A Moral Dilemma

Opinions would be greatly appreciated with respect to the following dilema.

As a researcher, I have uncovered a fact previously unknown to the families of three USAAF servicemen killed in Europe during WWII. Due to the moral implications of this discovery I am not sure whether to inform the families of my finding or whether to keep quiet to prevent “reopening old wounds”.

The three men concerned were flying in an aircraft which impacted ground at high speed. Such was the devastation that it was impossible for each of their remains to be identified individually. Consequently, they were provided a group burial in a Stateside location which is approximately equidistant to each their respective families.

However, what I have now unearthed in my research is that although each set of remains was not identifiable it was still possible to clearly identify three seperate sets of remains. Indeed, according to official paperwork, three seperate sets of remains are buried in their joint grave. With recent developments in DNA profiling it occurred to me that it may be possible for each of those sets of remains to be subject to DNA profiling (as the immediate next of kin of the deceased are still alive today) and for them to each receive an individual burial nearer to their respective families.

In one hand, I don’t want to deny the relatives a potential wish for their loved ones to be brought home to their home towns. In the other, as I said before, I don’t want to put any of them through a potentially very distressing process.

I would love to hear your thoughts…

Regards

Skipper