Columnist George Will wrote in Sunday’s Las Vegas Sun about the military’s personal notification of the families of fallen Marines.
You don’t really read too much about the sometimes traumatic effect on the soldier selected for this duty. I hope no one interprets this letter as my even beginning to compare this sad duty to the tragic effect on the family.
Through the movies dramatizing World War II, we learned that the military notified the family by telegram, and that was largely true. During World War II, as a young, inexperienced 2nd lieutenant, I was selected to escort the body of a fallen soldier to the family. You can see how much more sensitive the military is today.
We learned from Mr. Will’s column that today the military uses a lieutenant colonel called a “casualty assistance calls officer” who must have some experience and training to carry out these duties of personal notification and the follow-up necessities.
One of the most vivid memories I have these many years later is the pain in the eyes of the soldier’s father during the few days of my associating with the family — a picture that brings a suggestion of tears to my eyes even as I write this.
Around the same time, I was given the duty of collecting the appropriate personal belongings of another fallen soldier and arranging to send them to the spouse or family with a letter. I had never met the poor lad. You would think the Army would have chosen a friend or acquaintance or that the squadron commander would have sent the letter with the personal belongings.
Nevertheless, this turned out to be more emotional for me than expected. The family subsequently came to visit me at the air base, desiring to see his last habitat, and we remained friends for several years, exchanging mail and visits.
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