CULVER CITY : Widow of ‘Friendly Fire’ Casualty Criticizes Payment

The widow of Iraq “friendly fire” victim Erik Scott Mounsey is angry and wants to know why a foreigner’s life is worth more than her husband’s.

“This is an insult,” said Kaye Mounsey after learning that she will receive $12,000 for the death of her husband while the families of foreigners who died in the April tragedy each will receive $100,000.

The U.S. government issued a statement Friday saying that families of the 11 foreigners killed in the downing of two U.S. Army helicopters by U.S. Air Force jets each would be paid $100,000. In the same announcement, Defense Secretary William J. Perry said the families of the 15 U.S. servicemen killed that day would have their gratuity payments doubled to $12,000--$88,000 less than their French, British, Turkish and Kurdish counterparts.

Warrant Officer Erik Mounsey, an Army pilot, was flying one of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters shot down over northern Iraq. In all, 26 people died. On Monday, a military board recommended that as many as five AWACS crew members be court-martialed for their part in the accident.

“There are laws that limit what the government can do for the survivors. Each of the families has gotten what is allowable under the law,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Tom La-Rock said. According to another Pentagon spokesman, all but one of the families is getting $200,000 in insurance benefits.

But Mounsey said the insurance should not be considered compensation from the government.

“We paid for that policy. And it’s not even five years of salary,” she said.