Yeah, it's great they got him.
I feel SO much safer now that we have removed him from power.
Was it worth having over 400 of our kids killed? And who knows how many others to come? Why do some of you feel this is the end of the war?
I support the troops, but they shouldn't be there in the first place.
The violence isn't going to stop, and neither is terrorism. There is so much hate in the Arab world against the US that capturing Saddam is barely going to make a difference.
Did you personally feel threatened by Saddam before the war started?
Where are the WMD's that were the "reason" the war began in the first place? WHERE ARE THEY?
Sure the world is a better place now that Saddam is kaput, but ask yourself, was it worth the billions of dollars and hundreds of lives that it cost to capture him?

These names are dead soldiers

17-Dec 1 A Task Force 1st Armored Division soldier was killed Dec. 17 during an ambush in Baghdad’s Karka district.
16-Dec 1 One soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) was killed and six others were injured at approximately 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16 when a five-ton cargo truck rolled over eight kilometers southwest of Mosul.
15-Dec 1 A Coalition Joint Task Force (CJTF-7) soldier died today at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time from a non-hostile gunshot wound.
14-Dec 2 Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, 27, of Carlisle, Pa., was killed Dec. 14, 2003, in Iskandariyah, Iraq. Voelz was responding to an explosive ordnance disposal call when an improvised explosive device detonated. Voelz was assigned to the 703rd Explosive Ordnance Detachment based in Fort Knox, Ky.

Spc. Rian C. Ferguson, 22, of Taylors, S.C., died Dec. 14, 2003, outside forward operating base Quinn, Iraq. Ferguson fell from the light medium tactical vehicle in which he was a passenger. Ferguson died of his injuries. Ferguson was assigned to the Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment based in Fort Carson, Colo.

All deaths listed above occured after the capture of Saddam Hussein.
12-Dec 2 Pfc. Jeffrey F. Braun, 19, of Stafford, Conn., died Dec. 12, 2003, in Baghdad, Iraq. Braun died from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Braun was assigned to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. Jarrod W. Black, 26, of Peru, Ind., was killed Dec. 12, 2003, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Black's convoy was hit by an IED. Black died of his injuries. Black was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment based in Fort Riley, Kan.
11-Dec 1 Spec. Marshall L. Edgerton, 27, of Rocky Face, Ga., was killed Dec. 11 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Edgerton was killed when his camp was attacked with an improvised explosive device. He died of his injuries. Edgerton was assigned to Company A, 82nd Signal Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
10-Dec 4 Pfc. Jerrick M. Petty, 25, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was killed Dec. 10 in Mosul, Iraq. While guarding a gas station, Petty was attacked by enemy forces. He died of his injuries. Petty was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Richard A. Burdick, 24, of National City, Calif., was killed Dec. 10 in Mosul, Iraq. Burdick was in a convoy when his vehicle was hit by an improvise explosive device. He died as a result of his wounds. Burdick was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Aaron T. Reese, 31, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, died Dec. 10 south of Baghdad, Iraq. Reese was on a river patrol on the Tigris River when he fell overboard. Reese was assigned to the 135th Military Police Company, Army National Guard based in Brookpark, Ohio.

Spc. Todd M. Bates, 20, of Bellaire, Ohio, was on a river patrol on the Tigris River south of Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10 when his squad leader fell overboard. Bates dived into the water and did not surface. Bates has been placed in duty status whereabouts unknown. He is assigned to the 135th Military Police Company, Army National Guard based in Brookpark, Ohio.

8-Dec 4 Pfc. Jason G. Wright, 19, of Luzerne, Mich., was killed Dec. 8 in Mosul, Iraq. Wright was on security duty when his vehicle came under fire from a passing vehicle. Wright died as a result of his injuries.

Spc. Christopher J. Rivera Wesley, 26, of Portland, Ore., died Dec. 8 in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq. Wesley was in a Stryker vehicle when it flipped into a canal. He died as a result of his injuries. Wesley was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rdInfantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based in Fort Lewis, Wash.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers were killed on Dec. 8 in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq, when their vehicle flipped into a canal. The soldiers are:

Staff Sgt. Steven H. Bridges, 33, of Tracy, Calif.

Spc. Joseph M. Blickenstaff, 23, of Corvallis, Ore.

Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

7-Dec 1 Pfc. Ray J. Hutchinson, 20, of League City, Texas, was killed Dec. 7 in Mosul, Iraq. Hutchinson was returning from a patrol when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. He died as a result of his injuries. Hutchinson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
5-Dec 1 Spc. Arron R. Clark, 20, of Chico, Calif., was killed on Dec. 5 in Baghdad, Iraq. Clark was on a convoy mission when an improvised explosive device detonated. He died as a result of his injuries. Clark was assigned to the 440th Signal Battalion, 22nd Signal Brigade, V Corps, based in Darmstadt, Germany.
2-Dec 3 Spc. Raphael S. Davis, 24, of Tutwiler, Miss., was killed Dec. 2 in Tampa, Iraq. Davis died of injuries suffered when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Sgt. Ryan C. Young, 21, of Corona, Calif., died on Dec. 2 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of wounds he received Nov. 8 in Fallujah, Iraq. Young died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. Young was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.

Chief Warrant Officer Clarence E. Boone, 50, of Fort Worth, Texas, died on Dec. 2 in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Boone died as a result of a non-combat related injury. Boone was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas.

1-Dec 1 This morning, a Task Force “All-American” patrol was ambushed with small arms fire near Habbaniyah.
One soldier was critically wounded during the attack and was evacuated by air to Forward Operating Base St. Mere where the soldier later died of his wounds.

29-Nov 2 Spc. Aaron J. Sissel, 22, of Tipton, Iowa, was killed on Nov. 29 in Haditha, Iraq. Sissel was traveling in a convoy when his vehicle was hit by enemy fire. The Soldier died as a result of his injuries.
Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino, 40, of Orange, Calif., was killed on Nov. 29 in Haditha, Iraq. Bertolino was traveling in a convoy when his vehicle was hit by enemy fire. He died as a result of his injuries.

28-Nov 2 Early Thursday morning, a soldier from Task Force “All-American” died as the result of a gunshot wound. The soldier was in his barracks when the incident occurred.

Sgt. Ariel Rico, 25, of El Paso, Texas, was killed on Nov. 28 in Mosul, Iraq. Rico died of injuries sustained during an enemy mortar attack. Rico was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.


26-Nov 1 Spc. David J. Goldberg, 20, of Layton, Utah, died on Nov. 26 in Qayyarah, Iraq. Goldberg died of a non-combat related injury. Goldberg was assigned to C Company, 52nd Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), U.S. Army Reserve, 43rd Area Support Group, based in Fort Carson, Colo.
23-Nov 5 Two soldiers were killed when hostile forces attacked the vehicle they were in on Nov. 23 in Mosul, Iraq. Killed were:

Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Wilson, 45, of Thomson, Ga.


Spc. Rel A. Ravago IV, 21, of Glendale, Calif.


Wilson and Ravago were assigned to 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, 35, of Los Angeles, Calif., was killed on Nov. 23 in Baqubah, Iraq. Menyweather died of his injuries after an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. Menyweather was assigned to Company C, 588th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Cpl. Darrell L. Smith, 28, of Otwell, Ind., died on Nov. 23 in Baghdad, Iraq. Smith drowned when his vehicle overturned and fell into a river. Smith was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, based in Washington, Ind.

CW2 Christopher G. Nason, 39, of California, was killed on Nov. 23 between Mosul and Dihok, Iraq. Nason died of injuries sustained in a vehicular accident. Nason was assigned to A Company, 306th Military Intelligence Battalion, Ft. Huachuca, Ariz.

22-Nov 2 Two 1st Armored Division soldiers were killed and one was injured in a traffic accident Nov. 22.
Pfc. Damian S. Bushart, 22, of Waterford, Mich., was killed on Nov. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq. Bushart died of injuries sustained when a tank collided with his vehicle. Bushart was assigned to A Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Armstrong Barracks, Germany.

Spc. Robert D. Roberts, 21, of Winter Park, Fla., was killed on Nov. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq. Roberts died of injuries sustained when a tank collided with his vehicle. Roberts was assigned to A Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Armstrong Barracks, Germany.

21-Nov 1 Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 24, of Pikeville, Ky., was killed on Nov. 21 in Balad, Iraq. Coleman was on patrol when the vehicle he was driving flipped over into a canal trapping him inside the vehicle. Coleman was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Carson, Colo.
20-Nov 3 Capt. George A. Wood, 33, of New York, N.Y., was killed on Nov. 20 in Baqubah, Iraq. Wood was on patrol when his tank rolled over an improvised explosive device. Wood was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Josph L. Lister, 22, of Pleasanton, Kan., was killed on Nov. 20 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Lister was in a convoy when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Lister was assigned to 1st Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.

Pvt. Scott M. Tyrrell, 21, of Sterling, Ill., died on Nov. 20 at Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds received on Nov. 14 in Tikrit, Iraq. Tyrrell was at an ammunition point when it caught on fire.

17-Nov 4 Staff Sgt. Dale A. Panchot, 26, of Northome, Minn., was killed on Nov. 17, south of Balad, Iraq. Panchot was on patrol when he was fatally injured by enemy fire. Panchot was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Carson, Colo.

Chief Warrant Officer Alexander S. Coulter, 35, of Tenn, was killed on Nov. 17 in Baqubah, Iraq. Coulter was in a convoy traveling to Tikrit when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device. The soldier died of his injuries.


Capt. James A. Shull, 32, of California, was killed on Nov. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq. Shull died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, 27, of Kaysville, Utah, died from a non-hostile gunshot wound on Nov. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq. Dalley was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

15-Nov 18 Sgt. Timothy L. Hayslett, 26, of Newville, Pa., was killed on Nov. 15 in Baghdad, Iraq. Hayslett was conducting a patrol when struck by an improvised explosive device. He died of his injuries. Hayslett was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Friedberg, Germany.

The soldiers were killed on Nov. 15 when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq. Killed were:


Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II, 25, of Louisville, Ky. Acklin was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Spc. Ryan T. Baker, 24, of Brown Mills, N.J. Baker was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Spc. William D. Dusenbery, 30, of Fairview Heights, Ill. Dusenbery was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, 36, of Clintonville, Wis. Hansen was assigned to the 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, 21, of Amherst, Wis. Uhl was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Pfc. Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle, 21, of Grand Forks, N.D. Hawk Eagle was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Chief Warrant Officer Erik C. Kesterson, 29, of Independence, Ore. Kesterson was assigned to the 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Spc. John R. Sullivan, 26, of Countryside, Ill. Sullivan was assigned to the 626th Forward Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe, 27, of Wis. Wolfe was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Bolor, 37, of Whittier, Calif., was assigned to the 137th Quartermaster Company, U.S. Army Reserve, based in South El Monte, Calif.

