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Defense Secretary Travels to Dover to Meet Body of Fallen Soldier

Don Rush

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel traveled to Dover Air Force Base for the arrival of the remains of four U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Joining Hagel on the trip from Washington on Wednesday were Army Secretary John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno.

The remains of every U.S. military member killed overseas are flown to Dover for processing. Family members often attend the arrivals, but high-ranking Pentagon officials usually do not.

Hagel's trip to Delaware came amid congressional criticism over the suspension of $100,000 death benefit payments to families of fallen soldiers, which the Pentagon blames on the government shutdown.

The family of 24-year-old Pfc. Cody Patterson of Oregon allowed members of the media to witness the return of his remains Wednesday.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.