The US DOES negotiate / troops watch your backs

[MillCreek]

One thing that irritates me about the 'leave no man behind' meme is that we have knowingly done so in the past.  I have read quite a few books about the Cold War recon and espionage efforts.  The USA had several recon planes shot down over or near the Soviet Union and the PRC.  There have been eyewitness reports, some of questionable validity, of American airmen being held as prisoners in Soviet and PRC prison camps.  Apparently, with the fall of the Soviet Union and the opening of the archives, we are reasonably certain that no live prisoners from this era are still around, but I would bet cash money that we knew at the time that captured American airmen were being held by the Soviets and PRC and we left them there.

[Scout26]

It's only a recent one.  I never heard it from when I first enlisted until I came of active duty (1983-1991), and I'm pretty sure I don't remember it when I was in the reserves.  It was only when the Army came up with it's Values that it became a meme.   But before that it was always "We'll box up whatever bits of you we can find and ship those home to your mother."  And that only started during the Korean War.  Prior to that everyone was buried near where they fell. (A corner of some foreign field that is forever England...), although the US did repatriate WWI and WWII remains after those wars at the family's request.

[French G.]

I personally don't get it. If I was captured I'd certainly feel better knowing that my side would make every effort to not forget me and get me back, there are limits. Maybe it's my duty to stay captured than get a bunch more people killed/captured rescuing me a la TF Baum. Then again I am lax on my plan to marry flag officer's daughters so I probably wouldn't get that consideration. I guess it would be nice to be take home if I was dead, but really I personally don't care at that point. I'd much rather know that no living comrades got otherwise trying to carry me home.

[KD5NRH]

Then again I am lax on my plan to marry flag officer's daughters so I probably wouldn't get that consideration.

One from each side?  That could work.

[wmenorr67]

It's only a recent one.  I never heard it from when I first enlisted until I came of active duty (1983-1991), and I'm pretty sure I don't remember it when I was in the reserves.  It was only when the Army came up with it's Values that it became a meme.   But before that it was always "We'll box up whatever bits of you we can find and ship those home to your mother."  And that only started during the Korean War.  Prior to that everyone was buried near where they fell. (A corner of some foreign field that is forever England...), although the US did repatriate WWI and WWII remains after those wars at the family's request.

The positive thing in regards to this is that the burial sites are considered US soil.

[KD5NRH]

The positive thing in regards to this is that the burial sites are considered US soil.

Shh! If people realize that, they'll be digging up graves to have their anchor babies.