Sgt. John W. Russell, 26, of Portland, Texas, was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in
Fort Campbell, Ky.

Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) Scott A. Saboe, 33, of Willow Lake, S.D., was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.

Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, 21, of Batesville, Miss. Heidelberg was assigned to 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Spc. Jeremiah J. Digiovanni, 21, of Tylertown, Miss. Digiovanni was assigned to 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Pfc. Richard W. Hafer, 21, of Cross Lanes, W.Va. Hafer was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Capt. Pierre E. Piche, 29, of Starksboro, Vt. Piche was assigned to the 626th Forward Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Pfc. Joey D. Whitener, 19, of Nebo, N.C. Whitener was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

14-Nov 1 Spc. Irving Medina, 22, of Middletown, N.Y., was killed on Nov.14 in Baghdad, Iraq. Medina was traveling in a convoy when it struck an improvised explosive device.
13-Nov 2 Pfc. Jacob S. Fletcher, 28, of Bay Shore, N.Y., was killed on Nov. 13 in Samara, Iraq. Fletcher was riding on a bus when an improvised explosive device exploded. Fletcher died of his injuries.

Sgt. Joseph Minucci II, 23, of Richeyville, Pa, was killed on Nov. 13 in Samara, Iraq. Minucci was riding on a bus when an improvised explosive device exploded. Minucci died of his injuries. Minucci was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy.

12-Nov 2 Spc. Robert A. Wise, 21, of Tallahassee, Fla., was killed on Nov. 12 in Baghdad, Iraq. Wise was on a mounted patrol when an improvised explosive device exploded.

Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey, 46, of Nashville, Tenn., died on Nov. 12 in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Bailey died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

11-Nov 2 Spc. Marlon P. Jackson, 25, of Jersey City, N.J., was killed on Nov. 11 in Tampa, Iraq. Jackson died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device exploded on the road. Jackson was assigned to A Company, 94th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy), 130th Engineer Brigade, Vilseck, Germany.

Spc. Genaro Acosta, 26, of Fair Oaks, Calif., was killed on Nov. 11 in Taji, Iraq. Acosta was on patrol when his Bradley vehicle hit and detonated two improvised explosive devices. Acosta died of his injuries.

9-Nov 1 Sgt. Nicholas A. Tomko, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pa., was killed on Nov. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq. Tomko was the door gunner in a convoy vehicle when his team came under small arms attack. The soldier died of his injuries. Tomko was assigned to the 307th Military Police Company, U.S. Army Reserve, New Kensington, Pa.
8-Nov 3 Staff Sgt. Gary L. Collins, 32, of Hardin, Texas, was killed on Nov. 8, in Fallujah, Iraq. Collins was riding in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle when it hit an improvised explosive device. The soldier died of his injuries. Collins was assigned to 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.

Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, 35, of Port Huron, Mich., was killed on Nov. 8, 2003, in Fallujah, Iraq. Vasquez was in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle that was struck by an improvised explosive device . The soldier died of his injuries. Vasquez was assigned to 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.


Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, 22, of Des Moines, Iowa, was killed on Nov. 8 in Baghdad, Iraq. Frosheiser as the driver of a vehicle on mounted patrol when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Frosheiser was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

7-Nov 7 A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down Nov. 7, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. The Black Hawk was shot down by unknown enemy ordnance. Killed were:
Chief Warrant Officer (CW5) Sharon T. Swartworth , 43, of Virginia. Swartworth was the regimental warrant officer for the Judge Advocate General Office, based at Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon.

Chief Warrant Officer (CW3) Kyran E. Kennedy, 43, of Boston, Mass.

Staff Sgt. Paul M. Neff II, 30, of Fort Mill, S.C.

Sgt. Scott C. Rose, 30, of Fayetteville, N.C.

Kennedy, Neff and Rose were assigned to 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.

Capt. Benedict J. Smith, 29, of Monroe City, Mo. Smith was assigned to 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Command Sergeant Major Cornell W. Gilmore I, 45, of Baltimore, Md. Gilmore was assigned to the Judge Advocate General Office, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon

Staff Sgt. Morgan D. Kennon, 23, of Memphis, Tenn., was killed on Nov. 7, 2003, in Mosul, Iraq. Kennon was guarding a bank in downtown Mosul when his position came under rocket-propelled grenade attack. Kennon was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.

6-Nov 3 Spc. James R. Wolf, 21, of Scottsbluff, Neb., was killed on Nov. 6 in Mosul, Iraq. Wolf was in a convoy when an improvised explosive device was detonated. Wolf died of his injuries. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, based in Fort Carson, Colo.

Spc. James A. Chance III, 25, of Kokomo, Miss., was killed on Nov. 6, 2003, in Husaybah, Iraq. Chance died of injuries sustained when his vehicle struck a landmine.

Sgt. Paul F. Fisher, 39, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died on Nov. 6 at the Homburg University Klinikum, Homberg, Germany. Fisher was very seriously injured on Nov. 2 in Al Fallujah, Iraq, when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding went down. As a result of the incident, there were 16 soldiers killed in action and 26 wounded. Fisher was assigned to Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, based in Davenport, Iowa.

5-Nov 1 Sgt. 1st Class Jose A. Rivera, 34, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was killed on Nov. 5 in Mumuhdyah, Iraq. Rivera was part of a patrol when his unit came under rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire. Rivera died of his injuries. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
4-Nov 2 Sgt. Francisco Martinez, 28, of Humacao, Puerto Rico, was killed on Nov. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq. Martinez was in a convoy when an improvised explosive device exploded. Martinez died of his injuries.

Spc. Robert T. Benson, 20, of Spokane, Wash., died on Nov. 4, in Baghdad, Iraq. Benson died from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Benson was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Smith Barracks, Germany.

3-Nov 1 Pfc. Rayshawn S. Johnson, 20, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was killed on Nov. 3, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. Johnson was on patrol when his vehicle hit a landmine. The soldier died as a result of his injuries. Johnson was assigned to the 299th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Hood, Texas.
2-Nov 15 Sixteen soldiers were killed and 21 were wounded when a Coalition helicopter went down near the city of Amiryah at approximately 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.

Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, 29, of Calif., was killed on November 2, 2003, in Al Fallujah, Iraq. Velazquez was onboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter when it made a crash landing (read: it was shot down).

Specialist Darius T. Jennings, 22 of Cordova, S.C., was killed on Nov. 2. Jennings was on board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter when it went down in Al Fallujah, Iraq.

Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, 33, of Enon Valley, Pa. Bucklew was assigned to Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.


Pfc. Anthony D. Dagostino, 20, of Waterbury, Conn. Dagostino was assigned to the 16th Signal Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.


Pfc. Karina S. Lau, (female) 20, of Livingston, Calif. Lau was assigned to the 16th Signal Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.


Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, 23, of Houston, Texas. Moss was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.


Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, 36, of Oklahoma. Pennanen was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.


1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, 30, of Genoa, Ill. Slavenas was assigned to F Company, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, Peoria, Ill.


Spc. Frances M. Vega (female), 20, of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Vega was assigned to the 151st Adjutant General Postal Detachment 3, Fort Hood, Texas.


Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, 30, of Mississippi. Wilson was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.

Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Bader, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colo. Bader was assigned to Air Defense Artillery Battery, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based in Fort Carson, Colo.

Spc. Steven D. Conover, 21, of Wilmington, Ohio. Conover was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, based in Fort Sill, Okla.

Spc. Brian H. Penisten, 28, of Fort Wayne, Ind. Penisten was assigned to Air Defense Artillery Battery, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based in Fort Carson, Colo.

Sgt. Joel Perez, 25, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Perez was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, based in Fort Sill, Okla.

Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith, 41, of West Liberty, Iowa. Smithwas assigned to Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, based in Davenport, Iowa.

1-Nov 3 Two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldiers were killed and two were wounded in an improvised explosive device attack in Mosul at approximately 7:30 a.m. Nov.1.

1.) 1st Lt. Joshua C. Hurley, 24, of Virginia, was killed on Nov. 1 in Mosul, Iraq. Hurley was riding in a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle when he was hit with an improvised explosive device. Hurley was assigned to the 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Hurley died as a result of his injuries.

2nd Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan, 30, of Kent, Wash., was killed on Nov. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq. Colgan was responding to a rocket propelled grenade attack when he was struck with an improvised explosive device. Colgan was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Giessen, Germany. Colgan died as a result of his injuries.

Spc. Maurice J. Johnson, 21, of Levittown, Pa., was killed on Nov. 1 in Mosul, Iraq. Johnson was riding in a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle when it was hit by an improvised explosive device. Johnson died as a result of his injuries.

31- Oct 1 2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant, 23, of Riverside, Calif., was killed on Oct. 31in Al Fallujah, Iraq. Bryant was on patrol when an improvised explosive device exploded. Bryant died of his injuries.

28-Oct 3 Pvt. Algernon Adams, 36, of Aiken, S.C., died on Oct. 28, of non-combat related injuries at Forward Operating Base St. Mere, Iraq.

Spec. Isaac Campoy, 21, of Douglas, Ariz, was killed on Oct. 28 in Baqubah, Iraq. Campoy was fatally injured when his tank was hit with an improvised explosive device.

Sgt. Michael Paul Barrera, 26, of Von Ormy, Texas, was killed on Oct. 28 in Baqubah, Iraq. Barrera was fatally injured when his tank was hit with an improvised explosive device.

27-Oct 2 Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, 20, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, was killed in action on Oct. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq. Falaniko was near the Al Khadra Police Station in downtown Baghdad when a vehicle containing an improvised explosive device detonated.

Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell, 33, of Tuskegee, Ala., was killed in action on Oct. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq. Bell was at the Al Bayra Police Station when his unit came under small arms fire and an improvised explosive device detonated at his location. Bell was assigned to the 214th Military Police Company, Alabama National Guard.

26-Oct 5 Pfc. Rachel K. Bosveld, 19, of Waupun, Wis., was killed Oct. 26 in Abu Ghraib, Iraq. Bosveld was fatally injured during a mortar attack on the Abu Ghraib Police Station.

Pfc. Steven Acosta, 19, of Calexico, Calif., died on Oct. 26 in Baqubah, Iraq. Acosta died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring, 40, of Fayetteville, N.C., was killed on Oct. 26 in Baghdad, Iraq. Buehring was fatally injured during a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Al-Rasheed Hotel.

