Casualty Team Stuck Notifying Family Of Marine Who Died Masturbating
NORFOLK, VA — Staff Sgt. Jonathan Barber knows that the job of a Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) is one of the toughest in the military.
When a service member dies overseas, a special CACO Team is assembled to go break the news to the family of the deceased and then help them through the aftermath and funeral.
"While there's a lot of sadness involved, you can take some solace in knowing that you're helping fallen comrades get the respect which they deserve," Barber said.
Of course that was before Barber got the call to notify a Virginia family that their son had died while masturbating in a porta-john in Afghanistan.
Barber called Duffel Blog as he and his CACO Team were en route to meet with the Marine's family.
"Seriously, what the hell am I going to say when they ask how their son died?" Barber asked.
"I could say it was in a non-combat incident, but the moment VMU-2 is off River City [Reduced Communications status], it's going to be all over the news."
The deceased Marine was a …
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