US Air Force dumped cremated remains of 274 troops in a landfill before halting secretive practice

[Samstwitch]

This is totally disgusting! I don't trust the U.S. government about anything. They lie to the public about EVERYTHING.

US Air Force dumped cremated remains of 274 troops in a landfill before halting the secretive practice

December 8, 2011 - The US Air Force dumped the cremated, partial remains of at least 274 troops in a landfill before halting the secretive practice in 2008, the Washington Post reported Thursday.​

The procedure was never formally authorized or disclosed to senior Pentagon officials, who conducted a review of the cremation policies of Dover Air Base -- the main point of entry for US war dead -- in 2008, the Post said.​

Nor was the dumping ever disclosed to the families of the fallen troops, who had authorized the military to dispose of the remains in a respectful and dignified manner, the Post said, citing Air Force officials.​

The newspaper quoted officials as saying that a precise count of the remains disposed of at a Virginia landfill would require searching through the records of 6,300 troops whose remains have passed through Dover since 2001.​

An additional group of 1,762 remains -- which could not undergo DNA testing because they were badly damaged or burned -- were also disposed of in this manner, the Post said, citing the Air Force.​

Defense officials could not immediately be reached for comment.​

Last month investigators said they had found "gross mismanagement" at the US Air Force mortuary, with body parts lost and remains mishandled.​

After allegations from whistle-blowers, an Air Force probe found that two "portions of the remains" of fallen troops had been lost and uncovered other problems at the morgue.​

New procedures have been put in place at the mortuary and the commander at the morgue, a colonel, together with two civilian officials were disciplined over the episode but not sacked.​

The Dover affair echoes a scandal that erupted last year at Arlington National Cemetery, the country's hallowed ground for war dead. Investigators there uncovered cases of misidentified remains and mismanagement.​

Following an Army probe, the conduct at Arlington is now the subject of a criminal investigation.​

SOURCE

 

[Agent0]

Another 1,762 unidentified remains was dumper in the same area.

 

[kcwildman]

I guess that kinda make's the whole tomb of the unknown soldier somewhat meaningless huh