USAF disposed soldiers' ashes in garbage dump

[Bugfatty300]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57339029/274-soldiers-ashes-dumped-in-va-landfill/

The Air Force dumped the incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops in a Virginia landfill, far more than the military had acknowledged, before halting the secretive practice three years ago, records show.

The landfill dumping was concealed from families who had authorized the military to dispose of the remains in a dignified and respectful manner, Air Force officials said. There are no plans, they said, to alert those families now.

Of all the places that the military could dispose of the ashes of soldiers, a landfill would be at the bottom of the list, or so I imagined. Even Bin Laden's remains were disposed of in a more dignified manner.

 

[Maniacal]

This seems like more effort than giving the remains to the families or spreading the ashes in a garden or something.

 

[Traitorfish]

Another example of a military treating its servicepeople as below contempt? Can't say I'm as surprised as I would like to be.

 

[Silurian]

As a non American I would assume that the remains of body parts of soldiers cremated in Dover Air Base in Delaware would be taken to Arlington, maybe in batches and spread together in some small ceremony.

 

[emzie]

Why is anyone surprised? Of course Obama would allow something like this. The Failure in Chief has absolutely no respect for the military and loves America's enemies.

 

[GoodGame]

I'm surprised they weren't scattered at Arlington somewhere. USAF practicing lowest bidder policy?

 

[Godwynn]

We only support our troops when they're alive.

 

[innonimatu]

Of all the places that the military could dispose of the ashes of soldiers, a landfill would be at the bottom of the list, or so I imagined. Even Bin Laden's remains were disposed of in a more dignified manner.

But Bin Laden was important. Soldiers are... disposable for the military. Everyone is, unless it creates a PR stink, like in this case.

 

[Crezth]

Why is anyone surprised? Of course Obama would allow something like this. The Failure in Chief has absolutely no respect for the military and loves America's enemies.

Pretty sure this has been going on since '06.

\/\/\/ o.

 

[KMRblue1027]

Pretty sure this has been going on since '06.

He's being sarcastic

 

[JollyRoger]

Just shows how lowly even government employees value dead government employees.

 

[warpus]

Is anybody going to lose their job over this? (The answer is no, right)

 

[CaptainF]

This is why I laugh whenever some militaristic meathead goes off about how the military is a great career choice.

Enjoy being a disposable commodity, all ye soldiers.

 

[NetGear]

forget veterans, this is not acceptable period. Even some capital offenders get better treatment than this.

It just seems stupidity and not deliberate cover up in some cost lowering conspiracy. and believe me, there's so many of them in there. I mean, it probably would cost more to keep this thing down low and fight PR than actually see this done properly.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Maybe since the ashes and fragments were "leftovers" it wasn't seen as a big deal.

I wonder where body parts from hospitals ultimately end up.

 

[Rulle_Kebab]

I find this utterly disgracefull...
It might be that I am totally against whatever the military does or whatever. But this is a bit nasty I'd say!
More for the relatives than for the dude/dudess who died!

 

[Sveon]

There's going to be a choir and a marching band when GWB and Rumsfeld are buried and that's what matters, isn't it?

 

[Bugfatty300]

I find this utterly disgracefull...
It might be that I am totally against whatever the military does or whatever. But this is a bit nasty I'd say!
More for the relatives than for the dude/dudess who died!

Indeed. This hurts the families more than anything else. It's made worse by the fact that they are not going to tell the specific families. I guess they think that's the best thing to do. But now that it's on the news how can any family who entrusted the military with their relative's remain not think that he/she (or at least a part of them) is resting in a garbage pile with used condoms and Burger King wrappers.

 

[aelf]

The fact that people are complaining about this just confirms that they are part of the entitlement generation. Don't like it? Pay for their burial yourself

 

[Skwink]

Is anybody going to lose their job over this? (The answer is no, right)

But could it hurt Obama politicly?