How families learn of military deaths in Iraq

[ikojo]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/11/28/sprj.irq.dreaded.visit.ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Catherine Perusse remembers the chilling call she and husband Ted got one recent Tuesday. The military phoned to tell them their son, Robert T. Benson, of Spokane, Washington, had been badly wounded in Iraq and transferred to a hospital in Kuwait. Surgery had gone "as planned."

That's the last thing the family heard until 20 hours later when they were told he was dead.

[pistoff democrat]

1. I keep hearing these telephone

stories on the news.

Does anyone remember a book called "Friendly Fire"? It was about the Vietnam war. Don't want to get into all that here, but what reminds me of it is how people always got a visit. Obviously, you don't want a visit, but isn't it better than a phone call? Jeez.

They had a car, an officer, a regular soldier/sailor etc. and sometimes a chaplain drive up and talk to the family.

There were a lot more deaths then, so what is this telephone crap? Does it have something to do with W not going to the funerals?

Ok, I'm getting pistoff again!!!

[Myra]

4. Bush Inc can't divert funds

From where they want it to where it's needed.

[pistoff democrat]

5. Ah, yes: priorities!

:nuke:

[rfranklin]

7. Next it will be recorded telephone calls...

like the worst telemarketers are using.

"Push one to hear the location at which your son's body will be delivered....For delivery to a location of your choice, a two-day air charge will be deducted from your survivor benefits....For a casket instead of a body bag, there is an additional charge...."

[Myra]

9. OH man! Excellent post rfranklin.

"...additional charge..."

[CO Liberal]

10. Or The Calls Will Originate in India or Pakistan

Using those call centers to save on labor.......

[Myra]

11. Oh god!

The recorded message will be in a strong Indian accent.
Outsourcing one of the few bumper crops in 'Merka today:
notifications to hapless survivors of dead young soldiers.
Perfect...

[DeathvadeR]

12. Hello!!!! And welcome to soldier phone.........

Press #1 if you would like to know if your son is still alive
Press #2 if ..........

[Myra]

15. Ow ow ow...

It only hurts when I laugh.
But...

[Aidoneus]

17. after that, by reading it in the newspaper a few days later

:eyes:

[yankeedem]

23. body bag?

TRANSFER TUBE. Get with the program. Body bag is so.... Vietnam.

[RamboLiberal]

20. They didn't get a visit in the early days of the Vietnam war

I don't know when the notification in person started, but in 64 they were still delivering death notices in telegrams brought by taxi cabs. That was in the Col. Hal Moore/Joseph Galloway book "We Were Soldiers" telling how the wives on the base began to dread the appearance of the taxi.

[BlueMole]

2. What a disgrace

It seems our soldiers are only good for window dressing at KKKarl's photo ops. I feel badly for their families.

[Cha]

3. That's so sad! Can we all just imagine.. the

Grief would be unbearable.

[Lars39]

6. Was Robert T. Benson listed as dead in the official count?

Does anyone have the link for the list of names? I bet he's not on the official list, since he died 20+ hours after surgery. :grr:

[pistoff democrat]

8. I don't find him...

Great Site:

http://www.antiwar.com/ewens/casualties.html

Casualty List Sub-Site of the Above:

http://antiwar.com/ewens/list.html

[jmatthan]

13. He is listed as below on the list page of the site

"Spc. Robert T. Benson, 20, of Spokane, Wash., died on Nov. 4, in Baghdad, Iraq. Benson died from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Benson was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Smith Barracks, Germany."

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. Yeah, but does the Pentagon count him?

[pistoff democrat]

19. Good point!

I bet my FBI file is big enough w/o rummaging around Pentagon.War ... ya' wanna? :hi:

[pistoff democrat]

18. Thanks.

I'll provide the links; you provide the intelligence. :silly:

[Cooley Hurd]

21. Since he died from a "non-hostile" gunshot wound...

...which could imply it was a suicide, it's possible the Pentagon alters its notification process when the death is self-inflicted. Which in itself is fucked up...

[gate of the sun]

14. really terrible

I can't imagine..I just went through my husband having a brain tumor and to imagine not knowing anything for 20 hours is just horrible. these poor people. My heart goes out to them

[goforit]

22. Heartless GOP!!!......May they be treated the same some day.

Use them then they walk away.