Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement US President Barack Obama has paid his respects to 18 Americans killed in Afghanistan, the first time he has honoured the fallen in this way. The bodies of 15 US soldiers and three Drug Enforcement Agency agents were transferred to a mortuary on the base. The president also met their families privately. His predecessor, George W Bush, visited the families of dead troops but never received the bodies at the base, in Dover, Delaware. Mr Bush also did not go to military funerals, telling the military newspaper Stars and Stripes three years ago that he preferred to meet families privately. Mr Obama, who was wearing a dark coat, was taken to the base, 100 miles (161km) from the White House, by the Marine One helicopter to greet the C-17 aircraft that had brought back the dead. He boarded the plane and watched as a military chaplain prayed for those who had passed away. 'Salute' There has been a ban on the media attending such events for 18 years, but this was lifted earlier this year for transfers when families involved give permission. A small group of reporters were allowed to watch the final transfer, of Sgt Dale R Griffin, from the plane to the van which would take it to the mortuary. Mr Obama saluted as the flag-draped case was moved. The president went on board the plane which carried the bodies back The returned remains were of troops killed this week in three separate incidents. On Monday, 10, including the three drug enforcement agents, died when a US military helicopter crashed in western Afghanistan. Four more US troops died when two helicopters crashed over southern Afghanistan. The remaining eight soldiers were killed on Tuesday in roadside bomb attacks in Kandahar province. It has been the bloodiest month so far in the past eight years for US troops in Afghanistan - with at least 53 killed. On Monday, Mr Obama told troops at a Florida naval base he would not rush any decision about boosting the number of troops in Afghanistan. He said he would not risk their lives unless it was "absolutely necessary".



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