[JoeGar]

Soldiers die in every war in ways that shouldn’t happen, they die in accidents, they shoot themselves, they get sick, they get run over, they fall out of helicopters. In earlier less bureaucratic wars their deaths might be reported by their buddies as killed-in-action, the family gets a posthumous medal, no need to put too fine a point on it.

So true. I know of one death because a trooper stood up in his fighting hole to take a photo of close air support; it killed him. I know of two who died in a combat zone because of drunkeness. I seriously doubt that their families were ever told the truth.

[Zhang Fei]

So true. I know of one death because a trooper stood up in his fighting hole to take a photo of close air support; it killed him. I know of two who died in a combat zone because of drunkeness. I seriously doubt that their families were ever told the truth.

I think the white lie is so necessary in cases like this. You and everyone you know thinks your son died going up against the enemy, and everyone appreciates it. I can't believe that this doesn't help in the recovery process. But learning that it was all a mistake - that's got to be devastating. It's enough that our soldiers die in battle - it's not necessary to drive their loved ones to early graves.