At the end of WWI America was sending hundreds of causalities from Europe to the United States. Many of the army officers worried about the massive expenses this was taking and logistical difficulties. Many thought that it wasn't a good idea for the bodies to be sent home because once families would see their dead loved ones they would be shocked and realize how brutal the war actually was. Weeks after the war Major General Frank Mcintyre prepared a news release saying the dead war men would be better left in Europe. I strongly disagree with the fact they want to leave all of the dead American bodies in Europe. I believe that since they sacrificed their lives in the war the least the government can do is send them back to the United States where they can be brought to their loved ones. Bringing the dead soldiers home to their families also allows the families to recognize their soldiers life and helps their grief. Especially one mother Mrs. L. Mantel who simply just wanted her boys body back home. " He was my only son" Mantel said "I just want him to rest on his own soil poor boy." Another mother said "You took my son from me and sent him to war…My son sacrificed his life to America's call, and now you must as a duty of yours bring my son back to me." I feel that no matter the expenses or economies problems all causalities should be brought home to America. It is a way to show respect and honor the soldiers who risked their lives in this awful war. Also families should have the chance to have a funeral for the ones they have lost. Unless a family does not want there solider sent home every other one should be. More than 20,000 men stayed in Europe and lie their today in maintained military cemeteries.
The final outcome of this situation occurred on October 29, 1919 when the War Department of the United States announced that all dead servicemen could upon request be returned from Europe to any relative who requested it. The United States government would bear the expense for transport and for burial in on of the National Cemeteries. The families also had the option of burying their loved one in a private graveyard. Congress approved $5 million dollars for these repatriation expenses.
In the end most American families requested that their loved ones be returned. Over 46,000 dead American soldiers returned home. This repatriation movement began in November of 1920 and continued until July 1922 when the last American killed in World War 1 was put to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
As I stated before many brave soldier's families decided to let their loved ones remain in Europe. But this was their own personal choice.
My argument is that it should be the fallen soldier's family choice of whether or not to have their son or daughter return. And it should be the responsibility of the United States government to handle the expense of the return.
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I strongly agree with your point. I believe that every dead soldier's family should have the choice to have their sons body sent back to the united states or not. I agree that if the soldier sacraficed his life in the war the least we can do is send them back to there home soil.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with your arguement. If someone is so brave to go out and fight for their country, the least that country could do is return them home to their loves ones. It's shocking that the government would even consider not sending the couragious soldiers back home.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with your statement that you have made. I believe that all soldiers should be able to be buried in their home towns, or where their relatives would like them to be placed. Soldiers have sacrificed so much for our country so we should allow them to be buried where ever they would like.
ReplyDeleteMcKenna Hutcheson
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ReplyDeleteSidney didn't you say that government should at least send the bodies back then you say that families should have a say if they want their deceased family member returned. I do agree with you, but millions or even billions died though still the government can't take their deceased soldiers one at a time. It's either all of them or none of them comeback.
ReplyDeletei agree that the parents or relatives of the soldiers have every right to chose weather or not the want them to be sent back to America.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the family should make the decision to bring the bodies back or keep them there. These men are fighting for our country and the least the government could is grant the wishes of the families. The government should not have the right to decide this personal matter.
ReplyDeletei agree with the blog and i really understand it a lot better now
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your arguement because the family's should decide what to do with their loved ones, not the government. It wouldn't be fair if they wanted their son to come home and have a funeral and the government wouldn't let it happen. Good job Sid!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your arguement because any soldier that dies in battle deserves to be buried on their homeland. I believe the soldier's family deserves to choose where their deceased family member is buried.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, Families should have the right to chose if they want their loved one's bodies to be sent back home. Even though it would be especially dignified if all soldier could be sent back to america where they could be buried among the soil that they defended. This thought is highly unrealistic though.
ReplyDeleteI agree, because they should at least keep the soldiers' families in mind and give them the choice. I believe the men should be sent back and should be recognized for their hard work, and the fact that they sacrificed their lives to keep their country safe.
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of argument, what if the money spent to bring back a loved one meant unemployment for the next decade due to the depression? This is a far-fetched scenario, but would that cause anyone to reconsider the plight of someone who is already gone? Just a thought... The more interesting idea is mentioned at the beginning: Returning the dead is bad for morale. We face the same issue today as photos of soldiers' caskets are extremely limited, but don't the people have a right to know what the real costs of war are? Does repatriation hurt the war effort, and is that dangerous?
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