Two 1st Armored Division soldiers were killed and two wounded in an improvised explosion device attack while on patrol in Baghdad at approximately 10 p.m. October 26.

Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera, 20, of Dunn, N.C., was killed on Oct. 26 in Baghdad, Iraq. Guerrera was on patrol when his vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device. Guerrera was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Huggins, 26, of Hume, Mo., was killed in action on Oct. 26 in Baghdad, Iraq. Huggins was on patrol when his vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device. Huggins was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

24-Oct 3 Sgt. Michael S. Hancock, 29, of Yreka, Calif., was killed on Oct. 24 in Mosul, Iraq. Hancock was on guard duty when he was shot. He died of his injuries.

Two soldiers who were killed on Oct. 24 in Samaria, Iraq. Both soldiers died of wounds received from an enemy mortar attack. Killed were:

Spc. Artimus D. Brassfield, 22, of Flint, Mich. Brassfield was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based in Ft. Hood, Texas.


Spc. Jose L. Mora, 26, of Bell Gardens, Calif. Mora was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based in Ft. Carson, Colo.

23-Oct 1 Capt. John R. Teal, 31, of Mechanicsville, Va., was killed on Oct. 23 in Baqubah, Iraq. Teal was in a convoy when an improvised explosive device exploded. He died of injuries sustained in the explosion.
22-Oct 2 Pvt. Jason M. Ward, 25, of Tulsa, Okla., died on Oct. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq. Ward died of non-combat related injuries.

Spc. John P. Johnson, 24, of Houston, Texas, died on Oct. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq. Johnson died of non-combat related injuries.

21-Oct 1 Pfc. Paul J. Bueche, 19, of Daphne, Ala., died on Oct. 21 in Balad, Iraq. Bueche was changing a tire on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when the tire exploded.
20-Oct 1 Staff Sgt. Paul J. Johnson, 29, of Calumet, Mich., was killed on Oct. 20 in Al Fallujah, Iraq. Johnson was on a mounted patrol when the vehicle he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device and later came under small arms fire by enemy forces.
18-Oct 2 Both soldiers were killed in action on Oct. 18 in Taza, Iraq, when enemy forces ambushed their patrol using rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire. Killed were:

1st Lt. David R. Bernstein, 24, of Phoenixville, Pa.

Pfc. John D. Hart, 20, of Bedford, Mass.


17-Oct 1 Spc. Michael L. Williams, 46, of Buffalo, N.Y., was killed on October 17, 2003, along MSR Jackson, near Baghdad, Iraq. Williams was killed in action when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device. He died as a result of his injuries.

16-Oct 3 Three soldiers were attempting to negotiate with armed men who were congregating on a road
near a mosque after curfew. The Iraqis opened fire killing three soldiers and
wounding seven others.. Killed were:
Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando, 43, of Tennessee.

Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, 28, of Wakefield, Mass.

Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, 24, of San Bernardino, Calif.

The soldiers were assigned to the 716th Military Police Battalion, 101stAirborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky. Orlando was the commanding officer of the 716th Military Police Battalion.

13-Oct 5 Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt, 19, of Kilgore, Texas, was killed on Oct. 13 in Balad, Iraq. Wyatt was in a convoy that was hit by an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He died as a result of his injuries.

Spc. Donald L. Wheeler, 22, of Concord, Mich., was killed on Oct. 13 in Tikrit, Iraq. Wheeler was searching for a possible improvised explosive device when his unit came under attack from a rocket propelled grenade. He died as a result of his injuries.

Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died on Oct. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq. Weismantle
was driving a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his vehicle. Weismantle died as a result of his injuries.

Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, 19, of Valdosta, Ga., drowned on Oct. 13 near Al Asad, Iraq. Soldiers from his unit had been searching for Freeman when they discovered him floating on the surface of the water near Haditha dam. Attempts made to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Freeman was assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based in Fort Carson, Colo.

Pfc. Jose Casanova, 23, of El Monte, Calif., died on Oct. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq. Casanova was in a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his vehicle. Casanova was one of two soldiers who were killed in this incident.

Casanova was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.

12-Oct 1 Spc. James E. Powell, 26, of Radcliff, Ky., was killed on October 12 in Baji, Iraq. Powell was killed when his M2/A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle struck an enemy anti-tank mine. He died as a result of his injuries.
9-Oct 3 Spc. Joseph C. Norquist, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, was killed on Oct. 9 in Baqubah, Iraq, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Norquist was in a convoy that came under attack from rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire. Norquist was fatally
injured in the incident.


Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher, 26, of Lincoln, Neb., and Pvt. Sean A. Silva, 23, of Roseville, Calif., were killed in an ambush on Oct. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq. The soldiers were on patrol when their unit was ambushed by individuals using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades.

6-Oct 3 Spc. Spencer T. Karol, 20, of Woodruff, Ariz., who was killed on Oct. 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Karol was on a mission to observe enemy activity when a command detonated device exploded. His vehicle was overturned from the force of the explosion and he was fatally injured.


2nd Lt. Richard Torres, 25, of Clarksville, Tenn., who was killed on Oct. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on combat patrol, Torres' convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. Torres died of his injuries.

Pfc. Kerry D. Scott, 21, of Mount Vernon, Wash., was killed on Oct. 6 in Iskandariyah, Iraq. While on a combat patrol, Scott's convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. Scott was one of two soldiers killed in the blast. Scott was assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. .

4-Oct 1 Spc. James H. Pirtle, 27, of La Mesa, N.M., was killed on Oct. 4 in Assadah, Iraq.
Pirtle was in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle when an RPG struck his vehicle. Pirtle
died of his injuries.
3-Oct 1 Pfc. Charles M. Sims, 18, of Miami, Fla., drowned on Oct. 3 in Baghdad, Iraq.
1-Oct 3 Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, 40, of Alexandria, Va., was killed on Oct. 1 in Samarra, Iraq. Blankenbecler was in a convoy that was hit by an improvised explosive device and rocket propelled grenades. Blankenbecler died of his injuries.

Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, 21, of Houston, Texas, was killed on Oct. 1 in Tikrit, Iraq. Esparza Gutierrez was in a convoy that was hit by an improvised explosive device and rocket propelled grenades. Esparza Gutierrez died of her injuries.


Spc. Simeon Hunte, 23, of Essex, N.J., was killed on Oct. 1 in Al Khadra, Iraq. Hunte was on patrol when an Iraqi citizen approached and shot him.

30-Sep 1 Spc. Dustin K. McGaugh, 20, of Derby, Kan., died on Sept. 30 in Balad, Iraq. McGaugh died from a non-hostile gunshot wound. McGaugh was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Okla.
29-Sep 4 Sgt. Andrew Joseph Baddick, 26, of Jim Thorpe, Pa., drowned Sept. 29 as he tried to rescue another soldier whose vehicle had entered a canal near Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq.


Sgt. Darrin K. Potter, 24, of Louisville, Ky., was killed on Sept. 29 near Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq. Potter was a member of a military police team searching the prison area. During the search, his
vehicle left the road and went into a canal. SGT Potter died in the vehicle. Two other soldiers escaped.


Staff Sgt. Christopher E. Cutchall, 30, of McConnellsburg, Pa., was killed on Sept. 29 west of Baghdad, Iraq. Cutchall was traveling in a convoy when an improvised explosive device detonated as his vehicle passed by. He died of injuries sustained in the incident.

Parker, Kristian E. Private 1st Class 23 Army National Guard 205th Engineer Battalion Non-hostile - non-combat related injuries Qatar (Camp AS Sayliyah) Slidell

25-Sep 3 Capt. Robert L. Lucero, 34, of Casper, Wyo., was killed on Sept. 25, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. Lucero died and another soldier was injured when they were struck by an improvised explosive device.

Spc. Kyle G. Thomas, 23, of Topeka, Kan., was killed on Sept. 25, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. Thomas was on patrol when an improvised explosive device exploded. He died of injuries sustained in the explosion.

Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, 43, of Nashua, N.H. Rooney died on Sep. 25 at Shuabai Port, in

, when he was struck by a forklift and died of his injuries.

24-Sep 1 Spc. Michael Andrade, 28, of Bristol, Rhode Island died on Sept. 24 in Balad, Iraq. Andrade was a passenger in a HMMWV when a 5-ton truck struck the side of his vehicle. He died of injuries sustained in the accident.
22-Sep 1 Spc. Paul J. Sturino, 21, of Rice Lake, Wis., died on Sept. 22 in Quest, Iraq. Sturino died from a non-combat weapons discharge. Sturino was assigned to B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.
20-Sep 3 Two soldiers were killed in a mortar attack on Sept. 20 in Abu Gareeb, Iraq. Killed were:

Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II, 27, of Creedmore, N.C. Brown was assigned to A Company, 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion, Patton Barracks, Germany.


Sgt. David T. Friedrich, 26, of Hammond, N.Y. Friedrich was assigned to B Company, 325th Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Waterbury, Conn.

Staff Sgt. Frederick L. Miller, Jr., 27, of Hagerstown, Ind., was killed on Sept. 20 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Miller was conducting a security patrol when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. Miller died of his injuries.

18-Sep 4 Capt. Brian R. Faunce, 28, of Philadelphia, Pa., died on Sept. 18 in Al Asad, Iraq. Faunce was moving in a Bradley fighting vehicle when his vehicle crossed under some low laying power lines. The soldier reached up and grabbed the lines and was fatally injured. Faunce was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.
Three soldiers were killed in an ambush by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenade, on Sept. 18 in Tikrit, Iraq. Killed were:


Sgt. Anthony O. Thompson, 26, of Orangeburg, S.C.


Spc. Richard Arriaga, 20, of Ganado, Texas


Spc. James C. Wright, 27, of Morgan, Texas

15-Sep 2 Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Kimmerly, 31, of North Creek, N.Y., was killed on Sept. 15, in Baghdad, Iraq. While on patrol, Kimmerly's vehicle was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. Kimmerly died of his injuries.

Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, 27, of Flagstaff, Ariz., died on Sept. 15 in Telafar, Iraq. Peterson died from a non-combat weapons discharge.

14-Sep 1 Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg, 22, of Canton, Mich., was killed on Sept. 14 in Baghdad,Iraq. Blumberg was on patrol when two improvised explosive devices struck his vehicle. Blumberg was assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. (three wounded)
12-Sep 2 Master Sgt. Kevin N. Morehead, 33, of Little Rock, Ark., and Sgt. 1st Class William M. Bennett, 35, of Seymour, Tenn., were killed on Sept. 12, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Both soldiers died of wounds they received when their unit executed a raid on enemy forces. The soldiers were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.
11-Sep 1 Sgt. Henry Ybarra III, 32, of Austin, Texas, died on Sept. 11 in Balad, Iraq. Ybarra was changing the tire on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck when the tire exploded. Ybarra died of his injuries.

