non-combat-death.org

Letter From Families Of Military Personnel
Killed In Non-Combat Situations

Dear  ______________________,

At this critical time in American history, when our sons and daughters are volunteering to put their lives on the line for their country, we wish to advocate for basic human rights for US Military personnel. We are the mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, friends... of soldiers who have died in the service of their country in non-combat deaths while on active duty.

We are acutely aware that US soldiers marines, airmen and sailors have been and are being killed in Service related, non-combat situations. They are often the victims of incompetent superiors who put them in harm's way; they have been the victims of retaliation for being whistleblowers; they have been the victims of discrimination; they have been bullied and murdered by criminals who are sheltered within the military system, often their deaths are classified as "suicides." In all these cases, the Military Services have been complicit, skirting the responsibility to do proper investigations, thus protecting the perpetrators. Bereaved families have been denied a remedy for these deaths because the Military has failed to provide for an independent and effective investigation of the cause and failed to prosecute those responsible.

This problem is ongoing and growing, not only in this country, but around the world. More and more, we parents/spouses/friends/relatives are finding one another, sharing the stories of how our loved ones died, and noticing the patterns of Military cover ups. Recently, in the UK, a handful of politicians have brought this problem to the attention of the public and the Parliament, resulting in the initiation of an effective investigation into abuses of power within the Army. Amnesty International has come out in support of the families, and there is now a start in the correction of these abuses.

We are asking for help in placing the problem before the American public and demanding that the Military Services in this country address these abuses head on. We are asking that the Senate and Congress of the US initiate an investigation into the general problem of uninvestigated suspicious Service related non-combat deaths. We are asking if you will take on the role of spokesman for our group and will present the problem to the Senate, in a fashion similar to that of politicians in the UK.

We hope that you will help us. We are prepared to offer specific information about hundreds of cases.

Our loved ones were willing to die for their country. They had no way of knowing that joining the Armed Forces would place them in situations of reckless endangerment and expose them to the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for reasons other than patriotism. We owe it to them to expose and correct the corruption which has allowed this to happen.

Sincerely,

Here is the URL for all
Senators and Reps in Congress.

If you don't know who your Senators and Congresspersons are, you can check the list.  It is best to contact those for whom you are a constituent, as they are most likely to respond to you.  They usually maintain offices in the larger cities of your state, so find the closest one.  It may be listed in your local phone book in the US Government pages.

You may also wish to write to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, as they are supposed to be responsive to citizens in matters which concern the military uniformed services:

US Senate Committee on Armed Services

228 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510

202-224-3871

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US House Armed Services Committee

2120 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington DC 20515

202-225-4151

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