They're Dead Soldiers, Not Refrigerators Headed for Sears Roebuck

The San Diego family of a Marine killed in Iraq are upset at the way their loved one's body was sent home. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.

There's controversy over how the military is transporting the bodies of service members killed overseas, 10News reported.

A local family said fallen soldiers and Marines deserve better and that one would think our war heroes are being transported with dignity, care and respect. It said one would think upon arrival in their hometowns they are greeted with honor. But unfortunately, the family said that is just not the case.

Dead heroes are supposed to come home with their coffins draped with the American flag -- greeted by a color guard.

But in reality, many are arriving as freight on commercial airliners -- stuffed in the belly of a plane with suitcases and other cargo.

This is not about the dead soldier; it's about the family. The soldier is dead and doesn't know his body is being treated like so much merchandise. It's the families, who are alive and in indescribable pain already at losing a son or brother or dear friend, and then have to deal with the anger of knowing their government doesn't care enough about the soldiers to treat their bodies with dignity and respect in death.