Missing Bodies Plague Arlington National Cemetery, Probe Finds

CBS

The scandal at Arlington National Cemetery is one of those "say it ain't so" stories.

The investigation by the Army's Inspector General which will be released later today reveals a dysfunctional management system behind what is arguably America's most sacred ground - everything from missing remains to lying under oath to sexual harassment. A handful of cases, about five, have already been identified in which remains were misplaced - a casket found in what was thought to be an empty grave, a burial urn dumped in a landfill, remains moved without the knowledge or permission of the next of kin, among them.

But a review of Arlington's antiquated paper filing system has identified 200 cases in which the paper trail fails to account for the whereabouts of remains. Now the Army will have to inspect each of those grave sites using ground penetrating radar.

Superintendent Jack Metzler, who was scheduled to retire on July 2, is being stripped of his authority but asked to stay on because after 19 years as superintendent (his father was superintendent before him), he is the institutional memory of Arlington. His deputy Thurman Higgenbotham is being suspended pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into whether he lied to investigators during a probe of hacking into the e-mail of an employee who was exposing some of the mismanagement at Arlington.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, officials say it is extremely unlikely Higgenbotham will ever return to the cemetery where he managed the day-to-day operations involved in the 125 burials that take place there each week.

---

David Martin is CBS News' National Security Correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here.

[fxr60]

Lying, corruption, harrasment-sure it's not the White House we're talking about? Sounds like Obama and his ilk !!!

[book_of_wally]

Son taking over job of father? Where did I hear this before? And who was President in 1991?

[Rick9876]

What does the president have to do with this? Are you some liberal dumbocrat?

[mitdgreenb]

I wrote a database for a local cemetery in 1998 as a bit of charity work. They converted paper (3X5 cards) and bad electronic records into this system. They haven't lost any bodies.

If the government will let a contract, I will create something similar for Arlington. It would be an honor.

[mjlewis6]

The government belongs to the people...and we can take it back anytime we want it to stop the corruption and rank invasion of our privacy and denials of our rights under the constitution and the spirit of the original declaration...the pursuit of happiness.

The same claims we made for independence....can be the same claims
for removal of authorities which are not abiding by the constitution or for having violated those 'inalienable rights' not enumerated in the constitution or noted elsewhere. As we lose our privacy and rights, our government loses its 'de jure' standing to become the 'de facto' government sans any pretense of legitimacy, i.e. Supreme Court picking our President, December 2000.

[hockeymom441]

"Take it back" ?!?... "we the people" are the same idiots running the government. It amazes me that there is this notion that somehow the American people are some all-knowning, intelligent cohort of people... suffering through the inadequecies of their government. Although we elect most to office, the majority of people who run the gov't are hired - help... and often ill-qualified. This story doesn't surprise me in the least.

[wyodutch]

They ought to be investigating the lies that got us into Iraq... where a lot of those bodies came from.

[newsterI]

I swear this country is totally OBSESSED with dead bodies and decayed skeletons, they are DEAD, what is left moldering away eaten by worms and insects the former owners of don't care about any more, neither should we worry about exactly what moldy remains is exactly where.
Stupid wasting tax money on radar detecting bodies long dead.

[Fatesrider]

Obviously you've never served your country. Obviously you don't have friends or relatives buried there. Obviously you don't understand what Arlington means to those who do.

Sit down, shut up and go pray to whatever deity you believe in for forgiveness.

[Arfcom]

Those "dead bodies and decayed skeletons" are indeed "dead," as you say. They died because they believed in something more important than their lives. They died to protect YOUR right to express your opinions and to expose your profound idiocy and emotional immaturity. They died so that YOU could live in freedom.

For Americans who have more than two brain cells, Arlington National Cemetery is sacred and hallowed ground. That's because the BEST of America's sons and daughters, the most courageous and the most honorable rest there.

It is clear that you don't understand that. It is also clear that you should have remained silent and let others only suspect that you are a self-absorbed, ill-informed, snot nosed juvenile, than to have posted what you did and remove all doubt.

Fatesrider gave you some very good advice. "Sit down, shut up and go pray to whatever deity you believe in for forgiveness."

[6591Hou]

A paper filing system? With 125 burials a week these people operate on paper invoices and receipts? Hopefully the national cemeteries closer to home will be better when it's my turn.

[domesower]

Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) is not part of the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration (NCA)which operates 131 cemeteries nationwide. Arlington comes under the jurisdiction of the Defense Department's Military District of Washington.

[jffinpa]

The NCA (National Cemetery Administration) has been actively using an automated records system in all of their cemeteries since 1993. When they went online with it they took all of the "paper records" for all of the cemeteries that fell under their authority in VA and completely converted those to electronic records. Its a very comprehensive program and the data on file is what is used to support the National Gravesite Locator. If you ever have any questions about a national cemetery I would encourage you to visit and "ask the Director". They or a member of their staff are always available to meet with you and answer any questions you may have. If you want to explore what NCA is all about then please visit the web site at http:/www.cem.va.gov. I've been an NCA employee for 22 years and I'm extreemly proud of the grounds we maintain and the service we provide to our nations hero's. You will be also !!!

[common_sense_notsocommon]

and you wanted the government to take over the healthcare system tsk tsk

[rainbowbrew]

Buried my Mom and Dad at the National Military cemetary in Pensacola Florida. They should be investigated as well.

[doctajim]

Corruption I can sort-of understand; there is at least a motive. But the incompetence and negligence - that's sad. Of course, we don't know how "old" those botched situations are (WWI ??).