Furor Over Soldier's Coffin Sent Home with Passenger Baggage - GoFuckYourself.com

ForteCash · 12-01-2006, 10:20 AM

Furor Over Soldier's Coffin Sent Home with Passenger Baggage
Some officials skeptical of mishandling report

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle | November 30, 2006
Joseph Spector

(November 30, 2006) ? A woman says she saw a soldier's flag-draped coffin put into a cart with passengers' baggage last month at the Greater Rochester International Airport, shocking her and other onlookers.

"It looked awful, just awful," Cynthia Hoag, 56, of Dansville, Livingston County, said Wednesday. "Maybe we made too much out of it, but it was very disturbing to us. If that had been my son, I would have been very upset."

Officials dispute Hoag's story, saying it is implausible. They did not disclose the name of the fallen soldier, but he appears to be Army Sgt. 1st Class Tony Knier of Sabinsville, Pa., who was killed in Iraq on Oct. 21.

A Pennsylvania funeral director confirmed on Wednesday night that he transported Knier's body from the Rochester airport on Oct. 27, the day Hoag was there. Monroe County officials said the coffin was being taken to Pennsylvania.

Knier's mother was appalled when she was told Wednesday night that the incident might have involved the body of her 31-year-old son, a husband and father of three young children. Knier's funeral was Oct. 31 near his home in Wellsboro, Pa.

"If that's what that lady saw, I'm outraged. I'm really upset, because my son died for this country. " said Betty Tidwell, who lives in Tennessee. "He gave all he had to this country. And for them to do that to him, that just upsets the hell out of me."

Hoag wrote an op-ed essay that was published Tuesday in the Democrat and Chronicle , describing what she says she saw.

Based on Hoag's account, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks called on the federal government Wednesday to change procedures to prevent a similar incident, saying what happened is an "outrage."

Hoag explained that as she waited at the airport with friends, she saw a soldier in uniform standing at attention near a commercial airplane as the luggage came off. She then saw a coffin draped with an American flag come down a luggage conveyor on the runway.

The coffin was put into a baggage cart with other luggage and driven off with the uniformed soldier in the cart.

"I saw the casket of a fallen soldier, saluted by a lone soldier, and then placed in a baggage cart," she wrote. "Baggage."

Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia Smith was unaware of the incident late Wednesday but said the witness' description doesn't correlate with military procedure.

Remains from a soldier killed in Iraq are taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, then usually flown to a soldier's home, she said. Military escorts accompany each flight, whether domestic or military. When the coffin reaches the home area, it is met by an honor guard of two people and then transported to a funeral home, she said.

"We do everything to ensure that proper respect is given to the fallen service members and their families," Smith said.

Airport officials said it's a problem that notification of the airport is not required when a soldier's coffin is en route. Airport Director David Damelio said he wasn't aware that the soldier's body had been transported through Rochester until Hoag's letter was published.

"We're not notified unless the military or the family chooses to notify us," he said, adding that the airport often makes special arrangements at the request of soldiers' families.

Yet Damelio said Hoag's story doesn't make sense and said the Defense Department has always shown great care with soldiers' coffins.

Procedurally, a coffin wouldn't come down a luggage belt with other baggage, he said.

Also, a baggage cart isn't large enough to fit a coffin and other luggage, he said.

"It couldn't happen. It's physically impossible," Damelio said.

He said the airport was unable to find video of the incident.

Nonetheless, the witness' description prompted Brooks to urge the Defense Department to change policies on the transportation of the coffins of dead soldiers.

"It is unfathomable to me that our federal government would allow a fallen military hero to be returned home in this manner, and then transport him along with someone's checked luggage," Brooks, a Republican, wrote in a terse letter to the Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England.

Brooks said the Defense Department should be required to notify an airport when the coffin of a fallen soldier is being transported so that proper arrangements are ensured.

"I am asking you to do whatever is necessary to end this abhorrent practice," Brooks wrote. "Our military personnel and our veterans deserve better."

stickyfingerz · 12-01-2006, 10:23 AM

Listen... I know this is your little pet project and all, but how bout headin over to democraticunderground.com and post your little articles there.

candyflip · 12-01-2006, 10:25 AM

Gotta love my hometown.

ForteCash · 12-01-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickyfingerz

Listen... I know this is your little pet project and all, but how bout headin over to democraticunderground.com and post your little articles there.

Is posting news worse than most of the dribble that takes up this forum?

Yes?

Ok.

Manowar · 12-01-2006, 10:27 AM

that's fucked up

LiveDose · 12-01-2006, 10:32 AM

Dead bodies get transported on planes all the time. They could have been a little more discreet though.

ForteCash · 12-01-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveDose

Dead bodies get transported on planes all the time. They could have been a little more discreet though.

I think a military plane would have been better. Or they could have propped up the body in first class.. I'm sure that would have worked out well.

stickyfingerz · 12-01-2006, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForteCash

Is posting news worse than most of the dribble that takes up this forum?

Yes?

Ok.

