The grandfather of a Devon soldier killed in Iraq says he does not think the Navy crew freed from captivity in Iran should be paid for their stories.
The only woman in the group, Faye Turney, from Plymouth, is reported to have been paid a six-figure sum by a newspaper and TV channel.
David Godfrey from Cullompton, whose 21-year-old grandson Daniel Coffey was shot, called the move "misguided".
The Navy said the Ministry of Defence had acted in the sailors' interests.
"I believe they're doing a disservice to our service people in Iraq at this present time"
Rifleman Daniel Coffey was protecting fellow soldiers from an ambush when he was injured on patrol in Basra in February. He died in hospital from his injuries.
He was serving his second tour of Iraq and was the 133rd British serviceman to die in the country.
His grandfather told BBC News: "I think the government is very much misguided in allowing the service personnel to talk.
"As far as they (the captives) are concerned, they have to look at their own conscience. I believe they're doing a disservice to our service people in Iraq at this present time."
'Upset families'
He added: "How could I accept money for a story about my grandson?
"The government's decision to allow service personnel to grant interviews is bound to upset people still out there (in Iraq) and will also upset families, like us who have lost loved ones."
In an interview for ITV 1's Trevor Macdonald, Leading Seaman Turney defends her decision to sell her story and says a percentage of the money will help the crew and families of HMS Cornwall.
Defence expert Mike Critchley, based in the South West, said he thought the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was in a difficult position, but criticised the sailors for talking to the press.
He said: "These are servicemen who signed the Official Secrets Act, and I'd say 'Keep your mouths shut'.
"Are they servicemen who signed the Official Secrets Act or are they sort of failed Big Brother contestants?
"But we don't live in that sort of culture anymore, and the MoD are between a rock and a hard place on how they handle this."
'Extraordinary decision'
Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox said he was "astonished" that armed forces personnel had been allowed to sell their stories.
He told BBC News: "I think we need an explanation into why this extraordinary decision was made.
"It's going to cause problems of morale and discipline in the armed forces.
"Already other families are asking why they shouldn't make money from their experiences."
He said that he would have no objection to people speaking after they left the armed forces.
"This decision was ill thought out and wrong," he said.
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