Yesterday I Heard One Of These Talking Heads Generals On MSNBC Saying....

[global1]

that a president is really too busy and has more important things to do than call a wife or parent of a fallen soldier. He suggested that it should be done by the military - that is informing and expressing condolences.

Trump strikes again. Just because Trump does such a bad job at this task - he is suggesting that this be changed going forward. Another tradition going down the drain because of Trump's ineptitude.

[SHRED]

1. He's fucking golfing today...again.

[Angry Dragon]

5. so true SHRED

[arthritisR_US]

2. He has all the time in the world for golf but for

human decency and respect he is too busy

[unblock]

3. Idiotic. Of course the military has to inform the families, but that has nothing to do

With the president *separately* calling

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I have to agree with that general on this one.

It's not that the call is too unimportant for a president to bother with; it's that it's something that is better accomplished by someone from the military service. Even as it is done now, not everybody gets a phone call. How do they decide who gets one and who doesn't? It makes more sense to have a high-ranking member of the soldier's military branch speak with the family and offer personal condolences, and for the president to write a letter (and not robo-sign it. I recall Donald Rumsfeld got caught doing that and it did not go over well).

[GoCubsGo]

7. Yes, I agree, as well.

Personal condolences from the President have not generally been the norm, whether a phone call or a letter. I don't recall the families of those killed in either World War, Korea, Vietnam or Desert Storm, or the two campaigns that started in the Dumbya Error getting personal calls or letters from the POTUS. Usually, a letter is sent from their military branch, as you point out.

That being said, I find astounding that someone who has been alive for 71 years needs to seek out advice on how to offer condolences to the family of someone who died. I don't think that shitbag has ever done such a thing in his whole fucking putrid, miserable life.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Really? I have the letter sent to my grandmother, signed by FDR,

at the death of her son in WWII.

[GoCubsGo]

9. I didn't realize he signed individual letters.

I can't imagine how much time that took up. Over 400,000 troops and more than 12,000 civilians died in that war.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. I assume they used auto-pens and the receiptents addresses and names

were typed by staff.

[GoCubsGo]

11. So then, technically, most did not get an actual personal letter from the President.

They got a form letter that was signed by a machine. FDR didn't write them individually, or personally sign the letters that someone else may have typed up. I know there were exceptions to that, such as the case of the Sullivan Family, who lost five sons at once. But, it wasn't the norm, which was my point, and that still stands. As The Velveteen Ocelot pointed out, the actual personal letters came from someone in their military branch.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Many families cherish the letters. At least, the 'form' letter addressed my grandparents by name and

used my uncle's correct rank and name. What they do today is inexcusable. I don't understand why you want to belittle letters families have kept for 60 plus years. I have it framed and the Purple Heart certificate signed by Truman.

[GoCubsGo]

15. Please stop twisting my words.

I am not "belittling" anything. My whole point was that the President does not normally write personal letters to each and every family of a deceased member of the military. That is a fact. You are the one trying to turn this into more than it is.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Military leaders bending over backwards for Trump. What has he promised them?

[Lurks Often]

12. The military make the initial notification

Link to the Army notification process: https://www.army.mil/article/47666/notification-process-spelled-out-to-thwart-scammers-crooks/

The other services will have a nearly identical process


It took me all of 5 minutes to do the a search and find a reputable link, this wasn't difficult to find.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. I'm inclined to agree with the talking-head-generals on this issue.

Did FDR make phone calls to all the families of the dead? HST? DDE? JFK? LBJ? RMN? WJC? GWB? BHO?

They might have made a few, but maybe not even that.

I think traditionally initial contact is made by a military officer near the family's home, followed by a note from the soldier's commanding officer.

Besides, in a time of grief, who would want a phone call from Trump?