the 3rd or 4th version that I have seen in the past year or so, sometimes its a Marine, sometimes its a soldier, sometimes its on a plane, sometimes in an Airport, these and many other letters like the portion of the one I posted are sent around to many members of the American Legion and VFW, they are what people WANT to hear, not necessarily what really happened, like I said our troops don't need to be honored by lies and falsehoods, they don't need them.

All three of my nephews are back, two in the Marines, and the oldest an Army Lifer, who since the invasion of Afghanistan has been stateside for less than a year, but who has now decided to quit volunteering until his retirement.

Thsi Red Friday Idea is Old, look at the link someone provided , 2005, and it still hasn't caught on, I don't if this "letter" started the Idea or was someones Idea of "helping" by fabricating reasons to feel Patriotic, do those feelings need to be Fabricated?

Thsi crap started back just after the Jessica Lynch "rescue" that made all the news, while the news that 6 Marines had died rescuing the other American Prisoners went unnoticed. Its propaganda at its worst and dishonors the troops.

My 22+ years in the Military taught me that I don't need some *****hole making up stories to feel Patriotic and to get me to support our Troops
http://www.marine-corps-news.com/200...oldiers_bo.htm

[ldapkus]

Linas, are you a member of the American Legion? Your "Letter" made the rounds there several months ago, I don't want to put our troops down, but patriotism and support of our troops should not need to be pushed by False Patriotic B.S. NCO's don't notify Family Members of troops who have been killed< Officers do, the bodies of American Troops are shipped by Freight, both Air and Ground, this has been one of the big complaints against Rumsfeld and the Pentagon.

No, I'm not a member of the American Legion. I am a peacetime vet of 9 years and believe you have been misled to believe that the military dispatches officers to notify family's of their loved ones passing as a result of a disputed conflict. By the way this was an e-mail my 78 year old mother-in-law from Lakeland,Florida forwarded to me from one of her church group members. I didn't mean to "ruffle any feathers". Again I apogize.

[jrivera]

How nice, Lewis, does this mean you are actually calling Linas' 78 year old mother in law (who may very well have more time on the job than you) an asshole !!!! I sure hope not, I thought military boys were more courteous than that.

And Linas you don't have to apologize for nothing !!! Now go an giv'r a kiss for me.

Mic