When they bring back dead soldiers?

Question

in large cargo planes, are the planes carrying other cargo or wounded military personel, or are they being used expressly for the transport of the dead soldier and his/her escort?
If the latter is the case, it seems like a waste of transport, time and manpower.
Make no mistake, North America is at war in the Middle East and those planes must surely have some purpose other than just performing hearse duties.
During the first and second world wars, the dead were laid to rest in the country where they fell.
Today's soldiers deserve nothing more than those of previous wars, they gave nothing more, they showed no more heroism.

Anyone who selectively quotes what I've said is an idiot and that includes, but is not limited to, p_l_gray and Marc X.
What I said was,
"Today's soldiers deserve nothing more than those of previous wars, they gave nothing more, they showed no more heroism."

Flander's fields are full of dead soldiers who never came home.

Answer 1

Flanders is in a predominantly Christian country, surrounded by people who are thankful for the liberation of their country from invading Germans, they look after the graveyards, also it was not practicle to bring the dead home during WW1 & WW2, as refrigeration ships would have been required, and they were in small supply and being used to bring vital food supplies to the Allied cause.

If you leave American and Allied dead buried in a Muslim country, the locals would desecrate them, use them as the biggest communal toilet and smash the markers (and this has been observed before with regards WW1 & WW2 graves in non-christian countries) such as Iraq, Libia, Tunisia.

I believe our dead, deserve the respect of being returned home to their country, it also provides a closure mentaly for the family of the dead, to know where and what condition their family member is laid to rest.

Answer 2

DoD is not "wasting space" on cargo flights, so you need not worry.

If we had the same cargo flight capability in World War II, we'd have provided the same respectful transportation then. Progress has allowed us to treat today's fallen personnel with the respect that we weren't able to extend 60 years ago.

The deceased are flown back on the same planes as other cargo or personnel. Their remains are treated with due respect, and are removed with appropriate ceremony upon arrival. Anyone who has honorably worn the uniform understands the importance of this, and takes pride in paying that respect.

You're right in that the sacrifices of today's killed-in-action do not exceed those of yesterday's. Each gave their all, their lives in the service of our country. Today, we're just in a better position to treat that sacrifice with the respect it deserves.

You're in the same position to pay respect as the civilians of the 1940's, however. A simple thank you to the fallen would do nicely.

Master Sergeant, United States Air Force (Retired)

Answer 3

Times have moved on since the 2nd world war; Spare a thought for the poor families who must face the prospect of their dearly beloved returning home in a body-bag. No matter about the rights & wrongs of war, the least our Government can give those families is the right to give their sons & daughters - a decent and proper send-off.

Answer 4

Your original premise is wrong.

In all foreign wars, every attempt is mode to bring the soldiers body home for burial. It's only under extreme circumstances that soldiers are buried on foreign soil.

When a soldiers is buried on foreign soil, after the conflict every attempt will be made by the Department of Defense, at the request of the family to retrieve the body.

To answer your original question. Bodies are shipped on aircraft of opportunity with typically other missions. So we are not wasting your tax dollars on soldiers who in your opinion "deserve nothing more" for the sacrifice giving for you to remain free. Enjoy your freedom.

By the way.... people like you make me sick. Just an opinion.

Answer 5

So, what your saying is if your father or brother were over in Iraq right now and were shot in the face and died, you would want them to get buried over there? Neither do the families of the BRAVE soldiers risking their lives for you to voice your opinion about things that don't concern you. Why are civilians so concerned about the gory details of war, its always "did you get blown up?""Did you kill anyone?", Why do you want to know these things? What is the differance if they were or not? Are they less of a soldier if they didn't?

Answer 6

Since the people who fly these planes obviously do not have a problem with what they carry I don't think I do either.

I assume though that caskets are in a separate compartment and cargo is the main load.

Answer 7

Really? And what is the source of your information about those who died in WWII? The reason I ask is that we just had a mission last week in Dallas to accompany the remains of two soldiers killed in the Normandy invasion.

Many soldiers were brought back from Korea and Vietnam to be buried in the U.S.

Since you didn't ask a simple question, but deemed it necessary to include a personal presumption that today's soldiers deserve nothing, I'm not going to bother answering your question.

But I will present my own observation in response. Why is it that people who think that the President is heartless and unfeeling toward our troops are the same people who express heartless and unfeeling judgements about those same troops?

Answer 8

Technology has upgraded. I'm sure we can probably ship the dead for a lot cheaper than they did back during the World Wars.

Answer 9

well guess what that was back then they died so you could be free and here you are blabbing your mouth around you should try joining and see if you last.
and that doesn't matter they took the risk of dieing and they went to war pround,scared,confident

Answer 10

Have some sympathy dude, They are human beings with family and friends. Go drown yourself in the toilet