Remains of 274 Troops Reportedly Dumped in Virginia Landfill

The Pentagon on Thursday pledged "utmost
care" for the remains of fallen soldiers following a report that the
remains of at least 274 troops were dumped in a Virginia landfill.


The report, in The Washington Post, revealed
that the Air Force used the landfill far more frequently than had
previously been acknowledged. The practice was ended three years ago.
"The secretary is aware of this media report and remains committed to
the utmost care for our fallen heroes and their families," George
Little, spokesman for Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, said in a
statement.

Little added that Panetta supports "the
current practice of placing subsequently identified remains at sea,
which has been the policy of the department since 2008."


According to the Post, incinerated partial
remains were dumped at a King George County landfill in Virginia. They
were cremated between 2004 and 2008.


The report was based on database information
at the Dover Air Base mortuary, where the remains of most war dead
return. The revelations came after a four-year inquiry by the widow of
Sgt. Scott Smith, who was killed in July 2006 as part of a bomb-disposal
unit. She kept asking about where his remains were placed and
eventually got the answer.

The families of the dead authorized the
military to dispose of the remains respectfully and with dignity. They
were unaware of the landfill dumping, and Air Force officials told the
newspaper they have no plans now to alert the families.


Military policy or regulations did not
formally authorize the practice. The mortuary has handled the remains of
more than 6,300 troops since 2001.

Source

Thats fucked up, we were throwing our own soldiers in the trash basically.

Yeah thats not cool at all...pretty disturbing to read that.