Remains of US troops killed in Iraq dumped in a landfill

[Sara Johnson]

Remains of US troops killed in Iraq dumped in a landfill

The cremated remains of American troops who were killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan were dumped in a landfill, it has emerged.

Body parts sent from war zones to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware were burned before being handed to a private contractor for disposal in Virginia Photo: AP

By Jon Swaine, Washington

5:59PM GMT 10 Nov 2011

Comments

US Air Force officials admitted that from 2003 to 2008, body parts sent from war zones to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware were burned before being handed to a private contractor for disposal in Virginia.

Family members of the dead troops were not aware of the practice, which emerged amid anger over earlier disclosures that remains were also lost and mishandled by mortuary officials at the base.

"We could have done it better," Brig Gen Les Kodlick, an Air Force spokesman, conceded today. Officials stressed the practice applied to bone fragments and DNA material and not large body parts.

"The common practice was that any residual matter remaining after incineration was disposed of by the contractor in a landfill," said Brig Gen Kodlick. The system was scrapped by the military in 2008.

The disclosures about the base were described as "disheartening and very unfortunate" by the National Military Families Association.

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  US air force base 'lost body parts'09 Nov 2011

An officer and two civilian employees at the base, which handles the bodies of all servicemen and women killed in action overseas, have been disciplined as a result of an inquiry into the earlier disclosures.

It discovered a dead marine's arm was sawn off, without his family's permission, to make his body fit his uniform and that body parts had gone missing.

The incidents were not reported to the troops' families and a whistle-blower, whose objections about the "mutilation" of the marine's arm was overruled by his boss, was fired.

President Barack Obama was informed by Carolyn Lerner, the special counsel who led the inquiry, that it had discovered "substantial evidence of gross mismanagement, violations of rules and regulations, and a disturbing pattern of dishonesty and misconduct".

Gen Norton Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff, said in a statement: "We can, and will, do better." The force said the four families of the fallen troops involved had since been informed about what happened to their relatives' remains.

The practice of cremating and dumping remains in a landfill was limited to body parts that families of the war dead had said they did not want to receive, officials stated.

http://www.telegraph...l#disqus_thread

[Brisco]

THIS JUST MAKES ME AS SICK!

JUST AS SICK AS PENN STATE MADE ME FEEL

WHAT IN THIS WORLD IS GOING ON?

Thanks for the POST SARA

I will send this to everybody I know our Congressmen need an ear full from everyone.

And I PRAY everybody else does the same.

This travesty should not go without some answers? How could this possibly Happen!

[bamagirl]

Oh my God!!! Is that how they show respect?!?!

[Brisco]

Oh my God!!! Is that how they show respect?!?!

I hear ya I'am so ANGY I'am ShAkInG this just makes me SICK to my Stomach! WHAT THE @#%$^&*(*^%&$R$%@%

[uncirculd]

Them ungrateful pigs.

This is how they treat the remains of our "volunteer" soldiers....our very own friends, brothers, sisters, uncles, fathers, mothers, aunts, nieces, nephews, boyfriends, girlfriends, ...that lay their lives on the line to give us and them (fed gov) the freedoms that they do not deserve. my God, this does not make them any better than strapping the bomb on themselves. they say that they can and will do better, but it took till 2008 to figure this out. how insensitive, and immoral of them. they never cease to amaze me. everyone out there has one of the above listed they know have served and gave all. omg, there are no words explicit enough to describe this animistic catastrophe. makes you wonder about our fallen in 911.

[bamagirl]

I just honestly can't believe this...what parent wants their children to end up in a landfill?!? My oldest son has considered joining one of the armed forces upon graduation so he can serve his country and gain an education, if he does decide to do this, this article will always be in my head.....I agree Brisco, sickening.

[Markinsa]

It does not appear that entire bodies were burned and dumped. The arms that were cut off is not acceptable, however the remainder of what was burned is probably what was left over from surgery, burned flesh, internal organs, such as intestines, hearts, livers etc, these are the parts I believe they are talking about.

-

[olescule24]

That was a shameful practice and very disheartening, being a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and a friend of the NCOIC of the Marine detachment responsible for escorting the fallen troops from Dover to Arlington National cemetery I know they carry out their duties with the utmost reverence and respect for all returning service members. I take heart that they have taken the measures necessary to eliminate this practice and my heart goes out to the families of those who's remains were mishandled. Hate to point a finger at anyone, not knowing all the facts, but anyone ever serving in uniform ( whether they are active still or a defense contractor) would never dishonor a fellow service-menber in any way.

JMH(umble)O

Terry P.

[Papster]

It does not appear that entire bodies were burned and dumped. The arms that were cut off is not acceptable, however the remainder of what was burned is probably what was left over from surgery, burned flesh, internal organs, such as intestines, hearts, livers etc, these are the parts I believe they are talking about.

