Media covers return of fallen airman

[CommunityEditor]

DOVER, Del. — The service of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers, 30, of Hopewell, Va., was not finished when he died Saturday in Afghanistan of injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device.

Late Sunday night, the arrival of Myers’ body at Dover Air Force Base in a flag-draped transfer case became a powerful reminder to his nation and the world of the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces and the high cost of war.

His return also marked an early watershed in the administration of President Barack Obama, a nod in favor of transparency and away from secrecy favored by prior administrations.

Thousands of fallen troops have returned to the United States through the military’s primary mortuary at Dover Air Force Base. Their flights are met by an honor guard, by military officers, by a chaplain and other dignitaries. Their remains are afforded the highest respect and precision as they are processed for return to their final destination.

But until Sunday night, no news coverage of the returns had been permitted since 1991, when President George H.W. Bush and then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney banned media coverage.

Privacy was cited as the primary reason.

That changed as Myers’ flag-draped transfer case was escorted by an eight-member carry team with crisp, solemn precision to a waiting van from the jet that had carried it from Ramstein, Germany. On Sunday, a few more than two dozen media members quietly snapped pictures, scribbled notes or trained video cameras at the procession shortly after the plane landed at 10:30 p.m.

The casket of an Army soldier was taken down first. That soldier’s family was not asked for permission for media viewing because of time constraints.

“My heart is broken for this family,” said Judy Campbell, chair of Gold Star Families of Delaware, which honors those who have lost a family member in military service. “Their life is changed forever. I hope that having this picture of their loved one returning, that in the years to come it will give them some peace ... some comfort.”

For almost 20 years, that hadn’t been possible. Glimpses of the returns were made available only when the Pentagon released hundreds of its own photos after a 2005 Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by University of Delaware professor and former CNN correspondent Ralph Begleiter.

The media ban was lifted last month after Obama ordered a review of the policy. After the review, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates decided coverage would be permitted — but only with the family’s consent.

Thousands of transfers
Obama opened the door to reconsidering the policy in his first prime-time news conference as president in early February. He said he had not decided on the policy and wouldn’t until “I have evaluated that review and understand all the implications involved.”

Vice President Joe Biden in 2004 had urged a change to the policy, when the then-senator told CNN: “This is the last long ride home. These young men and women are heroes. And the idea that they’re essentially snuck back into the country under the cover of night so no one can see that their casket has arrived, I just think is wrong.”

Almost all of the 4,266 casualties in Iraq and the 668 casualties in Afghanistan through the end of March have come through Dover’s mortuary, military officials said earlier this year.

Dover and Pentagon officials could not provide the total number of transfers that have come through Dover, but Air Force spokesman Vince King said in February that 3,867 had come through Dover between May 2004 and May 2008.

Families and military members have been divided on whether the policy should have been changed.

Some agreed with Biden that acknowledging and honoring the fallen troops is an important part of the nation’s ability to better understand the cost of war and the sacrifices made by service members and their families.

Others were concerned that such coverage would be used to advance a political anti-war agenda — as some did in the Vietnam War years — or turn a somber occasion into a “media circus.”

Rules and restrictions
As the window was opened Sunday night to readmit the public to the returns, the procedures put in place by the military were tight and designed to allow the procession to be recorded without allowing media to interfere.

About 30 media members boarded a bus in the Blue Hen Corporate Center at 9 p.m. for transport to the nearby base, then briefed and taken to a restricted area from which they would observe and record.

Each representative signed a set of rules that included a prohibition on taking any images of family members who might be on hand.

No live filming was allowed, nor were “stand-ups,” in which a commentator speaks into a camera as the action unfolds in the backdrop.

The military rules advised media members that “there will be no unnecessary noise or movement during the transfer. Movement required to perform duties should be conducted in a slow and deliberate manner in an effort to not distract from the event.”

Maj. Paul Villagran assumed a new job as director of public affairs for the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center a week ago to prepare for the change in policy, which was to take effect Monday. By Sunday, more than 80 members of the media had registered to be notified of a permitted return.

Villagran said all was devised to protect the family’s privacy and preserve the honor and dignity of the return.

“There is no amount of effort we wouldn’t put forward to provide that care and support,” Villagran said Saturday.

An important recognition
Myers’ widow was the first to be asked about media coverage and granted permission. She was flown into Dover on Sunday night from the RAF base in Lakenheath, England, where Myers had been assigned to the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron.

Myers died Saturday near Helmand province. He was awarded the Bronze Star at a March 19, 2008, ceremony at Lakenheath. He also had won the Air Force-level 2008 Major General Eugene A. Lupia Awards military technician category for significant achievements.

Other family members drove to Dover on Sunday from Virginia. The military paid for all family travel expenses to Dover.

At precisely 11 p.m., a dark blue shuttle bus carrying family members arrived, and an eight-member carry team, all wearing white gloves, marched to the aircraft. They slowly mounted the long stairs to the cargo bay and walked to the spot where a K-loader was positioned with Myers’ transfer case.

The senior officer on the team, Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, the Air Force’s civil engineer, was joined by Col. Dave Horton and Maj. Klavens Noel, a chaplain, at the cargo bay door. The chaplain offered a brief prayer.

The team then raised the case and positioned it at the end of the K-loader, which descended slowly to the tarmac. The team then slowly bore the case to a white panel truck and loaded it inside.

