Action Line #110603 - Facebook Post of Accident Details

  • Published
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint: This week a tragic, heartbreaking event has taken place involving one of our very own Airmen. I speak of course of the swimming accident at the beach. Our Wing Public Affairs Office has done its job, fulfilled its mission and done it with the greatest level of discretion and respect for all involved. Anyone with the slightest bit of military experience (member or family member of said member) knows or should know that all unnatural deaths involving a member of the military or their family are investigated and those investigations can be time consuming and especially in an overseas location. Anyone with the slightest bit military experience (member or family member of said member) knows or should know that any death involving a member of the military or their family should be handled the way our Wing Public Affairs Office has handled it; with discretion and respect.

So when I see on Facebook that the spouse of the highest ranking military member on our installation has taken it upon herself to let the entire world know the identity of the Airman involved in this accident and details involving her family I cannot remain quiet, pretend it is okay and nothing should be said.
The United States Air Force and its highly trained team of Public Affairs Officials have yet to release this information on the public Incirlik website. Who gave Mrs. Beene the authority to do any different? Was it Colonel Beene? Is he giving one set of orders at work and another at home?

Prayer and concern can be voiced without changing your Facebook Profile Picture to that of the Airman involved in the accident and publicly posting her name. Were they best friends? I'm relatively sure they were not. I find these actions a gross abuse of ill-perceived "power" and "authority" on the part of Mrs. Beene. I can only hope that if a tragedy involving her family ever come to pass their private hell is not violated by the thoughtlessness of a passing acquaintance "cloaking" their concern in religion. Matthew 6.6 says "But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." "Praying for you" does not need to be posted for the entire world to see. If the USAF deems details need to be kept close hold at the very least our wing leadership and their families should follow suit.

Response: Thank you for the opportunity to respond and to discuss Facebook concerns.

While I do not monitor Mrs. Beene's Facebook account, we generally agree on what to post and what not to post. I do not recall at what point Mrs. Beene's Facebook account included a specific reference to the late Major Cheryl Esty, who passed away in a tragic swimming accident, but my understanding is that it did so after the information was well known (http://www.incirlik.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123262711). I offer my sincere apologies, however, if you found it offensive, or if it caused you emotional distress following the loss of a dear friend. That clearly was not the intention. Mrs. Beene and I worked very closely with Major Esty on many occasions, and we both considered her a valuable colleague and friend. Her death was a personal loss to both of us.

More broadly, each of us grieves differently, and each of us handles the loss of a team member differently. These days, many of us have integrated Facebook and other social media tools into our everyday routines, and we use these tools to communicate with one another, to share feelings and experiences, and to help one another. So it is not surprising that we would also find many people using Facebook to help in the grieving process, and to share fond memories of super Airmen who have left us. I even posted a Tweet about the loss of Major Esty following the memorial service. I found that to be a fitting expression of sadness at our loss.

You are correct that all of our actions, online and offline, should be conducted with discretion and respect. Online and offline, not only do we--you, me, and our family members--represent our own views, but simply because we are visible members of the Incirlik community, we can't help but be representatives of the U.S. Air Force and the United States. We should always seek to act accordingly. Thanks for the reminder that this applies to every one of us.

Mrs. Beene and I will continue to discuss the image we present, again, both online and offline, and always seek to act appropriately.