Wow, thanks Air Force

[djsimp]

http://news.yahoo.com/far-more-troops-ashes-landfill-acknowledged-005000554.html

Remains of 274 Soldiers Dumped in Virginia Landfill

The US Air Force dumped the cremated, partial remains of at least 274 troops in a landfill before halting the secretive practice in 2008, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

The procedure was never formally authorized or disclosed to senior Pentagon officials, who conducted a review of the cremation policies of Dover Air Base -- the main point of entry for US war dead -- in 2008, the Post said.

Nor was the dumping ever disclosed to the families of the fallen troops, who had authorized the military to dispose of the remains in a respectful and dignified manner, the Post said, citing Air Force officials.

The newspaper quoted officials as saying that a precise count of the remains disposed of at a Virginia landfill would require searching through the records of 6,300 troops whose remains have passed through Dover since 2001.

An additional group of 1,762 remains -- which could not undergo DNA testing because they were badly damaged or burned -- were also disposed of in this manner, the Post said, citing the Air Force.

Defense officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Last month investigators said they had found "gross mismanagement" at the US Air Force mortuary, with body parts lost and remains mishandled.

After allegations from whistle-blowers, an Air Force probe found that two "portions of the remains" of fallen troops had been lost and uncovered other problems at the morgue.

New procedures have been put in place at the mortuary and the commander at the morgue, a colonel, together with two civilian officials were disciplined over the episode but not sacked.

The Dover affair echoes a scandal that erupted last year at Arlington National Cemetery, the country's hallowed ground for war dead. Investigators there uncovered cases of misidentified remains and mismanagement.

[CCTAU]

The families did give permission.

I guess respect and dignity can be defined differently for some.

[djsimp]

The families did give permission.

I guess respect and dignity can be defined differently for some.

It just seems like a horrible act to me.

[CCTAU]

It just seems like a horrible act to me.

I must be numb to things these days. The bodies were already cremated and not claimed. I don't think they should have thrown them in a landfill, but what do you do with ashes? Did they have a service for each soldier? Were their memories respected at that service?

On the surface it sounds horrible, but no one was there to claim the ashes. Would it have been better if they just washed them quietly down the drain?

I'm not saying I condone it and I would not have chosen to do this, but what were the other options?

[dallaswareagle]

I must be numb to things these days. The bodies were already cremated and not claimed. I don't think they should have thrown them in a landfill, but what do you do with ashes? Did they have a service for each soldier? Were their memories respected at that service?

On the surface it sounds horrible, but no one was there to claim the ashes. Would it have been better if they just washed them quietly down the drain?

I'm not saying I condone it and I would not have chosen to do this, but what were the other options?

How about an umarked grave in Arlington? 

[djsimp]

How about an umarked grave in Arlington?

Thats kind of what I was thinking. Hell anything is better than a landfill.

[Snaggletiger]

Cremate my fat ass and spread my ashes in the gulf of Mexico.

These 3 fagolas were sitting around after attending the funeral of their long time friend, remembering the gay times with him.  He had been cremated and his ashes divided among the three of them.  One said, "I'm going to take his ashes up to the mountains and throw them to the wind because that's where we met and started our relationship."

The next said, "Well, I'm going to the beach and rent a boat and I'll spread his ashes in the water because our first weekend together was on a tropical island."

The third said, "I'm going to go home and cook a pot of the hottest, spiciest chili I can make and I'm going to pour his ashes in there and have a bowl."

Why would you do that?

"Because on our first weekend together, he tore my ass up."

[CCTAU]

How about an umarked grave in Arlington?

But do they not have an grave marked somewhere? I did not see where they weren't given a ceremony or anything. Just that the ashes were dumped. I would like more info on how their lives were honored rather than how their ashes were treated.

I still don't agree  what they did, but I'm not gonna act like this is a bigger deal than taking care of the soldiers and vets that are still alive.

[djsimp]

I still don't agree  what they did, but I'm not gonna act like this is a bigger deal than taking care of the soldiers and vets that are still alive.

Can't argue with that.