10-Sep 1 Joseph E. Robsky, Jr., 31, of Elizaville, N.Y., was killed on Sept. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq. Robsky was on call to neutralize an improvised explosive device (IED) after the initial attempt failed. Soldier returned to the site to render it safe, and the IED detonated. Robsky was assigned to the 759th Ordnance Company, Fort Irwin, Calif.
9-Sep 1 Spc. Ryan G. Carlock, 25, of Macomb, Ill., was killed on Sept. 9 northwest of Baghdad, Iraq. Carlock died of injuries sustained when his fuel truck was attacked by the enemy. Carlock was assigned to the 416th Transportation Company, 260th Quartermaster Battalion (Petroleum Support), Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.


7-Sep 1 Spc. Jarrett B. Thompson, 27, of Dover, Del., died on Sept. 7 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Thompson was in a convoy on Aug. 30 when a civilian vehicle passed the convoy and cut in front of the lead military vehicle and an approaching Iraqi truck. The driver of the civilian vehicle hit Thompson's truck. Thompson was medically evacuated to WRAMC where he later died of his injuries.
4-Sept 1 Brown, Bruce E. Technical Sergeant 32 Air Force 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron Non-hostile - vehicle accident Al Udeid (near)
2-Sep 1 Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson, 20, of Oak Park, Ill., died on Sept. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq. Sisson was in a UH-60 helicopter participating in an air assault mission. The helicopter flipped and crashed on take off. He died of injuries sustained in the incident. Sisson was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C.
1-Sep 3 Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara, 40, of New Bedford, Mass., was killed Sept. 1 on Main Supply Route Tampa, south of Baghdad, Iraq. Camara was one of two soldiers who were killed when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Camara died of his injuries.


Sgt. Charles T. Caldwell, 38, of North Providence, R.I., was killed on Sept. 1 on Main Supply Route Tampa, south of Baghdad, Iraq. Caldwell was one of two soldiers killed in a vehicle that was struck by an improvised explosive device. Caldwell died of his injuries. Caldwell was assigned to the 115th Military Police Company, U.S. Army National Guard, Cranston, R.I.

Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno, 43, of Waipahu, Hawaii, died on Sept. 1 in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Sarno was hit by a truck while changing his vehicle's tire. Sarno died as a result of his injuries.


Sarno was assigned to the 257th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Las Vegas, Nev.


30-Aug 1 Sgt. Sean K. Cataudella, 28, of Tucson, Ariz., died on Aug. 30 in Ba'qubah, Iraq.
Cataudella was driving a military vehicle when he hit an embankment and rolled into
a canal. Cataudella was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
29-Aug 1 Staff Sgt. Mark A. Lawton, 41, of Hayden, Colo., was killed on Aug. 29, 2003, north of As Suaydat, Iraq. Lawton was in a convoy that was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

27-Aug 3 Spc. Rafael L. Navea, 34, of Pittsburgh, PA, was killed on Aug. 27 in Al Fallujah, Iraq. Navea was in a vehicle when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. Navea died of his injuries. Navea was assigned to C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, based at Fort Sill, Okla.


Sgt. Gregory A. Belanger, 24, of Narragansett, R.I., was killed on August 27 in Al Hallia, Iraq. Belanger was in a vehicle when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. Belanger died of his injuries.


Lt. Col. Anthony L. Sherman, 43, of Pottstown, Pa., died on August 27 in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Sherman died as a result of non-combat related injury (medical).


The soldier was off duty and in the living quarters at the time. After the soldier appeared unresponsive, fellow soldiers administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Other attempts at reviving the soldier were made without success at a nearby medical clinic.

26-Aug 1 Spc. Darryl T. Dent, 21, of Washington, D.C., was killed on August 26 in Southeast Arimadi, Iraq. Dent was in a convoy when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. Dent died of his injuries.

25-Aug 2 Pfc. Pablo Manzano, 19, B Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, V Corps, Bamberg,
Germany, of Heber, Calif., died on Aug. 25 in Logistical Support Area Dogwood, Iraq.
Manzano died as a result of a non-combat weapons discharge.

Spc. Ronald D. Allen, Jr., 22, from - Mitchell, Ind died as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident between Tikrit and Forward Operating Base Anaconda in Balad at approximately 6:40 p.m. on Aug. 25.

The vehicle the soldier was riding in had a flat tire causing the convoy to stop along side the road to replace the flat. While changing the tire, a passing Iraqi vehicle was involved in a traffic collision, which caused it to spin out of control and strike the soldier.

23-Aug 2 Spc. Stephen M. Scott, 21, of Lawton, Okla., died on Aug. 23 in Baghdad, Iraq. Scott died as a result of non-combat injuries. Scott was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.


Pfc. Vorn J. Mack, 19, of Orangeburg, S.C., died on Aug. 23 near the Hadithah Dam, west of Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Mack jumped into the Euphrates River to take a swim and did not resurface. A search party found Mack's body downstream on Aug. 24. Mack was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

21-Aug 2 Pfc. Michael S. Adams, 20, of Spartanburg, S.C., died on Aug. 21 in Baghdad, Iraq. Adams was participating in a small arms fire exercise on the range when a bullet ricocheted and ignited a fire in the building. He died as a result of injuries sustained during the fire.

The Department of Defense announced today that Lt. Kylan A. Jones-Huffman, 31, of Aptos, Calif., was killed Aug. 21 in Al Hillah, Iraq, by an unidentified gunman. Jones-Huffman was on temporary duty with the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

20-Aug 2 Spc. Kenneth W. Harris, Jr., 23, of Charlotte, Tenn., was killed on Aug. 20 in Scania, Iraq. Harris was fatally injured in a two-vehicle accident while driving south on the main supply route. Another soldier was also injured in the incident.

Staff Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, 38, of Mineral Bluff, Ga., was killed on Aug. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq. Franklin died of injuries sustained by an improvised explosive device.

18-Aug 1 Spc. Eric R. Hull, 23, of Uniontown, Pa., was killed on Aug. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq. Hull was in a military vehicle returning from the airport when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Hull died of his injuries.
17-Aug 1 Ivory, Craig S., 501st Forward Spt. Co., 173rd Airborne Non-hostile - illness - heat related Homberg Univ. Hospital Port Matilda Pennsylvania US.
14-Aug 1 Pfc. David M. Kirchhoff, 31, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died on Aug. 14 in Landstuhl, Germany. Pfc. Kirchhoff suffered a non-hostile injury on Aug. 8 and died on Aug. 14.
See the Des Moines Register
13-Aug 1 Sgt. Steven W. White, 29, of Lawton, Okla., was killed on August 13 in Tikrit, Iraq. White died of injuries sustained when his M113 armored personnel carrier hit an antitank mine.

12-Aug 4 Pfc. Timmy R. Brown, Jr., 21, of Conway, Pa., was killed on Aug. 12 in Taji, Iraq. Brown was in a convoy when he was injured by an explosive device. Brown died of his injuries.
Sgt. Taft V. Williams, 29, of New Orleans, La., was killed on August 12 near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Williams was in a convoy when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Williams died of his injuries.

Pfc. Daniel R. Parker, 18, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., died on Aug. 12 in Mosul, Iraq. Parker was thrown from his vehicle when the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle in another lane. Parker was
fatally injured.

Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., 37, of Guilford, Conn., died on August 12 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. A fellow soldier tried to wake Eaton and noticed he was not breathing.

10-Aug 1 Staff Sgt. David S. Perry, 36, of Bakersfield, Calif., was killed on Aug. 10 in Baquabah, Iraq. Perry was inspecting a suspicious package when it exploded and fatally injured him.
9-Aug 2 Spc. Levi B. Kinchen, 21, of Tickfaw, La., died on Aug. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq. A fellow soldier tried to wake Kinchen and noticed he was not breathing. Kinchen was assigned to 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.

Sgt. Floyd G. Knighten, Jr., 55, of Olla, La., died on Aug. 9 in Iraq. Knighten died as a result of a non-combat related cause while in a convoy from Camp Bilad heading to Camp Pennsylvania. Knighten was assigned to the 1087th Transportation Support Company, Army National Guard, Fort Polk, La.
8-Aug 2 Pfc. Brandon Ramsey, 21, of Calumet City, Ill, died on Aug. 8 in Tallil, Iraq. Ramsey was part of a convoy escort mission when the vehicle he was in rolled over during a chase of a suspicious
vehicle and fatally injured him.

Pvt. Matthew D. Bush, 20, of East Alton, Ill., died on Aug. 8 in Camp Caldwell, Iraq. A fellow soldier tried to wake Bush and noticed he was not breathing. Bush was assigned to F Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
7-Aug 1 Pfc. Duane E. Longstreth, 19, of Tacoma, Wash., died on Aug. 7 in Baghdad, Iraq. Longstreth died as a result of non-combat related injuries. Longstreth was assigned to Company B, 307th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C.
6-Aug 4 Staff Sgt. Brian R. Hellerman, 35, of Freeport, Minn., was killed on Aug. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq. An Iraqi vehicle opened fire on Hellerman's unit. He died of injuries received during the ambush.

Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert, 20, of Brattleboro, Vt., was killed on Aug. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq. An Iraqi vehicle opened fire on Gilbert's unit. Gilbert died of injuries received during the ambush. Gilbert was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga, 20, of Bellville, Texas, died on Aug. 6 at Homburg University Hospital in Germany. Colunga was initially evacuated to the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Iraq on Aug. 4.

Sgt. Leonard D. Simmons, 33, of New Bern, N.C., died on Aug. 6 in Mosul, Iraq.
Simmons died of a non-combat related cause. Simmons was assigned to C Company, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

5-Aug 2 Staff Sgt. David L. Loyd, 44, of Jackson, Tenn., died on Aug. 5 in Kuwait. Loyd was on a mission when he experienced severe chest pains. The soldier was sent to the Kuwait hospital where he was
pronounced dead.

Spc. Farao K. Letufuga, 20, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, died on Aug. 5 in Mosul, Iraq. Letufuga fatally fell from the top of a building while he was performing guardduty. Letufuga was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion,327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
31-Jul 3 Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, 21, of Dubuque, Iowa was killed on July 31 in Baghdad, Iraq. Deutsch was in a vehicle that was struck by an explosive device. Deutsch was assigned to 1st Squadron, 1st Armored Cavalry Regiment, Armstrong Barracks, Germany.

