] CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., April 10 (UPI) -- Wives of Camp
] Pendleton Marines involved in the war in Iraq have been
] receiving crank calls from individuals claiming to work
] for the Red Cross who regretfully, and falsely, inform
] them that their spouses had been killed in action.
]
] In a statement, Camp Pendleton reminded military families
] that genuine casualty notifications are not made by
] telephone or by the Red Cross.
]
] "Individuals falsely identifying themselves as Red Cross
] representatives have made prank calls to Camp Pendleton
] spouses claiming that their loved ones overseas have been
] killed," the Marine Corps said in a brief statement. "The
] Marine Corps does not utilize the Red Cross for casualty
] notification. Marine Corps and Navy representatives
] conduct all casualty notifications in person for Camp
] Pendleton."
]
] Camp Pendleton is the home base of the 1st Marine
] Division, which battled its way into Baghdad and
] continues to engage Iraqi resisters.
]
] "I honestly can't even fathom someone with that
] mentality," a Marine wife named "Julia" told The San
] Diego Union-Tribune Thursday. "I can't even go there in
] my mind."
]
] "I would assume that a young spouse could believe that
] kind of call and her world could be shattered," she
] added.
]
] The Red Cross said last week that families of service
] members in Michigan, Delaware and Alabama had reported
] receiving similar