The van then was driven off with an escort to the mortuary area. The ceremony was marked by silence, except for two orders from an officer.

Campbell, the chair of the Gold Star Families, said she believes that Sunday’s recognition of the significance of Myers’ sacrifice is important.

“I really do believe, when people know that other people care and remember, it does bring them some comfort,” she said. “Their loss will always be there, but it’s always comforting to know that others are not forgetting the sacrifice.”

Begleiter, who has said he launched his FOIA effort with the National Security Archive in 2004 to restore the return ceremonies at Dover to a rightful place of honor, had this to say Sunday: “This is an important victory for the American people to be able to honor their returning servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...turns_040609w/


Evan Vucci / The Associated Press
The casket of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers of Hopewell, Va.,
who was killed Afghanistan on April 4, is carried by an honor
guard April 5 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. After receiving
permission from the family, Myers is the first casualty to be
observed arriving at Dover since the ban on media news
coverage of returning war dead was put in place 18 years ago.

[Gunner007]

To me its a personal matter. I have seen 24 coworkers and friends die in the line of duty since i began flying. I know the chances are there that it can happen to me, and i dont want the media there! Why isnt there a form we the member can sign that denies them coverage of our return (if this happens) or another box to check that would allow our families to make that decision (for those that are indifferent)?

I dont trust the media, plain and simple! I know what they did during Vietnam over 25 years ago and they are more left, more liberal, and cater to more anti-war agenda's now then they did then! I simply dont trust that they wont use my flag drapped sacrifice to fuel their agenda(s)! I am not unique in that i feel in my heart the wars we are fighting are just and worthwhile causes! I am in an AFSC where death is a real possibility and i accept that! But just as i dont support the anti-war movement in life, i would roll over in my grave if those A-holes turned a life i have dedicated to the defense of my nation into a mockery by making an anti war statement!

I want the RIGHT to decide how my return is handled, and I for one, dont want th media there!

[jmb27]

I totally agree. I guess the only thing you could really do is make sure that your next of kin understand the way you feel. I made sure my wife knows I don't trust the media.

[smarg]

The America-hating news media was frothing at the mouth to get coverage of the returns so they could slam Bush. Now that we have a new administration, I don't care about the press coverage.

[ramprat]

Originally Posted by smarg

The America-hating news media was frothing at the mouth to get coverage of the returns so they could slam Bush. Now that we have a new administration, I don't care about the press coverage.

It also provides a good propaganda tool for the left .

[technomage1]

War has its costs. The American people need to be reminded of those costs in order to make an informed decision on if war in any given situation is worth it. While the ultimate decision should be and is in the hands of the families concerned, media coverage of our fallen heroes is long overdue.

[BRUWIN]

Originally Posted by ramprat

It also provides a good propaganda tool for the left .

The ban on the media was a bigger propaganda tool for them IMHO. And they used it to full capacity.

[technomage1]

I don't think it's just the left taking advantage of this. I;'ve seen more than 1 "wave the flag and nuke 'em" video feature flag draped caskets.

Both sides use the imagry to further their viewpoint.

[VFFSSGT]

Originally Posted by technomage1

War has its costs. The American people need to be reminded of those costs in order to make an informed decision on if war in any given situation is worth it. While the ultimate decision should be and is in the hands of the families concerned, media coverage of our fallen heroes is long overdue.

Blasting images and video of a casket does not show the cost of war... It is nothing more than a ploy by the media to fuel the sensational journalism and was an attempt to blast the past administration even more.

I do seem to like the new policy (even though I do not believe there is much point in broadcasting the return); it is better than a complete ban. I believe it would be more appropriate to be the member's decision not their family's.

I agree, the desire or not for media coverage should be a box we check on the vRED...

[Gunner007]

Originally Posted by technomage1

War has its costs. The American people need to be reminded of those costs in order to make an informed decision on if war in any given situation is worth it. While the ultimate decision should be and is in the hands of the families concerned, media coverage of our fallen heroes is long overdue.

30 years ago i would agree with you 100%. Thing is, we dont have draftees anymore and everyone in uniform is here by choice. For me personally, i dont care if the american people agree with a particular war or cause by majority. They dont have to like the flag draped coffins coming home! I am in service by choice, i could have gotten out at many points along the way but chose to stay and fight and die if necessary.

My heartburn comes in when people tell me they joined for college! I will quickly remind them your here to fight and die for your country, IF you have time to get college while serving great, otherwise learn your job, learn it well, and maybe stay alive until your enlistment is up and go to college! If people dont like the war, dont enlist! Dont encourage your kids to enlist! But to those that do, recognize and support their effort and sacrifice.

I like the fact people are so eager to get those flag draped coffins on the news, to show the people what the cost of war is! Yeah, lets show those little kids across america what happens to people who join the military! Show them how evil the military is and what happens when you join! Yeah!

How about we show the terrorist beheading Daniel Pearl? How about the Nepolese truck drivers who were lined up and shot like cattle along a ditch? The dozens of women burned with acid over the last couple years? Babies beaten with hammers? Oh, how dare we be so callous as to show kids things like that, then they might hate Islam or think all Islamic people want to kill infidels!

When people stop being hypocrites and show both sides, when they show WHY those Americans are enlisting freely, WHY those Americans are so eager to go abroad and fight and die, THEN i will agree to let them show my flag draped coffin coming off the C-17, should it ever happen to me.