# Rumsfeld stamped his signature on dead solider condolence letters. OK or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665 "2004-12-19T17:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/1 "2004-12-19T17:47:04Z")
Per the letter below it seems kind of disrespectful, but maybe it’s necessary given the demands on his time. Was it disrespectful or not to have stamped signatures on these letters to the families of fallen soliders? [Report: Rumsfeld will start signing condolences Defense chief had been stamping letters to fallen GIs’ families](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6734410/) > [@](#): > > Rumsfeld provided a statement to the military newspaper Stars and Stripes on Thursday saying that although he was responsible for writing and approving each of the more than 1,000 letters sent to fallen soldiers’ relatives, he had not individually signed each letter. > > “I wrote and approved the now more than 1000 letters sent to family members and next of kin of each of the servicemen and women killed in military action,” Rumsfeld said in the statement to Stars and Stripes. “While I have not individually signed each one, in the interest of ensuring expeditious contact with grieving family members, I have directed that in the future I sign each letter.” > > The statement is posted on the military newspaper’s Web site. > > The Washington Post reported that the controversy arose when retired Army Col. David H. Hackworth openly criticized the defense chief for not personally signing the letters. > > Hackworth wrote that at least one father of a soldier killed in Iraq had complained that Rumsfeld did not personally sign his son’s letter, The Washington Post reported. > > Stars and Strips quoted the mother of another fallen soldier who said she was angry that the letter she had received apparently had a stamped signature. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/2 "2004-12-19T18:01:25Z")
I guess you sign your letters with the stamp you’ve got, not the pen you’d like to use… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/3 "2004-12-19T18:35:27Z")
Reminds me of When the Tigers Broke Free by Pink Floyd "It was just before dawn One miserable morning in black 'forty four. When the forward commander Was told to sit tight When he asked that his men be withdrawn. And the Generals gave thanks As the other ranks held back The enemy tanks for a while. And the Anzio bridgehead Was held for the price Of a few hundred ordinary lives. And kind old King George Sent Mother a note When he heard that father was gone. It was, I recall, In the form of a scroll, With gold leaf and all. And I found it one day In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away. And my eyes still grow damp to remember His Majesty signed With his own rubber stamp. …(continues) [http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/When-the-Tigers-broke-free-lyrics-Pink-Floyd/D360E135DA69F15948256B250030E859](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/When-the-Tigers-broke-free-lyrics-Pink-Floyd/D360E135DA69F15948256B250030E859) I find it distasteful. If you’re not going to sign it, then don’t bother stamping it like just another paper that needs to be dealt with. It doesn’t sit right with me. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/4 "2004-12-19T19:37:00Z")
I think it’s tacky. If the situation were that he had to sign 1,000 letters in one sitting, then _maybe_ he could get away with stamping. But it’s 1,000 letters over the course of what, 2 years? Very very tacky. I sign a couple hundred holiday cards at work all at once - signature and “happy holidays” or some other short message - and it takes maybe 3 hours. I find it hard to believe that he cannot find 10 hours total over the course of 2 years to sign letters. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/5 "2004-12-19T20:29:12Z")
Disgracefully tacky. Doesn’t he understand that stamped autographs are worthless on the secondary market? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/6 "2004-12-19T20:38:48Z")
What’s the precedent for these sorts of letters? ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/7 "2004-12-19T21:11:20Z")
Tacky. And disgraceful. If a 5 year old can Crayola “thanks for the Leg-o set”, then he can take the time, knowhutImean? VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/8 "2004-12-19T21:23:39Z")
What I don’t understand is why somebody else can’t sign it. A real live signature from Joe Nobody would mean much more to me than the stamped signature of Somebody Important. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/9 "2004-12-19T21:23:48Z")
[According to this Reuter’s story](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=3&u=/nm/20041219/pl_nm/defense_rumsfeld_letters_dc), the families have also received condolence ;etters from President Bush – who signs them by hand. Rumsfeld is so out of touch that he apparently communicates with **himself** by memo. I just love the phrase in the OP: > [@](#): > > … I have directed that in the future I sign each letter. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/10 "2004-12-19T21:48:08Z")
If the death count is so high that he can’t keep up with the condolence letters, perhaps he should rethink the execution of the war. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/11 "2004-12-19T22:14:25Z")
I find it bizarre that people who just lost a loved one can find the emotions left to worry about the signature. Unless Rummy’s magical script can bring people back to life, this is like worrying about getting sunburned when the nukes go off. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/12 "2004-12-19T22:50:48Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I find it bizarre that people who just lost a loved one can find the emotions left to worry about the signature. Unless Rummy’s magical script can bring people back to life, this is like worrying about getting sunburned when the nukes go off. I see your point, but speaking as one who may yet find herself in a position to receive such a letter, Rummy’s rubber-stamping condolence letters is simply a symptom of the rather shabby treatment he’s given to military families. Robin ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/13 "2004-12-19T23:36:54Z")
Wouldn’t your hand cramp up after a couple thousand signatures? I wonder if he bothers with the tens of thousands who were wounded. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/14 "2004-12-20T00:09:09Z")
My husband is serving in Afghanistan. If he were to be killed, I would be so grief-stricken that I wouldn’t give a rats arse if I rec’d a letter signed or stamped by The Other Donald. HOWEVER, being a compassionate human being, for anyone other than my husband, his stamped signature is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard of. I wonder how The Other Donald would feel if Dubya would send him a stamped form letter if his loved one died? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/15 "2004-12-20T01:18:30Z")
> [@Mynn](#): > > Wouldn’t your hand cramp up after a couple thousand signatures? Not if you signed them over the course of a couple years. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/16 "2004-12-20T02:43:10Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I find it bizarre that people who just lost a loved one can find the emotions left to worry about the signature. Unless Rummy’s magical script can bring people back to life, this is like worrying about getting sunburned when the nukes go off. I don’t find it bizarre. I imagine the letter announcing a loved one’s death is something one would give a lot of attention to. It would be something read over and over and over again, particularly if it included details about how the death occurred. That big ole stamped signature would definitely draw attention, IMHO. Finding a stamped signature would indicate that I had just received a basic form letter…something kept on some poor secretary’s computer, ready to print. It removes any illusion of sincerity or care. It would remind me that the death of my loved one was just another hash mark in someone’s “collateral damage” ledger. Hell yeah I’d be angry. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/17 "2004-12-20T02:50:18Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I find it bizarre that people who just lost a loved one can find the emotions left to worry about the signature. Unless Rummy’s magical script can bring people back to life, this is like worrying about getting sunburned when the nukes go off. It matters to the rest of us. He should sign each letter if for no other reason than as a reminder that each one represents someone’s dead child, spouse, parent, friend. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/18 "2004-12-20T04:23:17Z")
When all added together, he found about an afternoon’s worth of his time signing spread over a couple of years to be more valuable than a thousand lifetimes of his soldiers. Disgraceful. ---
**Author:** ![mdf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@mdf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdf)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/19 "2004-12-20T05:01:10Z")
It’s my understanding that the signatures are not _stamped_, but machine-signed, which probably doesn’t make a lot of difference in the way this feels to the recipients of the letters. At least it doesn’t look as tacky as an actual rubber stamp. -mdf ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665/20 "2004-12-20T07:49:02Z")
Why is anyone surprised by this revelation? I can’t recall a time when Don Rumsfeld has shown anything resembling _genuine_ compassion for the troops. Not taking the five seconds it’d need to sign a letter sounds like par for the course to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumsfeld-stamped-his-signature-on-dead-solider-condolence-letters-ok-or-not/280665.md?page=2)