Peter Sleeth

A Son Lost in Iraq, But Where Is the Casualty Report?

In this Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009 file photo, U.S. soldiers patrol the outskirts of Spin Boldak, near the border with Pakistan. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) The day after Jim Butler learned his son had died in Iraq in 2003, a U.S. Army casualty officer showed up at the family’s small ranch to explain what happened. Your […]

Peter Sleeth
بواسطة Peter Sleeth
In this Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009 file photo, U.S. soldiers patrol the outskirts of Spin Boldak, near the border with Pakistan. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The day after Jim Butler learned his son had died in Iraq in 2003, a U.S. Army casualty officer showed up at the family's small ranch to explain what happened. Your son was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in the city of As Samawah, the officer said. But he had no other details to offer, nothing about how the fighting came about or what Sgt.

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Lost To History: Missing War Records Complicate Benefit Claims By Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans

Mike Hoover, pictured, with American Legion Post 568, in Stevensville, Mich., stands at attention Sunday, November 11, 2012, during a Veterans Day Salute held at the Lincoln Township Cemetery, in Stevensville, Mich. (AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) By Peter Sleeth, Special to ProPublica, and Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times A strange thing happened when Christopher […]

Peter Sleeth
بواسطة Peter Sleeth
Mike Hoover, pictured, with American Legion Post 568, in Stevensville, Mich., stands at attention Sunday, November 11, 2012, during a Veterans Day Salute held at the Lincoln Township Cemetery, in Stevensville, Mich. (AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell)

By Peter Sleeth, Special to ProPublica, and Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times A strange thing happened when Christopher DeLara filed for disability benefits after his tour in Iraq: The U.S. Army said it had no records showing he had ever been overseas. DeLara had searing memories of his combat experiences. A friend bled to death before his eyes.

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