Sure news is fine, its the particular segment of news that you choose to post that is at issue.

bl4h · 12-01-2006, 10:40 AM

100% bs story

not true

ForteCash · 12-01-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickyfingerz

Sure news is fine, its the particular segment of news that you choose to post that is at issue.

True...

Maybe you can start posting the more conservative news. any sites you know of?

jacklaidlaw · 12-01-2006, 11:31 AM

how else the gonna transport the soldier you ain't gonna waste thousands for a private military plane to fly him home are you? There is nothing wrong with transporting the dead in this way

_Richard_ · 12-01-2006, 11:42 AM

first > Listen... I know this is your little pet project and all, but how bout headin over to democraticunderground.com and post your little articles there.

thats a pretty funky thing to say..

second > met by an honor guard of two people

I can see it's very important..

It seems unreal that someone would make it up, then write an essay.

R

Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE · 12-01-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacklaidlaw

how else the gonna transport the soldier you ain't gonna waste thousands for a private military plane to fly him home are you? There is nothing wrong with transporting the dead in this way

no offense to you or anything bro, but if my uncle died (hes over in iraq) the last thing me and my family will want is him put in a luggage carrier with other peoples shit... i expect my uncle who fought in the war and died for this country to have alittle respect given to him and flown in a military plane, with protection to his home town... its the least they can do

ElvisManson · 12-01-2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForteCash

True...

Maybe you can start posting the more conservative news. any sites you know of?

post that stuff at GLP.

ForteCash · 12-01-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElvisManson

post that stuff at GLP.

GLP?

Global Latin Press?

uno · 12-01-2006, 01:16 PM

Am I the only one who doesn't think its a big deal even if its true?

Sly · 12-01-2006, 01:21 PM

This is actually old news and its true.

A family pretty much went crazy about it, understandably so, and brought it to the attention of several politicians. Bush placed some new policy stating all coffins will now be given proper transportation via military aircraft if I recall correctly. This all has became policy since that incident.

I'm curious as to why your article doesn't state that.

Lazonby · 12-01-2006, 01:25 PM

Idiot......

directfiesta · 12-01-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickyfingerz

Sure news is fine, its the particular segment of news that you choose to post that is at issue.

Maybe, but in general, news are catchy if they are of negative content.

Which of the following is news :

- Sunshine and calm waters gives surfers a nice safe day

or

- Tidal wave and electrical storm fries surfers to a crisp

Let me know...

On the other hand, nothing stops you from posting about the great things that your leader and his team are doing... such as the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the upcomming war in North Korea, the upcomming war in Iran .... the trade surplus, the budgetary surplus....

get the idea ????

Sly · 12-01-2006, 01:29 PM

Hmm... I can't find the article now. Read it a few weeks ago though.

ForteCash · 12-01-2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by directfiesta

Maybe, but in general, news are catchy if they are of negative content.

Which of the following is news :

- Sunshine and calm waters gives surfers a nice safe day

or

- Tidal wave and electrical storm fries surfers to a crisp

Let me know...

On the other hand, nothing stops you from posting about the great things that your leader and his team are doing... such as the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the upcomming war in North Korea, the upcomming war in Iran .... the trade surplus, the budgetary surplus....

get the idea ????

ElvisManson · 12-01-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForteCash

GLP?

Global Latin Press?

god like productions

it is where the most hardcore wingnuts hang out online.

ForteCash · 12-01-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElvisManson

god like productions

it is where the most hardcore wingnuts hang out online.

cool!

