The "No Todd Beamer" Theory

This is hilarious:

The Discovery Channel documentary, 'The Flight That Fought Back', produced by London-based Brook Lapping Productions,is based on research evidence includingthe 9/11 Commission Report and voice recordings leftby passengers and crew members of United flight 93,including the famous "Let's roll" call to action, frompassenger Todd Beamer. There is only one problem:Todd Beamer does not exist.Do a Social Security Death Index search for ToddBeamer at :

http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

You get one record with the date of birth as SEPTEMBERELEVENTH, 1968 and date of death as 6/10/97. Of the passengers and crew of Flight 11, 77, 175 & 93,only 22%, 22%, 28%, 13% respectively are in the SocialSecurity Death Index.

Of course, there is a simple reason for this:

The SSDI does not include death records for everyone who has been issued a Social Security Number (card). Common reasons for exclusion include the following:

* The death was not reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
* The death occurred before the Death Master File was maintained in a computer database. About 98 percent of the deaths in this database occurred between 1962 and the present.
* The person did not participate in the Social Security program.
* Survivor death benefits were (are) being paid to dependents or spouse.
* A recent death may not be indexed yet.
* Human error. (Before you give up, read the section titled "Missing Entries in the SSDI.")

Hmmm, perhaps survivor benefits are being paid to his wife and children?

Hat Tip: JREF forum, Gravy and Chipmunk Stew (sounds delicious!).