Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel said that the dumping of the cremated remains of American troops killed overseas in a Virginia landfill was ‘horrible;’ and those responsible must be held accountable.  Rep. Engel has called for an immediate and full Congressional investigation by the House Armed Services Committee.

The Washington Post reported the Dover Air Force Base mortuary, which receives the bodies of American service members killed overseas, had cremated some remains of soldiers killed in action found after other remains were returned to families.  The ashes were subsequently sent to a Virginia landfill.     

“It now seems,” the 12-term Democrat said, “that partial remains of at least 274 American troops were sent to the landfill between 2004 and 2008. This is horrible and unforgiveable. In addition, another 976 body fragments were also disposed of in the landfill.

“I am at a loss to understand how this could happen. People who fought and died for our country have certainly earned to right to an honorable burial.”

Rep. Engel said the FBI was conducting a criminal investigation of the burials, and that a complete and thorough investigation was absolutely necessary to determine how this outrage happened.

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