Leave No Man Behind: Recovering America’s Fallen Warriors

Abstract

This article analyzes the ethic of the US military to rescue its fallen warriors. The US military will go to extraordinary lengths to evacuate its wounded, and more interestingly, to recover its dead. While taking risks to recover the body of a fallen soldier may make no rational sense, it impacts significantly on the unit, the military profession, and US society. This article examines the “leave no man behind” phenomenon through individual, family, unit, institutional, and societal perspectives. Possible reasons why the ethic has increased in salience and potential future implications are also discussed.