This weekend we in the UK have been remembering those who fought and died in the Falklands conflit 25 years ago. Generally we bury the fallen near the battle ground, from what I see in films and on TV you always seem to bring your dead back to America. Is this true or not and what do you think of leaving the dead where they died?
2007-06-17 08:27:57 · 10 answers · asked by Jim 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The American war dead are honored as best as the situation allows. Viet Nam was not the first effort to try to return all possible remains back home, but it was a big increase of the efforts made in the Korean war. You know there are acres and acres of France, North Africa, and other European places that are filled with US service person's remains. When all efforts are required to get men and munitions into a combat theater as in WW ll, returning the dead takes second place to the effort for the living, subsequent conflicts have not required the same out going effort.
2007-06-17 08:39:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it has not generally been the case except since WW II! There are thousands of Americans buried near places that were major battles in WW II in France. The Navy also buried most of theirs at sea!
I think leaving the dead, or abandoning them where they died, is not a great idea. It puts to much pressure on loved ones, many who cannot travel to visit the grave site. They should all be brought home! They died for America, the least we can do is make sure they come home!
2007-06-17 15:37:40 · answer #2 · answered by cantcu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In WW1 and II we did bury some fallen Americans in Europe. But since WW II it has been our policy to bring the fallen back home. And to try to keep looking for the missing. I too hold great respect for the British victory in the Falklands. How we deal with our fallen I guess to how each country thinks is the appropriate thing to do.
2007-06-17 16:02:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are thousands of "Yanks" on various battle fields around the world (Normandy for example) It's fine for larger numbers of troops in places where you still have influences. But there is the bit that solders have families and those families most times would like to have their loved ones buried closer to home if possible. While it certainly would be more cost efficient to bury on the battlefield, one really can't put a price on having a loved ones remains close by.
2007-06-17 15:36:38 · answer #4 · answered by lordkelvin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since we are Americans, we want to return the bodies of our killed to their families. They can request a military funeral or they can request a funeral without military honors. It is the family that matters, though. Most American parents, wives, husbands, etc, want to know where the body of their loved one is laid to rest. It is true that during both world wars, Korea and Vietnam, there were those who were left because of battlefield action. I know that in Nam, soldiers went back to the scene of battles to try and find the bodies to be sent home, but it didn't always happen. When i was in Nam, the attitude was "we don't leave anyone behind, dead or alive"
2007-06-17 16:31:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am in the military and would prefer to be sent home for burial. It is almost sad to me to see the cemeteries in Normandy and the like because the families cannot easily visit the grave which drives my feeling on the matter. I would not want my family camping out at my grave, but would still want to be near them.
I think your tradition is fine for the U.K. and do not think anything bad about it. We just have different traditions.
I have worked with British troops and have enjoyed that very much. I love your country and its traditions, had a wonderful time in my too short visit last year.
2007-06-17 15:36:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes we do generally bring them home. Personally, I would hate to lose a loved one in a war and never get a chance to have a real funeral at home and have him/her buried near enough to visit on occation. So really bringing them back is for the loved ones.
2007-06-17 15:34:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
We prefer to bring them home. If it were up to me, we'd bring those home from Normandy, as the French have no gratitude for those who still honor their shores in securing their liberty.
God bless you and your Fallen on this weekend of your remembrance of a well faught battle. By all accounts, your men performed superbly.
2007-06-17 15:33:56 · answer #8 · answered by John T 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have to disagree with "Normandy and France". I have been to the memorial and the French have filled it with respect and honor.
2007-06-17 15:37:00 · answer #9 · answered by tttplttttt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We try to bring them back , whenever possible, we don't
believe in others desecrating our fallen Heroes.
2007-06-17 15:31:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