With sadness, dignity, Obama honors the fallen

Obama solemnly climbed aboard the two C-17 cargo planes carrying the fallen home from Afghanistan to pay respects. Their helicopter apparently had been hit by an insurgent’s rocket-propelled grenade.

Later, the president consoled their grieving families. He stood in honor as the flag-covered cases were carried off the planes in front of him.

The country didn’t see it.

There will be no lasting, gripping images this time of Obama assuming his office’s grimmest role. No family could give permission for media coverage, the military said, because no individual bodies had been identified yet.

The helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Saturday was that horrific.

For Americans with no sons, daughters, other relatives or friends in the military, this punch seemed to blindside everyone. The war is supposed to be winding down, and the face behind it, Sept. 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, was killed months ago by elite U.S. forces.

Saturday’s blow claimed 22 Navy SEALs from the same special forces team that pulled off the remarkable mission in Pakistan that ended bin Laden. None of those killed on the helicopter was part of that raid, but the connection, along with the size of the loss, was deeply felt.

The troops who died had been flying on a mission to help fellow forces under fire.

The fallen were described as intensely patriotic, talented and passionate about the risks and responsibilities that came with their jobs.

Some were married with children. One wanted to be an astronaut. Another was going to propose to his girlfriend when he got home.

Three were from the same Army reserve unit in Kansas: Bravo Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment.

Seven Afghan commandos and one Afghan interpreter were killed, too, when the helicopter crashed in the Tangi Valley.

On Tuesday, 30 cases draped in American flags came off the planes; eight others were covered in Afghan flags.

The president had flown by helicopter to Dover.

The trip was kept private by the White House until he landed as a measure of security, although expectations of his presence were high from shortly after the 30 troops died.