Army apologizes for hurtful message to survivors

By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer Pauline Jelinek, Associated
Press Writer Wed Jan 7, 4:08 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The Army said Wednesday that 7,000 family members of
soldiers killed in the Iraq or Afghan wars mistakenly were sent letters
addressing them as "John Doe." Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey,
Jr., was sending a personal letter to all the families who received the
improperly addressed letters as the result of a printing error, the Army
said.

The 7,000 original letters were sent late last month to inform survivors
about private organizations that offer gifts, programs and other
assistance to families that have lost soldiers in Iraq or other
countries where they are deployed for the war on terrorism.

It was sent from the U.S. Army Human Resources Command's Casualty and
Mortuary Affairs Center in Alexandria, Va., which issued a formal
apology Wednesday.

The letters, which were printed by a contractor, were to have been
automatically addressed with the specific names and addresses of
survivors, said Paul Boyce, an Army spokesman. Instead, they contained
the placeholder greeting — "Dear John Doe."

"It's our fault for not catching it," he said. "We are certainly sorry."

Casey's personal note to the families alluded to the fact that he lost
his own father in Vietnam and it said the Army is extremely sensitive to
family grief.

An apology also was being posted on the human resources Web site, Boyce
said.

"There are no words to adequately apologize for this mistake or for the
hurt it may have caused," Brig. Gen. Reuben D. Jones, the Army adjutant
general, said in the statement to be posted.

Boyce said all the other information in the letter regarding the
assistance organizations was correct.

"It is important the original intent of the letter is not lost," Jones'
statement said. "The organizations mentioned are dedicated to honoring
loved ones and recognizing their sacrifice and commitment."