A New Low for Cindy Sheehan, Her Revolting Cardboard Box Story
An American hero comes home...
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as one of the most powerful in the process: "See the people in the windows? They'll sit right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They're going to remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
April 4, 2006 marked two years since Army Specialist Casey A. Sheehan was killed on a mission in Iraq. It has been two years since his death and despite the fact that the government would pay for a headstone for Casey, Cindy Sheehan refuses to mark her son's grave. Michelle Malkin got around to asking Cindy about this at a March protest.
Last week Cindy wrote on why her son's grave is left unmarked. World Net Daily reported Cindy's response:
I will tell the world why Casey has no marker yet. In the first place, does anyone who is attacking me know how Casey was brought home from Iraq? We picked him up in the United loading dock in a cardboard box and he was off-loaded into a hearse without one honor guard. We had to wait for about a half hour on a curb near the United freight area for his one escort, who rode from Dover Air Force Base in a seat, while Casey was treated as an over-sized piece of luggage. Has anybody held her other sobbing children who are sitting on a curb in San Francisco, waiting for the remains of their big brother to be carried over to the dock by a forklift?
WE don't see them because Mama Bush doesn't want to "bother her pretty mind" with the images... Our government discards and dishonors its own.
Cindy’s story would be heart wrenching and revolting...
If it were true!
After making a couple of calls, I talked with MAJ OCPA Nathan Banks at the Pentagon’s Department of Media Relations who was very helpful. This is what I found out:
Cardboard boxes are never use to transfer soldiers!
"Crates" have not been used since Vietnam. Fallen soldiers today are moved in steel or aluminum caskets to their home of record (hometown). Further, the escort inspects the casket when it is unloaded. Since arrangements are made before each fallen soldier arrives to their home of record, the military would be shocked to hear that a forklift was used.
Here is more on the Official and Unclassified Department of Defense Policy on moving servicemembers killed overseas:
The Department of Defense policy is that all remains of servicemembers killed overseas during contingency operations will enter the United States via the Port Mortuary at Dover AFB. Once they go through the mortuary, they are transported to their final destination via commercial airlift or by hearse if within close distance to Dover AFB.
Before any remains leave Dover, port mortuary personnel coordinate with the receiving funeral home to arrange that the remains will be met at their final destination. We've arranged transport for over 2300 OEF and OIF casualties. In every case, the transport was arranged in advance and the funeral home was available to receive the remains.
Remains traveling from Dover may be escorted by either a service member, or in some cases, members of the deceased family to the final destination, at a minimum a military escort accompanies the remains to the final destination. Typically, the escort carries the U.S. flag during the flight, and the flag is draped over the casket upon arrival and during transportation to the funeral home. Our normal policy is to have a small honor guard render military honors as the remains of the deceased service member are taken off the plane.
Army Statement:
"The Army ensures that the remains of our fallen are treated with dignity and respect at every step of their journey home. Our dead are transported to Dover Air Force Base at which point families make known their desires for final arrangements. In order to expeditiously meet the needs of our families, the Army typically uses domestic airlines and the local mortuary meets the plane at the airport. These are the same arrangements that mortuaries use when transporting the remains of civilians. Later at the memorial service and funeral, the Army extends its final tribute to the Soldier and continued condolences to their kin."
DoD Response:
Q: What is the policy on transporting the bodies of soldiers killed overseas?
A: DoD policy is that all remains of servicemembers killed overseas during contingency operations will enter the United States via the Port Mortuary at Dover AFB. Once they go through the mortuary, they are transported to their final destination via commercial airlift or by hearse if within close distance to Dover AFB .
Q: Do all of them come through Dover first?
A: Yes, the port mortuary is the first stop in CONUS for all remains coming from OEF and OIF. (The procedural guidance has not changed about going to meet the remains of loved ones at the mortuary in Dover. We military continues to discourage families to go to the mortuary.)
Q: Is it policy to put the bodies on commercial flights once they arrive in the U.S.?
A: Yes, remains departing the port mortuary at Dover will be transported by commercial flight. Before any remains leave Dover, port mortuary personnel coordinate with the receiving funeral home to arrange that the remains will be met at their final destination.
Q: Does it depend on the area? It seems, in this case, that a military flight to San Diego shouldn't have been too difficult to find.
A: The final destination of servicemember remains is not a factor. We've arranged transport for over 2300 OEF and OIF casualties. In every case, the transport was arranged in advance and the funeral home was available to receive the remains.
Q: Is there concern that transporting the bodies in this way is seen as disrespectful?
A: Not at all disrespectful, commercial airlines have historically been able to bring our fallen heroes home more quickly than if moved aboard military airlift. This method of transport is the same as that used to transport civilian remains, with the difference that in every case, the grieving family has the assistance of a casualty assistance officer and the port mortuary ensures that the remains are met.
Q: Do they all have an escort from Dover home?
A: Yes, either a service member, or in some cases, members of the deceased family may escort the remains to the final destination.
Q: What is DoD policy for escort of remains?
A: There is specific policy that each military service has requiring an escort from Dover AFB to the final destination. Each case is handled separately. In most cases, the remains travel in a transport case designed to protect the casket.
Q: Do the caskets arrive with a flag?
A: Yes, the escort typically carries the flag during the flight, and the flag is draped over the casket upon arrival and during transportation to the funeral home.
Q: What is the role of the casualty assistance officer with regard to the transport of the remains, does he get it to the funeral home, etc.?
A: A Mortuary Affairs Officer assists the family by coordinating the movement of the deceased person from the Dover AFB Port Mortuary to the funeral home the family will use. Both the Mortuary Affairs Officer and the Dover AFB Port Mortuary staff coordinate with the receiving funeral director.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Much thanks to MAJ OCPA Nathan Banks at the Pentagon for this information.
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you! kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
Thank you, Casey Sheehan. Your sacrifice is not forgotten. Rest in Peace. |
