[Old Professer]

He wanted to get home for Christmas, not his funeral.

[Darksheare]

Yes.
But there's other things going on here that you seem to have missed.
I'll let you catch up first.

Some background: The Times Herald Record is known to be against the military and rather pro-liberal/anti-American.
If it's negative news about the military, they'll try to make it a full page article.

[Kaslin]

For an update see this

Lawmakers help wounded soldier get home after dispute with Army