US bars media from event for fallen Seals

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has ruled out media coverage of a ceremony marking the return of 30 US soldiers, including 22 Navy Seals, who were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in was shot down in Afghanistan.
The return of the remains in flag draped coffins to the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, possibly on Tuesday, was denied media coverage because given the nature of the attack there were “no identifiable remains” of these servicemen, Pentagon spokesman Marine Col David Lapan said.
The International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said the CH-47 Chinook helicopter was reportedly shot down by an insurgent rocket-propelled grenade while transporting the US service members and Afghan commandos to the scene of an engagement between ISAF and insurgent forces.
“Due to the catastrophic nature of the crash, the remains of our fallen service members will be returned in unidentified status, until they can be positively identified by the Armed Forces Mortuary Affairs Office at Dover,” another Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt Jane Campbell said.