Army knew the truth about dead soldier, kept it from his mom for 15 months

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Mountain View soldier killed in accident -- not combat

ARMY KNEW FOR 15 MONTHS BUT DIDN'T TELL HIS MOTHER

By Jessie Mangaliman

Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/12612826.htm

For 15 months, Karen Meredith thought she knew the truth about her soldier son: Army 1st Lt. Kenneth Ballard was killed by enemy gunfire during a battle in Iraq.

Over the weekend, the Mountain View mother learned the real truth: that her son died in the accidental discharge of a military tank machine gun. The U.S. Army knew for more than a year, she said, but did not tell her until a hand-delivered letter arrived Friday afternoon.

``It's the second worst day of my life,'' said Meredith in a telephone interview Saturday with the Mercury News. ``I'm heartbroken. I'm stunned. I'm angry. I just feel so betrayed by the Army that Ken loved so much.''

Army officials in Washington told the Associated Press Saturday that it failed to tell Ballard's family about the true cause of his death because of an oversight. Meredith said she will press for an explanation when she meets with Army officials next week. ``Everybody in the army knew about it,'' she said. ``The four people who were in the tank with him knew. The unit knew. Why did it take 15 months for them to tell me the truth? The truth was all I've ever asked for. ``Once again, they're disrespecting my son,'' Meredith said. `` This to me is a huge betrayal.''

[fooj]

1. A President's Betrayal.

The Unfeeling President
http://evilqueen.demesnes.net/mp3/e_l_doctorow.mp3 Audio Version

It says it all.

Peace.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. How shameful and sad

The army now doesn't care about the truth it seems when it comes to something like that. See also Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman. *sigh* All they care about is the image even if that image isn't true. I would rather be given the truth then to be something that isn't true. How sad for his family. :(

[fooj]

4. His family and his country.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[paineinthearse]

3. Very similar to the Tillman story

Not to hijack this thread, but I've not heard anything about the internal investigation in weeks, has there been any news?

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

5. Yes, very like the Tillman story

Truth is a lonely orphan in this administration.