Army Wants Better For Families Of Dead

The Army is mailing out thousands of letters to survivors of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, asking what it can do to better help them, even years after the deaths of their loved ones.

The Army recognizes it has made mistakes in some of its dealings with the families of fallen soldiers, Col. Carl M. Johnson, director of the Army's Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operation Center, said in an interview. The letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, encourages families to be candid in their comments and suggestions.

About 13,500 letters have been sent this month, and copies are expected to reach about 20,000 survivors of those killed while on active duty with the Army since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks - either in a war zone, in the United States or elsewhere.

Some families may have been offended by past actions, Johnson said, and the Army wants them to know the service has learned from its mistakes, has made changes and wants to make additional improvements.

"Some of them may have said, 'You know what, I don't need to be a part of the Army anymore because they don't want me or they don't know how to treat me,'" Johnson said. "Well, we've learned a lot and I think we've improved a lot and this is a way to reconnect with them."

The Army has made a significant shift and is now committed to providing services to survivors not just in the immediate period after soldiers' deaths but for as long as the families want the help, he said.

The letter informs families that meetings will take place with survivors during the next several weeks at military installations and that they will be receiving additional information about how to attend.

"Please be candid in your conversations with our staff, as your comments and concerns are important to us," states the letter, which was dated Aug. 5. It is signed by Gen. Reuben D. Jones, the Army's adjutant general.

Following complaints from families, the military has made several changes in how it works with them after a soldier's death. For example, more assistance is provided not just to soldiers' spouses, if they are married, but to soldiers' parents as well.

About six months after a death, the Army also sends a questionnaire to family members asking what it did right and wrong.

In 2006, the Army created a long-term case management office tasked with answering questions about how to file Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain records about a soldier's death and with assisting with other matters. The letter says, "We understand the sacrifices you and your family have made in service to this nation and we want to assure you the Army is here to provide you the support you need, for as long as you desire."