Spc. James I. Lambert III, 22, of Raleigh, N.C. was killed on July 31 in Baghdad, Iraq. Lambert was struck by a stray bullet fired during what was believed to be acelebratory event by local nationals. Lambert was assigned to the 407th Combat Support Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. The incident is under investigation.

Spc. Justin W. Hebert, 20, of Arlington, Wash., was killed on August 1 in Kirkuk, Iraq. Hebert was on patrol when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade. Hebert was assigned to the 319th Field Artillery, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy.
30-Jul 1 1st Lt. Leif E. Nott, 24, of Cheyenne, Wyo., was killed on July 30 in Belaruz, Iraq, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nott died of wounds received from hostile fire.
29-Jul
28- Jul 2 Spc. William J. Maher III, 35, Yardley, Pa., was killed on July 28 in Baghdad, Iraq. Maher was in a convoy when he was injured by an improvised explosive device. Maher died of his injuries.

Sgt. Nathaniel Hart Jr., 29, of Valdosta, Ga., died on July 28 in Tillil, Iraq. Hart died of injuries he received when his vehicle went off the road and rolled over.

27- Jul 1 Sgt. Heath A. McMillin, 29, of Canandaigua, N.Y., was killed on July 27 South of Baghdad, Iraq. McMillin was on patrol when he came under attack from rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire. McMillin was assigned to the 105th Military Police Company, Army National Guard, Buffalo, N.Y.
26-Jul 4 Sgt. Daniel K. Methvin, 22, Belton, Texas
Spc. Jonathan P. Barnes, 21, Anderson, Mo.

Pfc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., 24, Norwalk, Conn.

The soldiers were killed as a result of a grenade being thrown from a window of an Iraqi civilian hospital that they were guarding.


Pfc. Jonathan M. Cheatham, 19, of Camden, Ark., was killed on July 26 in Baghdad, Iraq. Cheatham was in a convoy that came under rocket propelled grenade attack. Cheatham was assigned to the 489th Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, North Little Rock, Ark.
25-Jul
24-Jul 4 On July 24, three soldiers were killed north of Al Hawd, Iraq, when their military convoy came under enemy fire. Killed were:

Cpl. Evan Asa Ashcraft, 24, West Hills, Calif. Ashcraft was assigned to the Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, in Fort Campbell, Ky.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, Bay Shore, N.Y. Heighter was assigned to the 2/320th Field Artillery, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez, 40, of Corpus Christi, Texas. Perez was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, in Fort Campbell, Ky.Sgt. Juan M. Serrano, 31, Manati,
Puerto Rico, died on July 24 in Baghdad, Iraq.Serrano was changing a tire on an
M998 vehicle when it fell on him inflicting a fatal head injury.
23-Jul 2 Capt. Joshua T. Byers, 29, of Nevada was killed in action when his convoy hit an explosive device.Byers was assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment, in Fort Carson, Co.
Spc. Brett T. Christian, 27, North Royalton, Ohio, was killed on July 23 in Mosul, Iraq.Christian was in a convoy that came under attack by rocket propelled grenades.
22-Jul 1 Spc. Jon P. Fettig, 30, Dickinson, N.D., was killed on July 22 on the outside of Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Fettig was killed
when the Heavy Expanded-Mobility Tactical Truck he was in was hit by a rocket propelled grenade.
21-Jul 1 Cpl. Mark A. Bibby, 25, Watha, N.C., was died on July 21 in Baghdad, Iraq. Bibby was in a convoy to a water treatment facility when an improvised explosive device exploded. Bibby was assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, 422 Civil Affairs Battalion, Greensboro, N.C.
20-Jul 3 Sgt. Jason D. Jordan, 24 of Elba, Ala. died on July 20 in Tallifar, Iraq. Sgt. Jordan was patrolling a village when the vehicle was ambushed by RPGs (rocket propelled grenades). Sgt. Justin W. Garvey, 23, Townsend, Mass., was killed on July 20 in Tallifar, Iraq. Garvey was patrolling in his vehicle when it was ambushed and struck by rocket propelled grenades. Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby, 29, Phenix City, Ala., died on July 20 in
Baghdad, Iraq. Willoughby was riding in a vehicle that rolled over. Willoughby was assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gillen, Ga.
19-Jul 1 Second Lt. Jonathan D. Rozier, 25, of Katy, Texas died on July 19 at Baghdad, Iraq. Lieutenant Rozier s unit was fired upon by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire while providing security at a municipal building. Rozier was assigned to B Company, 2-70th Armor Battalion, Fort Riley, KS (1st Armored Division).
18-Jul 1 Spc. Joel L. Bertoldie, 20, of Independence, Mo. died on July 18 at Fallujah, Iraq. Bertoldie was thrown from the
military vehicle he was driving when an explosive device was detonated underneath.
17-Jul 2 The Department of Defense announced today that Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, 26, Gering, Neb., was killed July 17 in Al Hamishiyah, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, 30, a Utah native, died on July 17 in Baghdad, Iraq. Whetstone died as a result of non-combat injuries.
16-Jul 1 Spc. Ramon Reyes Torres, 29, Caguas,
Puerto Rico, was killed on July 16 in Baghdad, Iraq. Reyes Torres was killed as he
sought cover from a passing truck that contained a command detonated device.
15-Jul 1 Geurin, Cory Ryan Lance Corporal 18 Marines 1st Batt., 7th Mar. Reg., 1st Mar. Div. Non-hostile - accidental fall Al Hillah
14-Jul 1 Sgt. Michael T. Crockett, 27, of Soperton, Ga., was killed on July 14 in Baghdad,
Iraq. Crockett was on patrol when he came under RPG attack. Crockett was assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, Fort
Stewart, Ga.
13-Jul 2 Cpt. Paul J. Cassidy, 36, of Laingsburg, Mich., died July 13 in Camp Babylon, Iraq. Cassidy died as a result of non-combat injuries. This incident is under investigation. Cassidy was assigned to the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion in Wis.Sgt. Jaror C. Puello-Coronado, 36, Pocono Summit, Pa., died on July 13 at Camp Edson, Iraq.Puello-Coronado was manning a traffic point when the operator of a dump truck lost control of the vehicle. Puello-Coronado was struck by the truck and died of his injuries.
12-Jul 1 Two 4th Infantry Division soldiers were wounded and one subsequently died from a non-hostile gunshot incident.Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, 20, of Montreal, Mo., died July 12 in Homburg Hospital, Germany (Note: was "supporting "Operation Iraqi Freedom"). Neusche died from a non-combat cause. Neusche was assigned to the 203rd Engineer Battalion, in Joplin, Mo.
11-Jul 1 Spc. Christian C. Schulz, 20, of Colleyville, Texas, died July 11 in Baqubah, Iraq. Schulz died as a result of non-combat injuries. This incident is under investigation. Schulz was assigned to the 3rd Troop, 67th Armor Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
10-Jul
9-Jul 4 Sgt. 1st Class Dan H. Gabrielson, 39, Spooner, Wis., died on July 9 in Ba Qubah, Iraq.Gabrielson was assigned to the 652nd Engineer Company, Ellsworth, Wis.He was traveling in a convoy that came under attack. He was killed by hostile fire.

Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, Eagle Pass, Texas, died on July 9 in Balad, Iraq.Valles was assigned to B Company, 64th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Carson, Col.She died as a result of non-combat injuries.The incident is under investigation. Sgt. Roger D. Rowe, 54, Bon Aqua, Tenn., was killed on July 9 in Iraq.Rowe died as a result of an enemy sniper attack.Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, 20, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed in a vehicle accident in Kuwait July 9.
8-Jul 2 Army Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling, 38, of Elkhart, Ind.; assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment, Tell City, Ind.; died July 8 of non-combat-related causes at Camp Wolf, Kuwait.

Pvt. Robert L. McKinley, 23, of Kokomo, Ind., died on July 8 in Homberg, Germany. McKinley was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-101st Air Assault, Fort Campbell, Ky.

7-Jul 2 Spc. Chad L. Keith, 21, Batesville, Ind., was killed on July 7 in Baghdad, Iraq. Keith was on mounted patrol when his vehicle drove past an object that exploded on the side of the road. Keith was assigned to the 2-325th Infantry, Company D, Fort Bragg, N.C.Staff Sgt. Barry Sanford, Sr., 46, of Aurora, Colo., died on July 7 in Balad, Iraq.Sanford was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Support Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.
6-Jul 2 Sgt. David B. Parson, 30, Kannapolis, N.C., was killed on July 6 in Baghdad, Iraq. Parson was conducting a raid on a house when he was shot and killed. Parson was assigned to the 1-37th Armored Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Friedburg, Germany.

Spc. Jeffrey M. Wershow, 22, Gainesville, Fla., was killed on July 6 in Baghdad, Iraq. Wershow was conducting military operations when he was shot and killed. Wershow was assigned to the 2-124th Infantry, 1st Armored Division, Orlando, Fla.
5-Jul
4-Jul
3-Jul 2 A soldier attached to the 1st Armored Division died of a gunshot wound in a non-combat incident July 3 in Baghdad.The Department of Defense announced today that Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, 20, of Shakopee, Minn., died on July 3 in Baghdad, Iraq.Herrgott died from a gunshot wound while on patrol.Pfc. Corey L. Small, 20, of East Berlin, Pa. died on July 3 in Iraq. Small died from a non-combat related cause.
2-Jul 1 Cpl. Travis J. Bradachnall, 21, of Multnomah County, Ore. died on July 2 in Iraq.Bradachnall was killed in an explosion during a mine clearing operation near the city of Karbala.
1-Jul 1 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, 51, of Bethlehem, Pa, died on July 1 on Highway 8 in Iraq.Coffin's vehicle ran into a ditch while trying to avoid a civilian vehicle.
30-Jun
29-Jun
28-Jun 2 Sgt. 1st Class Gladimir Philippe, 37, of Linden, N.J. and Pfc. Kevin C. Ott, 27, of Columbus, Ohio.

Both soldiers are assigned to Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla. The search is still ongoing.

