Remember when a chaplin and other people came to your house to tell you your husband was killed

[unhappycamper]

in (wherever)?

Welcome to the new DoD:





Military Spouse Notified of Death By Text: http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2012/02/military-spouse-notified-of-death-by-text.html

Family of Text Messaged Spouse Speaks Out: http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2012/02/family-of-text-messaged-spouse-speaks-out.html?comp=1198882887570&rank=2


How despicable.

[atreides1]

1. I read it

This can't be blamed on DoD or even the Army...this was done at the unit level.

Someone got the information and probably thought it was a good idea to send the wife a text.

So, let's not put the blame on the DoD...

[ArcticFox]

2. Not despicable, just unfortunate

The black sedan was on its way, but too slow. News leaked back from the scene through social media. Should the military ban communications?

[enlightenment]

3. Read the entire article, please.

Including the updates.

The Army process has not changed - a soldier in the unit contacted a spouse back in the US and divulged the information to her, something the soldier was not supposed to do.

The spouse then sent a message to the wife of the dead soldier on Facebook. Again, this is something they are told they should NOT do because of the potential harm it can cause.

The Army did not 'send a text'.

[unhappycamper]

5. I did read both of the articles posted as well as a few others.

My point is this: If your husband is killed in the line of duty, it is the responsibility of the DoD to telll the family. In person. Period. No exceptions.

[obamanut2012]

9. Which is what they did

[DrDan]

4. not a change in policy - just an unfortunate error in judgement

[Octafish]

6. These tragic deaths should not be happening because these wars are based on lies.

And there should be no men and women in harm's way for oil or logistics or unnamed ally.

Not many seem to get that anymore.

[obamanut2012]

7. Not the DOD -- they still have servicemen and women who inform with dignity and compassion

This was someone on the unit level being "thoughtful." Ugh. How clueless.

[Raven]

10. There's a good reason for personal notification.

When my husband was in Vietnam, I received a call from someone purporting to be from the Army telling me that my husband had been killed in action and that if I sent them $500 they would begin the process of bringing him home and making military funeral arrangements. Fortunately, back then there was a monthly publication put out by the Army called "Waiting Wives" which talked about scams and gave a number to call to verify things like this. I called and within hours the Army confirmed that my husband was alive and arranged a phone call from him to me.

I imagine that the scams are even worse today.

[MadrasT]

11. That is so horrible

I am sorry that happened to you. That must have been awful.

[Raven]

12. Yes, it was. I was 23, just a baby, and

looking bac, I'm surprised I had the presence of mind to make the call. But the Army took very good care of its families in those days and I remember the article said that we would always be notified in person.