Mrs. Gilbert, Widow, Lashes Out at the Dead Brains Media for Helping Orcs

Ginger Gilbert, the widow of Air Force Pilot Troy Gilbert read the Dead Brains Media their rights after they ran with Orc film coverage of his body, the crash site of the F-16 and his ID card. Mrs. Gilbert accused the Dead Brains Media of helping Orcs erode public support for the war.

Ginger Gilbert, widow of Air Force Maj. Troy Gilbert, killed in his jet in Iraq.
Scott Wong
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 18, 2007 04:02 PM

Days after an al-Qaida-linked group released a video showing the body of a Luke Air Force Base fighter pilot killed in Iraq last year, his widow lashed out at the national media, accusing it of politicizing and using the images to erode public support for the war.

Ginger Gilbert, making her first public comments since the video emerged last week, said Tuesday that she couldn't remain silent after watching media coverage of a "disturbing video" of the corpse, identification card and crash site of her husband, Maj. Troy Gilbert.

"When media chooses to use Troy's plane crash as a political catalyst to generate anti-war sentiment, it only serves to degrade the moral integrity my husband possessed and the morale of those still selflessly serving," Gilbert said at news conference at Glendale's Falcon Dunes Golf Course, across from Luke.

"Every time the press lends credibility and significance to terrorist propaganda clearly designed to erode public support or questions the validity of our brave soldiers' selfless acts of service and the war itself," she added, "it only serves to damage our country from within its own borders and embolden those who would do us harm."

Flanked by friends and family members clasping hands, Gilbert thanked Arizonans, the Air Force and her Desert Springs Community Church in Litchfield Park for serving as a "shield of protection for my family's welfare and betterment over the last 10 months."

Troy Gilbert, 34, a father of five, was killed Nov. 27, 2006, when his F-16 crashed about 20 miles northwest of Baghdad. Officials concluded that Gilbert crashed because he was so focused on saving friendly troops from attacking insurgents that he flew too low.

Luke officials, who helped plan the news conference at the request of Gilbert's widow, have declined to comment on the video, referring all questions to the Defense Department.

Capt. Miki Gilloon, Luke's chief spokeswoman, stressed that Gilbert's statement was personal and did not reflect the position of the Glendale base.

"We're here to support her the best we can to make sure she conveys her statement to the media," Gilloon said.