27-Jun 1 Cpl. Tomas Sotelo Jr., 20, of Houston, Texas, was killed on June 27 in Baghdad, Iraq.Sotelo was traveling in a convoy when a rocket propelled grenade struck his vehicle.
26-Jun 4 Sgt. Timothy M. Conneway, 22, of Enterprise, Ala., was injured on June 26 in Baghdad, Iraq and he later died of wounds on June 28. Conneway was traveling in a government vehicle when an explosive device detonated and struck the vehicle.Conneway was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.The Department of Defense announced today that Spc. Richard P. Orengo, 32, of Puerto Rico, was killed on June 26 in An Najif, Iraq.Orengo was shot and died of injuries he received.The Department of Defense announced today that Spc. Corey A. Hubbell, 20, of Urbana, Ill., died on June 26 in Camden Yards, Kuwait. Hubbell died from a non-combat related cause.

Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, 22, of Kingman, Ariz., died 26 June in Karbala, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

25-Jun 2 The Department of Defense announced today that Spc. Andrew F. Chris, 25, of Calif., was killed on June 25 in Iraq. Chris was fatally wounded in combat operations in hostile enemy territory.Lance Cpl. Gregory E. MacDonald, 29, of Washington, D.C., was killed on June 25 in Iraq. MacDonald was killed when the light armored vehicle he was traveling in rolled over.

MacDonald was assigned to Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Frederick, Md.
24-Jun 1 Spc. Cedric L. Lennon, 32, of West Blocton, Ala., died on June 24, in Baghdad, Iraq. Lennon died from a non-combat related cause.

Lennon was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La. The incident is under investigation.
23-Jun
22-Jun 1 Spc. Orenthial J. Smith, 21, of Allendale, S.C., was killed on June 22, in Baghdad, Iraq. Smith was in a convoy that was ambushed by small arms fire.
21-Jun
20-Jun
19-Jun 1 Spc. Paul T. Nakamura, 21, of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. died on June 19 in Al Iskandariyah, Iraq.Nakamura was part of an ambulance crew transporting an injured soldier when the vehicle was hit by an RPG.
18-Jun 2 Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, 29, of Kingman, Ariz., died of wounds on June 18, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. Latham was participating in a raid at a suspected arms market in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on May 19 when he was hit with shrapnel. Latham was evacuated back to the United States where he died of his wounds.Pfc. Michael R. Deuel, 21, of Nemo, S.D., was killed on June 18, in Baghdad, Iraq.Deuel received fatal gun shot wounds while on guard duty at a propane distribution center.Deuel was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
17-Jun 2 Pvt. Robert L. Frantz, 19, of San Antonio, Texas, was killed on June 17, in Baghdad, Iraq.Frantz was on guard duty when a local resident threw a grenade over the wall.Frantz died of his injuries.Frantz was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Germany.Sgt. Michael L. Tosto, 24, of Apex, N.C., died on June 17, at Camp Wolf, Kuwait.Tosto died from a non-combat related cause.Tosto was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Smith Barracks, Germany.
16-Jun 2 Spc. Joseph D. Suell, 24, of Lufkin, Texas, was killed on June 16, in Todjie, Iraq.Suell died from a non-combat related cause.Pvt. Shawn D. Pahnke, 25, of Shelbyville, Ind., was killed on June 16, in Baghdad, Iraq.Pahnke was on patrol when he received a fatal gunshot wound.
15-Jun 1 Pfc. Ryan R. Cox, 19, of Derby, Kan., died June 15 as a result of wounds received from a non-combat weapon discharge near An Najaf, Iraq.
14-Jun
13-Jun 1 Staff Sgt. Andrew R. Pokorny, 30, of Naperville, Ill., was killed on June 13, in Al Asad, Iraq. On the way back from patrol, Pokorny's M113 armored personnel carrier, threw a track causing the vehicle to roll over.
12-Jun 1 Spc. John K. Klinesmith Jr., 25, of Stockbridge, Ga., was killed June 12, in Al Falluj

I don't think that the capture of Saddam Hussein makes one iota of difference to the terrorism problem.

Was the war justified? From the point of view of Saddam Hussein having WAMD... I would say an EMPHATIC NO. But I feel that Bush thought he had to flex the US muscle after September 11th, and show the terrorists "Who's the Boss". In his Axis of Evil theory, Iraq was the weakest link. The Country and army had been weakened by years of embargo, and it was decided, IMO, the easiest target. The one glaring idiocy was, that no one thought of the reconstruction problems. The US will be bogged down there for years and Iraqis will grow to hate the Army of Occupation, if they don't do so already. Many more deaths will occur, I'm sorry to say.

Saddam was more of a threat to the Iraqis than the rest of the World, as events have shown. But, prior to the war, we did not know that.

After, spending most of my life seeing death and destruction, I feel sorry for the families of the 400 and, I hope, their death has not been in vain.

Guns don't kill people. Husbands who come home early kill people.

scaramouche has said most of what I would have said. However I would add, don't forget all the soldiers of other nations who have died, Americans, British and others were all a similar great loss to each of their families.

To the Iraqui families who lost loved ones to the mad butcher, yes, it was worth every penny of it.

Bill K.

>I support the troops, but they shouldn't be there in the
>first place.
>The violence isn't going to stop, and neither is terrorism.
>There is so much hate in the Arab world against the US that
>capturing Saddam is barely going to make a difference.

Crime isn't going to stop either. Should we give up on fighting it?

Would you prefer another 3000 civilians die in an attack than those 400 servicemen who volunteered, knowing what they were risking?

Since Operation Iraqi Freedom started, there has NOT been a major terrorist incident anywhere outside of the Middle East. Not one.

Maybe you don't feel safer. It seems that you are. Islamic fundamentalists are either scared and running (Indonesia, Phillipines, Afghanistan) or busy concentrating on attacking the coalition soldiers in Iraq. Soldiers are a lot more prepared to be targets than civilians are.

Yeah, I'm a cold-hearted bastard. Those are my friends and my brothers who are risking and sacrificing their lives to make the world a safer place. A sacrifice that you seem willing to throw away.

It is disrespectful to every one of the personnel on that list to suggest that we turn tail and walk away without seeing through the cause they gave their lives for.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1072029654548_67438854///?hub=TopStories

"Maybe you don't feel safer. It seems that you are."

It would seem the US government disagrees, Al.

At a press conference, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said the possibility of attacks was "greater now than at any point since Sept 11."

He added that a "substantial increase" of information from credible sources suggests that extremists are planning attacks to "rival or exceed the scope" of Sept. 11.

The goal of terrorism is to instill fear. I learned that in the jungles of Vietnam. In that regards the terrorists have succeeded in North America. Sad to say after 9-11 life will never be the same. I cannot see this psychological fear ever being entirely eliminated from the mindset of the common people.

Guns don't kill people. Husbands who come home early kill people.

Agreed, but I fear it's much wider than North America. It's certainly a fact of life here after Bali in October 2002. And Britain and Europe have lived with it for many years. Remember Locherbie. And also remember that terrorism doesn't just stem from the Middle East.

MadDad,I KNOW your intent was not to belittle Brett or his fellow servicemen/women. What I wanted to convey was the fact that our military is the first line of defense against the Saddams of this world, WMD completely aside. He is not the first despot, nor will he be the last, but historically this country has risen to the challenge of eradicating rulers of his ilk, so that justice may prevail. Put more eloquently, "The only way evil can triumph is for the good to remain silent." I'm paraphrasing here.
Brett comes from a long line of people (immigrants, as we all are)who consider it their duty to stand up to injustice. You can blame my Dad, who remembered the KKK burning a cross on his front lawn when he was a youngster. Yes, in a little out-of-the-way town up here in Maine, this happened, because his family were Irish Catholics.
From there we progressed to actually electing an Irish Catholic president. I like to believe this progress was made because as Americans, we have never been afraid to stand up, to speak out, and to remain strong against the forces of evil, even if/when we were not affected or only indirectly affected.

Cathy,

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad YOU understand.

Too bad that YOU don't.

Ed W.

Mad Dad - I understand you perfectly - and I also agree with you. It's too bad that you can't express an anti-war sentiment around here without 400 people pouring verbal gasoline on you and the other 400 waiting to light the match...

>Mad Dad - I understand you perfectly -

MadDad, me too! Hey, it's ok! C'mon guys, it's almost Christmas, can't we play nice?

I'm sure there isn't a one of us that hasn't always said things that are just PERFECT!! We don't always see eye to eye but can't we try and be a little nice about it and not so hard on our fellow friends here, really! I know we have a great group of people here, let's show em how great we are. *smiles*

This is one of the reasons I never get involved in these conversations as one worries they may get their head bit off. Some of you have been a bit harsh!!

I realize it is a public forum.....I know, I should have probably remained silent but tis the season.....

Let's just try it...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We'll just have to see, won't we, Paul?

It is the intelligence agencies job to give warnings. Whether they are valid or not, we will learn only through time.

And they're going to tell you and me?

If nothing happens it may mean your argument is correct. On the other hand it may mean that the security assessment was correct, but the higher alert state forestalled any terrorist events.

Sooner or later, historians will write what was done.

Historians are about as trustworthy as journalists and intelligence agents.

There are historians who claim the Holocaust never happened. There was a lot of inaccurate history of the American West before Dee Brown. The history of World War II as taught in Japanese schools is still dodgy. The history of white dealings with the natives in Australia was pretty biased until recent years.

Like statistics, history can be made to prove pretty much what the writer wants.

Fortunately, there are multiple historians who write with sources and evidence.

So glad to hear that you are so qualified to make judgements on all historians, especially those of the Native Americans. You're wrong, but you aren't exactly likely to admit that, are you?

That's rich, coming from the only person I have ever encountered anywhere who has never admitted to being wrong about anything.

Read K. E. Wilkie or Edna Kenton. Or just find some of the historic documentation of the Indians of the NorthEast, including Tecumseh.

The Book of Earths Kenton?

In 1930? I don't think so.

I never doubted you would come up with a raft of sources to refute me. All that proves to me is that there are two sides to most arguments, a concept which seems to escape you, and that with a bit of effort sources can be found to support both sides.

I am reminded of past discussions between you and your doppelganger, Hal. Both of you firing sources at each other, both of you utterly convinced that your sources were correct and the others wrong, both of you busily ridculing the other and totally unprepared to even consider anyone else's point of view. You and Hal are so alike it's almost scary.

Just think back, Al. You have changed my point of view more than once, and I have publicly acknowledged that. I am also aware that some Native Americans were well treated by settlers and co-existed peacefully, as were some Native Australians (but not many).

And I'm wrong about what used to be taught in Japanese schools? I don't think so.

Nothing in my post was a judgement of all historians, as you well know, but it was a nice little cheap shot you obviously couldn't resist. But like it or not some historians' writings are coloured by their political persuasions. Aren't they?

