Dust Off had an SOP that would not allow them to land in an unsecure LZ or words to that effect.....but I assure you that was not our Creed as Army Helicopter Pilots....probably because of that initial occurrence. Dust Off after that went on to do some very courageous flying retrieving the Wounded.
Currently, there is much criticism of the US Army sticking to Geneva Accords policies re Marked Medical Evacuation aircraft. The Army refuses to arm their Medevac helicopters because they insist upon marking them with Red Crosses. That the Taliban could care less about the Geneva Convention and that our wounded are too many times prevented timely treatment and evacuation because of these brain dead decisions by the Senior Commanders back in Washington doesn't faze the Dick Heads.
Yes....as in WWII and Korea.....the Next of Kin got a Telegram which was usually delivered by the local taxi company. That procedure changed during the Vietnam War as the losses mounted. There were a lot ****ty deals connected to Military Service during the Vietnam years. But because of those....we have made things a lot better.
Today.....each of trhe Military Services does the best job of such notifications one could expect and the return of the Remains is done with much respect and concern.....especially by the Airlines, local Police and Fire Departments, and local Veterans groups.