Gathering views images of U.S. war dead

UD professor Ralph Begleiter obtained uncensored photos of remains by filing lawsuit

BY ANDRE L. TAYLOR / The News Journal

Ralph Begleiter

08/17/2005

WILMINGTON -- More than 50 people representing at least three generations sat quietly in Grace Hall of Westminster Presbyterian Church on Tuesday. They weren't there for a prayer service or Bible study, but to get a look at what has been held back from them since the first shot of the Iraq war was fired.

"I don't think this is what our forefathers wanted," said University of Delaware professor Ralph Begleiter. "They intended for it to be a free press."

A hush fell over the crowd as they viewed images of flag-draped transfer boxes making their way back to American soil, carrying the bodies of American servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Overall, those in attendance were in support of the man who said he'd rather be called a journalist, and not an educator.

Begleiter, a former CNN correspondent, showed photos he received from the United States government. He pointed out the differences in some photos that had been re-released.

Still under a trance, those in room stared.

The Pentagon recently released new, uncensored photographs of the flag-draped coffins of U.S. troops as part of a settlement with Begleiter, who sued last year to make the images public.

"We went through an era of hyper-patriotism," Begleiter said.

In response to Begleiter's lawsuit, the Pentagon agreed to process "as expeditiously as possible" future Freedom of Information Act requests for photo and video images of returning war casualties.

Wilmington resident Eugene McGowan, a veteran of World War II, sees no wrong in the government releasing the images.

"It's a public interest," McGowan said. "The public wants to know."

In his presentation, Begleiter said in the wars prior to the first Gulf War in the early 1990s, the media had access to photos of deceased servicemen killed in action. Now, he said, the government has "censored what they want to be viewed by the public."

"I had no objections to the pictures that came back from World War II," said the 88-year-old McGowan. "The more photos the government released to the media, the more people knew about Naziism."

Jennifer Dondero, 29, of Wilmington, said the government should release the images, simply because the average American wants to know what's going on. She said it would clarify a lot of questions.

"The general population just slaps a yellow ribbon on their cars and that's it," Dondero said. "The majority of the population would like to have an idea what our troops are dealing with overseas."

Begleiter said he no longer is involved actively with the media. He also has no more sources who work for the government.

On July 28, Begleiter and all parties involved in the lawsuit decided to dismiss his complaint.

"The news media has plenty of lawyers," Begleiter said. "I don't have to fight their battles for them.

"I do believe though, there are some things that should remain secrets."

Contact Andre L. Taylor at 324-2890 or andretaylor@delawareonline.com.