[Suga00]

I'm sorry to hear your brother was charged so much for the overweight bags, however I must say United, as all airlines have set rules. I know what you mean by saying that he is a hero, as all of our men & women fighting this war are, but why is it that their bags can be overweight if airlines clearly state the weight restrictions? I admit the fee is huge for 18lbs so I went to United's Website and found that they allow 2 bags at 50lb each, BUT if traveling on active military orders they are allowed 2 pcs at 70lbs each.
If the bags are over 50lbs then its a charge of 100$. Also, your bother was not traveling with them, so if there was an ecception airline employees had no way of knowing. I've worked for an airline for quite a few years and honestly people have used every excuse in the book to get out of those fees.
If they were overweight 18lbs in one bag then they were overcharged and I suggest you fight it, however, as I said, airlines have set rules, and everyone, war hero family or not, has to follow them. I hope your brother returns safe, My brother is stationed in Iraq also so I know what your going through.