12-01-2006, 10:20 AM	#1
ForteCash Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 3,278	Furor Over Soldier's Coffin Sent Home with Passenger Baggage Furor Over Soldier's Coffin Sent Home with Passenger Baggage Some officials skeptical of mishandling report Rochester Democrat & Chronicle \| November 30, 2006 Joseph Spector (November 30, 2006) ? A woman says she saw a soldier's flag-draped coffin put into a cart with passengers' baggage last month at the Greater Rochester International Airport, shocking her and other onlookers. "It looked awful, just awful," Cynthia Hoag, 56, of Dansville, Livingston County, said Wednesday. "Maybe we made too much out of it, but it was very disturbing to us. If that had been my son, I would have been very upset." Officials dispute Hoag's story, saying it is implausible. They did not disclose the name of the fallen soldier, but he appears to be Army Sgt. 1st Class Tony Knier of Sabinsville, Pa., who was killed in Iraq on Oct. 21. A Pennsylvania funeral director confirmed on Wednesday night that he transported Knier's body from the Rochester airport on Oct. 27, the day Hoag was there. Monroe County officials said the coffin was being taken to Pennsylvania. Knier's mother was appalled when she was told Wednesday night that the incident might have involved the body of her 31-year-old son, a husband and father of three young children. Knier's funeral was Oct. 31 near his home in Wellsboro, Pa. "If that's what that lady saw, I'm outraged. I'm really upset, because my son died for this country. " said Betty Tidwell, who lives in Tennessee. "He gave all he had to this country. And for them to do that to him, that just upsets the hell out of me." Hoag wrote an op-ed essay that was published Tuesday in the Democrat and Chronicle , describing what she says she saw. Based on Hoag's account, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks called on the federal government Wednesday to change procedures to prevent a similar incident, saying what happened is an "outrage." Hoag explained that as she waited at the airport with friends, she saw a soldier in uniform standing at attention near a commercial airplane as the luggage came off. She then saw a coffin draped with an American flag come down a luggage conveyor on the runway. The coffin was put into a baggage cart with other luggage and driven off with the uniformed soldier in the cart. "I saw the casket of a fallen soldier, saluted by a lone soldier, and then placed in a baggage cart," she wrote. "Baggage." Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia Smith was unaware of the incident late Wednesday but said the witness' description doesn't correlate with military procedure. Remains from a soldier killed in Iraq are taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, then usually flown to a soldier's home, she said. Military escorts accompany each flight, whether domestic or military. When the coffin reaches the home area, it is met by an honor guard of two people and then transported to a funeral home, she said. "We do everything to ensure that proper respect is given to the fallen service members and their families," Smith said. Airport officials said it's a problem that notification of the airport is not required when a soldier's coffin is en route. Airport Director David Damelio said he wasn't aware that the soldier's body had been transported through Rochester until Hoag's letter was published. "We're not notified unless the military or the family chooses to notify us," he said, adding that the airport often makes special arrangements at the request of soldiers' families. Yet Damelio said Hoag's story doesn't make sense and said the Defense Department has always shown great care with soldiers' coffins. Procedurally, a coffin wouldn't come down a luggage belt with other baggage, he said. Also, a baggage cart isn't large enough to fit a coffin and other luggage, he said. "It couldn't happen. It's physically impossible," Damelio said. He said the airport was unable to find video of the incident. Nonetheless, the witness' description prompted Brooks to urge the Defense Department to change policies on the transportation of the coffins of dead soldiers. "It is unfathomable to me that our federal government would allow a fallen military hero to be returned home in this manner, and then transport him along with someone's checked luggage," Brooks, a Republican, wrote in a terse letter to the Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. Brooks said the Defense Department should be required to notify an airport when the coffin of a fallen soldier is being transported so that proper arrangements are ensured. "I am asking you to do whatever is necessary to end this abhorrent practice," Brooks wrote. "Our military personnel and our veterans deserve better." __________________ NO PILLS - NO EXPENSIVE STRETCHERS - JUST REAL EXERCISES THAT WORK! "Upsell Your Members The Top Penis Enlargement Site!" Link Exchanges & Traffic Trades www.penilefitness.com/links/ ICQ: 63935693 $50 per trial with www.ForteCash.com

12-01-2006, 10:25 AM	#3
candyflip Carpe Visio Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New York Posts: 43,064	Gotta love my hometown. __________________ Spend you some brain. Email Me

12-01-2006, 10:32 AM	#6
LiveDose Show Yer Tits! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere Out there... Posts: 25,792	Dead bodies get transported on planes all the time. They could have been a little more discreet though. __________________ Scammer Alert: acer19 acer [email protected] [email protected] Money stolen using PayPal

12-01-2006, 11:31 AM	#11
jacklaidlaw Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 728	how else the gonna transport the soldier you ain't gonna waste thousands for a private military plane to fly him home are you? There is nothing wrong with transporting the dead in this way __________________

12-01-2006, 01:16 PM	#16
uno RIP Dodger. BEST.CAT.EVER Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Area Posts: 18,450	Am I the only one who doesn't think its a big deal even if its true? __________________ -uno icq: 111-914 CrazyBabe.com - porn art MojoHost - For all your hosting needs, present and future. Tell them I sent ya!

12-01-2006, 10:23 AM	#2
stickyfingerz Doin fine Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 24,983	Listen... I know this is your little pet project and all, but how bout headin over to democraticunderground.com and post your little articles there.

12-01-2006, 10:27 AM	#5
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	that's fucked up

12-01-2006, 10:40 AM	#9
bl4h Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 1,282	100% bs story not true

12-01-2006, 11:42 AM	#12
_Richard_ Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 30,989	first > Listen... I know this is your little pet project and all, but how bout headin over to democraticunderground.com and post your little articles there. thats a pretty funky thing to say.. second > met by an honor guard of two people I can see it's very important.. It seems unreal that someone would make it up, then write an essay. R

12-01-2006, 01:21 PM	#17
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,329	This is actually old news and its true. A family pretty much went crazy about it, understandably so, and brought it to the attention of several politicians. Bush placed some new policy stating all coffins will now be given proper transportation via military aircraft if I recall correctly. This all has became policy since that incident. I'm curious as to why your article doesn't state that. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc. Click here for more details.

12-01-2006, 01:25 PM	#18
Lazonby Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,262	Idiot......

12-01-2006, 01:29 PM	#20
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,329	Hmm... I can't find the article now. Read it a few weeks ago though. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc. Click here for more details.