Air Force Community - Air Force Times

2 sides to Dover debate

On Feb. 26, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the repeal of a policy dating to the 1991 Persian Gulf War that prohibited media coverage of flag-draped coffins of U.S. war casualties coming home to Dover Air Force Base, Del. The new policy leaves it up to individual families to decide if they will allow media coverage of the return of their loved ones’ remains. These writers speak of the change. Join the discussion at http://www.militarytimes.com/doverpolicy.

Revised policy reminds all of war’s presence

I read this article [“Honor for fallen heroes,” Feb. 23] and was puzzled. Why is there a question as to whether or not we should witness, acknowledge and, by doing so, honor our fallen heroes with press coverage?

This can be done respectfully, honorably, discreetly and anonymously. The press doesn’t need to know the names of the heroes being returned on any certain flight, unless the families wish that information be made public. Except for Dover Air Force Base personnel handling the flight manifest, and some within DoD, I doubt many others know the names. Having a family member who has worked that detail, I know the toll it takes on them.

I feel every flight should be met with live television coverage. These heroes deserve to be welcomed home with open arms — not closed eyes. Not witnessing the homecoming of these heroes has numbed the general public to the reality.

Reports in our newspapers of dead and wounded have been relegated to secondary news coverage. Full accounts of the arrivals and, with family permission, names and photos of the heroes should be on the front page of every newspaper in the United States or, at the very least, each military newspaper.

We read so much in Army Times that is never mentioned in civilian reporting. Maybe it’s time the general public is let in on this information.

Retired Army spouse Kathi Corathers

Norton, Ohio

My stepson, Marine Cpl. Matthew Wyatt, was killed near the Iraq-Jordan border on Dec. 3, 2004. My husband, retired Gunnery Sgt. Alan Wyatt, still on active duty at the time, traveled to Dover Air Force Base to escort Matt’s body home.

Thanks to the long-standing Defense Department policy, only recently repealed, no photos of Matt’s casket were taken at Dover. But guess what? He wasn’t the only casualty to arrive there that day. Had any photos been published by The Associated Press or by any newspapers, no one would have known which casket belonged to which fallen soldier, airman, sailor or Marine.

Look at the photo on Page 6 of the Feb. 23 issue [“Honor for fallen heroes,” Frontlines]. It shows several flag-draped caskets inside the belly of an Air Force aircraft. It powerfully conveys the image of the fallen heroes. However, it does not identify any of the casualties.

As a member of a Gold Star family, I fully support the reversal of the current policy. Allow photos of the flag-draped caskets to be shown on the TV news and in newspapers. Remind everyone that there are still casualties. Remind everyone that our armed forces are fighting for us every day.

Lauren Wyatt

Elkridge, Md.

Old policy protects families in time of stress

I am against, as is my wife, the press photographing service members’ remains as they arrive at Dover Air Force Base [Del.]. This is something that we have recently discussed, and I intend to address it when I redo my last will and testament.

I feel the press only wants the opportunity to politicize a family’s pain, which does nothing to honor our war dead.

The recovery of a service member’s remains from the battlefield and the forwarding on to his or her final resting place is a military operation, and Dover Air Force Base is a restricted area. The press is not required to record the event.

An alternative could be allowing the press to see the process using an empty transfer case. That way they see the honors that the services render the fallen. And those honors don’t just start at Dover — they start in theater with ramp ceremonies.

We honor our own. They are our family. We don’t need the press and their agenda to “say” they want the American people to honor our war dead.

I am not in favor of letting the families decide because it puts one more decision on the family of the fallen when they are in mourning.

Lt. Col. Rob Beidleman

Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

The policy prohibiting media from photographing the return of those service members who gave their lives overseas was a sound policy that should stay in place. It protects the individual who made the ultimate sacrifice and his or her family from becoming politicized.

I agree that it is an honorable display, for I have seen it in person — in honor of my own loved one. I was there at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on that very aircraft, as I escorted my beloved husband, Marine Capt. Nathanael J. Doring, home from Iraq, where we were both deployed at the time of his death. I rendered honors to my husband and Marine Cpl. Richard A. Bennett five times in the two days it took us to fly back to the country that we loved — and for which we were willing to give our lives.

However, I must disagree with the editorial [“Reverse Dover policy,” Opinion, Feb. 23]. Like many other wives and families who have endured such a tragic loss, I believe the policy should be left in place. I know I did not want to be photographed during those painful moments.

Nor would I have wanted to see those flag-draped cases on the news and have to wonder if my beloved Nate could be one of them.

The government should protect those of us going through our most difficult hour. The government owes us at least that much.

Marine Maj. Lisa M. Doring

Camp Pendleton, Calif.