Gold Star families are upset that phones had cards removed. I understand their pain but its a mercy...

 Wow.  Watching the news and Gold Star families are upset that they didn't get the sim cards from the phones of their fallen.

I understand their pain but its a tender mercy.

Hell.  The Marine Corps is taking care of its own AND the families...even in the Sheriff's Dept its understood that you don't give the phone back.  It was wrecked in the fight, car accident whatever needs to be said.

Is it to cause the family additional pain?

No.

Not at all.

But you never know what someone has on their phone.  The Marine Corps (if its a good unit) will always have someone go thru gear (probably twice so nothing is missed) so that the family isn't shocked or embarrassed by whatever their loved one was into.

I'm talking sexually, emotionally, financially, morally, the whole gamut of things.

What is terrible is that someone can't properly explain (I wonder if it could even be explained) that this isn't done to cause more hurt but to protect.