Most families OK media at return of fallen soldiers

Most families OK media at return of fallen soldiers

DOVER, Del. (AP) — In the weeks since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning to the U.S., most families given the option have allowed reporters and photographers to witness the solemn ceremonies that mark the arrival of flag-draped transfer cases.

Critics had warned that military families needed privacy and that peace activists might exploit the images, but so far the coverage has not caused problems.

Air Force Tech Sgt. Phillip A. Myers, 30, of Hopewell, Va., who died April 4 in Afghanistan, was the first combat casualty whose return to American soil was witnessed by the news media. He was buried with full military honors Monday afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery, where Defense Secretary Robert Gates joined representatives from all branches of the military in paying their respects.

Air Force civil engineer Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, who traveled to Dover Air Force Base earlier this month for the return of Myers’ body, also attended the ceremony at Arlington, where he presented U.S. flags to Myers’ widow, Aimee, his two children and his parents.

With permission from Aimee Myers, the military opened the Dover base earlier this month so reporters and photographers could chronicle the return of her husband’s body. The mortuary there is the entry point for service members killed overseas.

The ban on media coverage dated back to 1991, when President George H.W. Bush imposed it during the Persian Gulf War. It was cast as a way to protect the privacy of grieving families, but critics argued that officials were trying to hide the human and political cost of war.

“I think it was to protect the government’s butt,” said David Pautsch, who allowed the media to witness the return of his son Jason, an Army corporal from Davenport, Iowa, who was killed with four other soldiers in a bombing in Iraq.

He said the ban was more about minimizing the political impact of Americans dying overseas.

Since the ban was lifted, 19 families have been asked whether they wanted media coverage of their loved one’s return, and 14 have said yes.

Media interest has fallen off sharply since almost 40 reporters, photographers and camera operators turned out to document the arrival of Myers’ body. At a more recent casualty arrival, the only media representative was a lone photographer from The Associated Press.

Even if no one from the media shows up, the Department of Defense films each casualty arrival for which consent is given and presents a recording to the family.