But I will amend one thing I posted earlier. I don't recall Hal ever admitting to being wrong either. And on balance I reckon I'm far more likely to admit it when I'm wrong than you are.

I am reminded of past discussions between you and your
>doppelganger, Hal. Both of you firing sources at each other,
>both of you utterly convinced that your sources were correct
>and the others wrong, both of you busily ridculing the other
>and totally unprepared to even consider anyone else's point of
>view. You and Hal are so alike it's almost scary.

Paul,

I hardly think you're exempt from being "utterly convinced that your sources (are) correct and the others wrong."

The difference being that while you sit perched at your monitor silently ridiculing others and smugly glowering in your self-righteousness, Al and I are busy posting in the trenches making our thoughts known--we don't hesitate to take a stand.

It's not that your "Peeping Tom" mode is depraved mind you, I'll be polite and assume the you, as I, have always believed (albeit not practiced) in the wisdom: Choose carefully your hills to die on.

Face it Paul, you're not a scrapper--you throw one or two punches (a flurry if you've had a brew) and run.

Tempted out!

Happy New Year, Hal.

Mitch

What do you know, Hal and I agree about something.

Happy Holidays, Hal.

Hi HAL,Where in hell have you been hanging out.I miss hearing all the things this country has been doing from from YOUR viewpoint.I hope all is going well for you!Happy New Year!Just to give you something to bitch to me about I am adding a pet peeve you always complained about ,look at all the emotion smiiles!I hope your car is running well.Regards,

81 Newbee

Perhaps it wasn't your personal safety that was the motivation behind the removal of Saddam Hussein.
But then, the modern world is filled with people who care little for the welfare of others, who care only for their small piece of the pie, but nothing for others throughout the world.

Put some historical perspective on the situation in Iraq. If you ever get the chance to visit Berlin, you should visit the Gedankstätte Plötzensee. I first visited it in the early 80's when I was stationed there, and have returned there with every subsequent visit. It isn't particularly easy to find, but you should make the effort. The image that stays with me is the meathooks hanging from the ceiling, where prisoners, mainly political prisoners, Jews, and other resisters met their fate at the hands of the Nazis.

Now fast forward to present day Iraq, and visit the police station/prison/interrogation center on the bank of the Tigris River east of Balad. It should still be there, unless the locals have demolished it brick by brick.
We stopped by in June after hearing about it from people in the town. It was quite an eye-opener. The image that stays with me is the meathooks hanging from the ceiling. A different country, a different culture, 60 years difference in time, and yet there they were. What went on there I don't think you want to know.
You can reference Santayana's aphorism about repeating the past, I prefer Pres. Truman's lesser known "The only thing new in this world is the history you don't know."

When I told the people I was with about Plötzensee, they didn't get the reference, but did look it up on the Internet afterwards, to see why it had the effect on me that it did.

Do you think that prison in Balad will be a museum or memorial in 60 years? You and I both know it won't be. Why? Because people don't give a damn anymore about things removed from their limited sphere of knowledge. And possibly because there are probably hundreds more similar torture chambers all over Iraq.

As for WMD, some were killed in Mosul in July, their names were Uday and Qusay. They both make Saddam Hussein look like a pacifist.
And stop believing what you read in the media about "hatred" for Americans amongst Arabs. Sure there is a lot of distrust and misgivings about our intervention, we just turned their status quo upside down, but people with half a brain know Saddam Hussein was an accident waiting to happen. There are millions of people in Iraq, Kuwait and elsewhere in the region who recognize a good thing when they see it, and they are not hesitant to show it. A CNN camera will always attract the low-lifes in the street to protest anything that the reporter wants to report about, but for every one of those protestors in the street, there are thousands of people working to rebuild Iraq. It was my privilege to work with some of them, yet since returning I have not seen any of their efforts reported in any American media.

All of these people served with honor.

Do not diminish their sacrifice or service by using it for your arguments.

Every single one of them knew what service meant, the risks involved, and the cost of freedom. We maintain a volunteer service requirement.

I don't know if your prior service or not. However, if you are you should have known this before you spoke.

"Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll learn."

>>>I support the troops.
MadDad

perhaps i am missing something here, but i don't understand where a concern for life lost and wounds suffered is unsupportive of or demeaning to the troops. yes, they do serve with honor.

no_one, what you describe is exactly why i support any of this. i doubt if i would ever sleep easy again if i had seen those things.




Saddam's regime was destroyed- the capture was to seal the deal, besides any info we may get. had he been left alive and out there for years, who knows what he might have started again.

personally i think the US/Aus/Brit etc. team needs suicide bombers. offer this job to some one with some end-stage disease along with financial support of the family they won't be there to take care of, and save some of the troops that way.
(i'm sure the military has already thought of this and probably found it not feasible, but hey- i'm trying.)

also, i think it's a damn shame that co-operative efforts of reconstruction aren't emphasized, both in the Middle East and US/GB/AU. that is our goal, what we went there for- to get that country out from under his rule and back on their feet again.

i realize in the middle east there are many people with money and oil power that that don't like the US and its allies, and have the ability and desire to attack them still.

scaramouche summed it up for me also.

It's hard to imagine this war ever being "over", even with Sadam's capture. Al is absolutely right comparing it to a war on crime. It will never stop, and you certainly don't remove (and discredit) the people who fought in it simply because you caught one big crook.

One of the obligations of being the strongest nation in the world is to uphold defend the very principles that Sadam (and others) ignored, even when it means continuous sacrcifice. If you feel some comfort that Saddam didn't threaten you personally, then why do you feel such a personal connection to these soldiers? Because they are Americans????? Bingo.

Dave

Dell 8300 Dimension
Pentium 4
W XP Home


www.woodenpropeller.com

Saddam and Hitler were cut from the same mold. The only reason the Saddam ONLY killed hundreds of thousands instead of millions was because he did not have the power and incredible army that Hitler had. One can only wonder if we had nailed Hitler early instead of believing his lies how history would have been different: roughly 50 million people died during WWII. Saddam would have done the same if he could have; thank God we hit HIM early.

Acadia

OMG!!! Vehicle accidents, heart attacks, heat stroke, dying in their sleep!!! Make it stop daddy.

If you're ever in need of a helping hand I hope those who are able to offer it will take your attitude and only think of themselves. They could get injured trying to get you out of a burning car, they shouldn't be there in the first place and getting you out of the burning car isn't going to do anything to stop further incidents like that.
Is it worth my nephew's life to save yours and those like you? No. But for some dumb reason he thinks it is.

What I managed to take from your list that are non-combat deaths.
---------------------
16-Dec 1 One soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) was killed and six others were injured at approximately 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16 when a five-ton cargo truck rolled over eight kilometers southwest of Mosul.

15-Dec 1 A Coalition Joint Task Force (CJTF-7) soldier died today at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Ferguson fell from the light medium tactical vehicle in which he was a passenger.

Braun died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Reese was on a river patrol on the Tigris River when he fell overboard.

when his squad leader fell overboard. Bates dived into the water and did not surface.

Wesley was in a Stryker vehicle when it flipped into a canal.

the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers were killed on Dec. 8 in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq, when their vehicle flipped into a canal.

Boone died as a result of a non-combat related injury.

Goldberg died of a non-combat related injury.

Smith drowned when his vehicle overturned and fell into a river.

Nason died of injuries sustained in a vehicular accident.

Bushart died of injuries sustained when a tank collided with his vehicle.

Roberts died of injuries sustained when a tank collided with his vehicle.

Coleman was on patrol when the vehicle he was driving flipped over into a canal trapping him inside the vehicle.

Shull died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, 27, of Kaysville, Utah, died from a non-hostile gunshot wound

The soldiers were killed on Nov. 15 when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul (list of 17 names follow).

Bailey died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding went down. As a result of the incident, there were 16 soldiers killed in action

Benson died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Sixteen soldiers were killed and 21 were wounded when a Coalition helicopter went down near the city of Amiryah

Velazquez was onboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter when it made a crash landing

Jennings was on board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter when it went down in Al Fallujah

Aiken, S.C., died on Oct. 28, of non-combat related injuries at Forward Operating Base St. Mere

Acosta died from a non-hostile gunshot wound

Ward died of non-combat related injuries

Johnson died of non-combat related injuries

Bueche was changing a tire on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when the tire exploded

Weismantle
was driving a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his vehicle.

Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, 19, of Valdosta, Ga., drowned on Oct. 13 near Al Asad

Casanova was in a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his vehicle (notice that this was separated from the above incident to make it seem like two separate accidents although it was one)

McGaugh died from a non-hostile gunshot wound

29-Sep 4 Sgt. Andrew Joseph Baddick, 26, of Jim Thorpe, Pa., drowned Sept. 29 as he tried to rescue another soldier whose vehicle had entered a canal near Abu Ghraib Prison

Sgt. Darrin K. Potter, 24, of Louisville, Ky., was killed on Sept. 29 near Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq. Potter was a member of a military police team searching the prison area. During the search, his
vehicle left the road and went into a canal. SGT Potter died in the vehicle.

Parker, Kristian E. Private 1st Class 23 Army National Guard 205th Engineer Battalion Non-hostile - non-combat related injuries Qatar (Camp AS Sayliyah) Slidell

Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, 43, of Nashua, N.H. Rooney died on Sep. 25 at Shuabai Port, in , when he was struck by a forklift and died of his injuries

Andrade was a passenger in a HMMWV when a 5-ton truck struck the side of his vehicle. He died of injuries sustained in the accident.

Sturino died from a non-combat weapons discharge

Faunce was moving in a Bradley fighting vehicle when his vehicle crossed under some low laying power lines. The soldier reached up and grabbed the lines and was fatally injured.

Peterson died from a non-combat weapons discharge.

Ybarra was changing the tire on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck when the tire exploded.

Thompson was in a convoy on Aug. 30 when a civilian vehicle passed the convoy and cut in front of the lead military vehicle and an approaching Iraqi truck. The driver of the civilian vehicle hit Thompson's truck. Thompson was medically evacuated to WRAMC where he later died of his injuries.

Brown, Bruce E. Technical Sergeant 32 Air Force 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron Non-hostile - vehicle accident Al Udeid

Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson, 20, of Oak Park, Ill., died on Sept. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq. Sisson was in a UH-60 helicopter participating in an air assault mission. The helicopter flipped and crashed on take off.

Sarno was hit by a truck while changing his vehicle's tire.

Sgt. Sean K. Cataudella, 28, of Tucson, Ariz., died on Aug. 30 in Ba'qubah, Iraq.
Cataudella was driving a military vehicle when he hit an embankment and rolled into
a canal.

