DoD, AP battle over photo of dying Marine

Honestly this should be left up to the family. Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard belonged to the military and the country, but he belonged to his family first. It should be up to them if it is seen or not.

For people believing these pictures should never be shown, no matter how the family feels, I bet you are not considering the fact there is so little real coverage about what our troops are going through and this makes combat unreal. Videos games are played more often than taps are listened to. Kids with fast reactions blast away "the bad guys" scoring points, so detached from what combat really is, they never consider the real price paid.

The rest of us, well we're a pretty pitiful bunch of flag wavers, feeling oh so patriotic because we use words saying we support the troops, but never once think of donating to any of the veterans groups out there trying to take care of the veterans. As long as we don't have to pay attention once they leave or after they come home, we're all fine with that. Maybe seeing it would wake people up.

Not too long ago, there was a ban on photographing the flag draped coffins coming back to Dover and media coverage of military funerals. Now these solemn events are left up to the families to decide what they want. This one should be left up to the family as well.

DoD, AP battle over photo of dying Marine

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 4, 2009 13:47:53 EDT

A graphic photograph of a mortally wounded Marine released for publication Sept. 3 by the Associated Press — over the objections of the family and the Pentagon — has reignited the debate over how to juggle frank and honest coverage of combat with sensitivity toward loved ones of the deceased.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade during an Aug. 14 Taliban ambush in Afghanistan. He suffered severe leg wounds and died on a field hospital’s operating table, according to the Associated Press.

An AP photographer’s slightly blurred image captured Bernard lying on the ground, with two fellow Marines rushing to his aid. His face is fairly recognizable, and a leg wound is visible.

The AP released the photo as part of a larger story package on Bernard’s death after what it called “long deliberations.” AP had placed a one-day embargo on the photo’s release to give media outlets time to consider whether to publish the graphic image. And it had called on Bernard’s family before moving the photo to its member publications, said Paul Colford, an AP spokesman.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/military_ap_photo_gates_bernard_090409w/