Fire 'em all, let God sort them out
Woman fired by military contractor for published photograph of flag-draped U.S. coffins
By Associated Press, 4/22/2004 10:44
SEATTLE (AP) A cargo worker whose photograph of flag-draped coffins bearing the remains of U.S. soldiers was published on a newspaper's front page was fired by the military contractor that employed her.
Tami Silicio, 50, was fired Wednesday by Maytag Aircraft Corp. after military officials raised ''very specific concerns'' related to the photograph, said William L. Silva, Maytag president. The photo was taken in Kuwait.
Silva declined to identify the Pentagon's concerns but said Silicio violated company and federal government rules. He declined to comment further.
Silicio said she hoped the photo of the 20 flag-draped coffins awaiting transport from Kuwait to the United States would show the relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq that civilian and military crews return the remains of their loved ones with care and devotion.
''It wasn't my intent to lose my job or become famous or anything,'' Silicio said.
Silicio's husband and co-worker, David Landry, was also fired, but the company gave no reason for his dismissal.