-

no disrespect.........but it does not matter what part of the body.........as usual our gov at work.......this saddens me.........my heart goes out to all the families that have lost love ones that have served our country..........GOD BLESS

[Markinsa]

Again, I think this article is trying to inflame people, the writer is often leaning towards the left, if you look at the other articles he has written. There were only "4" servicemen identified who had their remains handled inappropriately. The majority of what was cremated was, more than likely, the remains of living servicemen. What were they supposed to do, ask the guy who got his legs blown off if he wanted to keep them?

-

[caughtinthecrossfire]

Again, I think this article is trying to inflame people, the writer is often leaning towards the left, if you look at the other articles he has written. There were only "4" servicemen identified who had their remains handled inappropriately. The majority of what was cremated was, more than likely, the remains of living servicemen. What were they supposed to do, ask the guy who got his legs blown off if he wanted to keep them?

-

Well said, Markinsa. As much as the post initially had me a bit red...we sadly have to read between the lines with U.S. journalism even more so than Iraqi journalism.

I know of few afairs the military mishandled from the Gulf War. It had to do with the soldiers experiencing complications from what was coined "soldiers syndrome". Those who attempted to repress the facts around certain medical aspects of this fairly large group of soldiers were eventually fleshed out. Truly, it was not as much a conspiracy as it was first thought to be. In any case, when the burden of proof was brought forth, there was restitution for many families. Not surprisingly, some families chose not to accept restitution simply due to a patriotic heart, however, they were absolutely committed to bringing the truth to light.

Due process, I hope, will do even as much with the service and family members represented in the article above. As far as the sensationalized journalism goes...I hope the "gains" from pushing un-truths are quickly lost.

[Rdy_Stdy_GO]

Again, I think this article is trying to inflame people, the writer is often leaning towards the left, if you look at the other articles he has written. There were only "4" servicemen identified who had their remains handled inappropriately. The majority of what was cremated was, more than likely, the remains of living servicemen. What were they supposed to do, ask the guy who got his legs blown off if he wanted to keep them?

-

Markinsa... I completely respect your post almost all of the time... I put it close to 100%. But my friend you are way of the mark on this... To state only "4" is "4" to many left, right or dead on center.

The writer of the original text should try to inflame this topic. The "waste" you note here, organs, burned tissue, etc... is supposed to be cared for in a certain manner and was not. It is reasonable to dispose of it in a manner befitting its substance. However... it was not! we are not talking about criminals or the less fortunate or what ever else you would like to term it we are talking about this nations fallen soldiers!! I served in the Navy and the Army... My son will enter the Navy in January... My parents would be mortified, mortally and emotionally wounded as would I at the impropriety that exists here.

There are checks and balances for this and they were not followed...

Respectfully I strongly disagree with what you've said and the implied intent behind it...

[a1911handler]

This article was posted in the wrong forum.

[Jmcc]

I may get burned for this, but I worked in a funeral home in the late 60's while I was going to college and I can tell you from experience that this type of stuff has been going on long before this article. You can only do so much for a corpse. I have been through autopsies and a lot of difficult situations, and, yes, some of the body parts are disposed of in a way you may not like. Goes on right now in any mortuary in any city and has been going on for some time. I can tell you how people are embalmed and what goes through the process. I totally respect those troops, been there done that type, but I am certain that the article was meant to inflame. If you have the stomach for it, make sure you are there when your loved one passes. Go through the whole process. Start to finish.

[vvalley]

Again, I think this article is trying to inflame people, the writer is often leaning towards the left, if you look at the other articles he has written. There were only "4" servicemen identified who had their remains handled inappropriately. The majority of what was cremated was, more than likely, the remains of living servicemen. What were they supposed to do, ask the guy who got his legs blown off if he wanted to keep them?

-

I'm sorry, but I feel this post is in very bad taste. I think we can choose our words with much more diplomacy than this when referring to a

sensitive subject as this one is!!!!

[vvalley]

I may get burned for this, but I worked in a funeral home in the late 60's while I was going to college and I can tell you from experience that this type of stuff has been going on long before this article. You can only do so much for a corpse. I have been through autopsies and a lot of difficult situations, and, yes, some of the body parts are disposed of in a way you may not like. Goes on right now in any mortuary in any city and has been going on for some time. I can tell you how people are embalmed and what goes through the process. I totally respect those troops, been there done that type, but I am certain that the article was meant to inflame. If you have the stomach for it, make sure you are there when your loved one passes. Go through the whole process. Start to finish.

I gave you a neg because I think this post is disturbing. I am a funeral director and embalmer and have been one for years. NEVER should excuses

be made for mishandeling Human Remains (NOT corpse) as you put it.

[Dah-kota]

I hear ya I'am so ANGY I'am ShAkInG this just makes me SICK to my Stomach! WHAT THE @#%$^&*(*^%&$R$%@%

Oh! I agree with with ya Brisco, 100% ...Ughhhhhh

[uncirculd]

so if it was to pi$$ ppl off, well it succeeded, maybe we can close it and keep it to our selves and pray for those poor souls and to be fair, the autopsy is brutal and i don't think i want to stay for the procedure...the coroner and/or medical examiner would not be able to do their job for my numerous interruptions...this thread is not in good taste and prays on folks emotions...not cool. it did on mine.