Originally Posted by
GUWonder
Given the cost of flying a C130 to transport a dead soldier's body by itself -- one body at a time -- is rather high, commercial transport seems to be a more affordable, even more practical option.
And very much in line with American military tradition. Common carrier transport has been used to send the fallen home going back to the Civil War. Railroads did that through Korea, then airlines took over beginning with Vietnam. It is not practical nor economical to use military aircraft and personnel for this task when commercial carriers are perfectly capable of handling it effectively and with dignity.