"I think it was to protect the government's butt," said David Pautsch, who allowed the media to witness the return of his son Jason,

an Army corporal from Davenport, Iowa, who was killed with four other soldiers in a bombing in Iraq.
Since Ban Was Lifted, Most Families Allow Coverage Of Fallen Soldiers
DOVER, Del. — In the weeks since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning to the U.S., most families given the option have allowed reporters and photographers to witness the solemn ceremonies that mark the arrival of flag-draped transfer cases.
Critics had warned that military families needed privacy and peace activists might exploit the images, but so far the coverage has not caused problems.