Sherman died as a result of non-combat related injury (medical). The soldier was off duty and in the living quarters at the time.

Manzano died as a result of a non-combat weapons discharge.

Spc. Ronald D. Allen, Jr., 22, from - Mitchell, Ind died as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident

Scott died as a result of non-combat injuries.

Mack jumped into the Euphrates River to take a swim and did not resurface.

Adams was participating in a small arms fire exercise on the range when a bullet ricocheted and ignited a fire in the building

Harris was fatally injured in a two-vehicle accident while driving south on the main supply route.

Ivory, Craig S., 501st Forward Spt. Co., 173rd Airborne Non-hostile - illness - heat related

David M. Kirchhoff, 31, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died on Aug. 14 in Landstuhl, Germany. Pfc. Kirchhoff suffered a non-hostile injury

Parker was thrown from his vehicle when the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle in another lane.

Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., 37, of Guilford, Conn., died on August 12 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. A fellow soldier tried to wake Eaton and noticed he was not breathing.

Spc. Levi B. Kinchen, 21, of Tickfaw, La., died on Aug. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq. A fellow soldier tried to wake Kinchen and noticed he was not breathing

Knighten died as a result of a non-combat related cause

Ramsey was part of a convoy escort mission when the vehicle he was in rolled over

Pvt. Matthew D. Bush, 20, of East Alton, Ill., died on Aug. 8 in Camp Caldwell, Iraq. A fellow soldier tried to wake Bush and noticed he was not breathing.

Pfc. Duane E. Longstreth, 19, of Tacoma, Wash., died on Aug. 7 in Baghdad, Iraq. Longstreth died as a result of non-combat related injuries

Simmons died of a non-combat related cause

Loyd was on a mission when he experienced severe chest pains. The soldier was sent to the Kuwait hospital where he was pronounced dead

Letufuga fatally fell from the top of a building while he was performing guardduty.

Lambert was struck by a stray bullet fired during what was believed to be acelebratory event by local nationals.

Hart died of injuries he received when his vehicle went off the road and rolled over.

Serrano was changing a tire on an M998 vehicle when it fell on him inflicting a fatal head injury.

Willoughby was riding in a vehicle that rolled over

David J. Moreno, 26, Gering, Neb., was killed July 17 in Al Hamishiyah, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound

Whetstone died as a result of non-combat injuries.

Geurin, Cory Ryan Lance Corporal 18 Marines 1st Batt., 7th Mar. Reg., 1st Mar. Div. Non-hostile - accidental fall Al Hillah

Cassidy died as a result of non-combat injuries.

Puello-Coronado was struck by the truck and died of his injuries

Two 4th Infantry Division soldiers were wounded and one subsequently died from a non-hostile gunshot incident.Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, 20, of Montreal, Mo., died July 12 in Homburg Hospital, Germany

Schulz died as a result of non-combat injuries.

Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, Eagle Pass, Texas, died on July 9 in Balad, Iraq.Valles was assigned to B Company, 64th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Carson, Col.She died as a result of non-combat injuries

Craig A. Boling, 38, of Elkhart, Ind.; assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment, Tell City, Ind.; died July 8 of non-combat-related causes at Camp Wolf, Kuwait

Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, 20, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed in a vehicle accident in Kuwait July 9.

Jul 2 A soldier attached to the 1st Armored Division died of a gunshot wound in a non-combat incident

Small died from a non-combat related cause.

Coffin's vehicle ran into a ditch while trying to avoid a civilian vehicle.

Hubbell died from a non-combat related cause.

Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, 22, of Kingman, Ariz., died 26 June in Karbala, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

MacDonald was killed when the light armored vehicle he was traveling in rolled over.

Lennon, 32, of West Blocton, Ala., died on June 24, in Baghdad, Iraq. Lennon died from a non-combat related cause.

Tosto died from a non-combat related cause

Suell died from a non-combat related cause

Ryan R. Cox, 19, of Derby, Kan., died June 15 as a result of wounds received from a non-combat weapon discharge near An Najaf

Andrew R. Pokorny, 30, of Naperville, Ill., was killed on June 13, in Al Asad, Iraq. On the way back from patrol, Pokorny's M113 armored personnel carrier, threw a track causing the vehicle to roll over

--------------
History teaches us that history has taught us nothing.

Al, dbahn, and Wakko have summed it all up very well. I couldn't put it any better.

Sophie, maybe Mad Dad could be a volunteer for your suicide bombers.

Ed W.

Maddad, that is about the sickest thing I have seen.

Using dead mens names to make a point, knowing that they would, if they could, disagree with you. To a man! Hauxfan!

You call this supporting the troops???

Les

I couldn't agree more Les!!

Isn't 20/20 hindsight a wonderful thing?

As to when and how the US soldiers died, it hardly matters whether their tragic deaths were combat related or not.

It's just enough to know that they died serving, in an alien land far, far from their homes and families in America............

Mitch

I didn't mean to belittle their deaths while serving. But it does matter if their deaths were combat releated or not when someone is using them to pad the death toll in order to claim, "Was it worth having over 400 of our kids killed?".

You could go to just about any major city in the US and find that many deaths in a week. Chicago averages about 180 deaths per day.
Maybe we should list their names and use their deaths to support some cause they probably wouldn't agree with.

--------------
History teaches us that history has taught us nothing.

>I didn't mean to belittle their deaths while serving. But it
>does matter if their deaths were combat releated or not when
>someone is using them to pad the death toll in order to claim,


Point taken, Myk.

Mitch

First they came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out –

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the communists

And I did not speak out –

Because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out –

Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me –

And there was no-one left

To speak out for me.

Pastor Niemöller, 1938

Anyone remember this? My son passed away during active duty in August 2003. His was a non-combat related death and he was not in a war zone. He was, however, a soldier through-and-through. He joined the army 7 years ago and his life soared from that moment on. He'd found himself, worked hard, and was so proud of the contributions he was making. NO parent ever wants to face the loss of a child. The pain is indescribable and will be with them forever. But I keep in mind the fact that my son, Brett, volunteered for duty to his country and I am grateful that if we had to lose him, he died doing what had meaning to him. I pray for all of them;they are all my sons and daughters...and everything they do "speaks out for me."

"But I keep in mind the fact that my son, Brett, volunteered for duty to his country and I am grateful that if we had to lose him, he died doing what had meaning to him. I pray for all of them;they are all my sons and daughters...and everything they do "speaks out for me."


Noble and very relevant words, spoken from a sorrowful heart.


I am certain that your son is looking down, with pride, on you now.

Mitch

RIP Brett. See you at the final dropzone. <salute>

Our TROOPS WILL NEVER DIE, They will always be remembered. They live in our hearts and minds.


As wakko said "We maintain a volunteer service requirement"
The meaning of that is below.....

The following oath is taken by all personnel inducted into the armed forces of the United States, as found in the US Code, Section 502.

I, _________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

cathy,

i am very sorry about your son, Brett. please accept my sympathies.

the debt that we owe him and people like him is evident every hour of the day.

sophie

bkoenig1: "To the Iraqui families who lost loved ones to the mad butcher, yes, it was worth every penny of it."

Was it? Does that mean that every time someone dies at the hands of a mad man that one of our boys should risk their lives?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Al: "Would you prefer another 3000 civilians die in an attack than those 400 servicemen who volunteered, knowing what they were risking?"
Give us the evidence that shows Saddam had anything to do with the WTC attacks.

"Yeah, I'm a cold-hearted bastard. Those are my friends and my brothers who are risking and sacrificing their lives to make the world a safer place. A sacrifice that you seem willing to throw away."

I did not in anyway mean to belittle the sacrifice the troops and their families have made. They were asked to serve their country, and the have done so with honor. What I am against is why they were asked to do this in a war that has not been proven to be necessary.

It is disrespectful to every one of the personnel on that list to suggest that we turn tail and walk away without seeing through the cause they gave their lives for."

It was even more disrepectful that every one of the personnel on that list were asked to serve in a war based on a lie from their chief commander.


no_one: "And stop believing what you read in the media about "hatred" for Americans amongst Arabs."

Yes, keeping your head buried in the sand is always a good approach.

"Sure there is a lot of distrust and misgivings about our intervention, we just turned their status quo upside down, but people with half a brain know Saddam Hussein was an accident waiting to happen. There are millions of people in Iraq, Kuwait and elsewhere in the region who recognize a good thing when they see it, and they are not hesitant to show it."

Its not the millions of people you mention that we need to worry about, its the other millions of other people who, regardless of what you think, still truly hate the US.

Wakko: "All of these people served with honor.

Do not diminish their sacrifice or service by using it for your arguments.

Every single one of them knew what service meant, the risks involved, and the cost of freedom. We maintain a volunteer service requirement.

I don't know if your prior service or not. However, if you are you should have known this before you spoke."

I have not in any way meant to dishonor any service personell. It was someone else's misjudgment of my post that you have blindly followed that lead you, and others who have taken the time to reply, to reach this conclusion, and it is a wrong conclusion. Don't put words in my mouth.

Myk: "What I managed to take from your list that are non-combat deaths."

What you managed to do was belittle the people who died while serving our country, regardless of the circumstances of their deaths!
I find your reply disgusting, and you owe the families of everyone on "your" list an apology.

Myk:" I didn't mean to belittle their deaths while serving. But it does matter if their deaths were combat releated or not when someone is using them to pad the death toll in order to claim, "Was it worth having over 400 of our kids killed?".

You could go to just about any major city in the US and find that many deaths in a week. Chicago averages about 180 deaths per day.
Maybe we should list their names and use their deaths to support some cause they probably wouldn't agree with."

PADDING THE DEATH TOLL? That comment is ridiculous, and so is your comparing the deaths of soldiers to people dying in Chicago.

Hauxfan: "Maddad, that is about the sickest thing I have seen.

Using dead mens names to make a point, knowing that they would, if they could, disagree with you. To a man! Hauxfan!"

Yes, I agree. It is the most sick thing to know that these men and women gave up their lives in a war that they, and the rest of the American people, were lied to about.

I could give you some names of soldiers who might not agree with you, if you care.

Les: "You call this supporting the troops???"

What would you call it?


Cathy45:

I want you to understand that I do not intend to belittle anything you're son did. Your son is a hero. But you don't need me to tell you that.

My problem is with the government that asked him to serve in a war based on a lie.


Go here to help support the troops:
http://www.afrtrust.org/

"no_one: "And stop believing what you read in the media about "hatred" for Americans amongst Arabs."

Yes, keeping your head buried in the sand is always a good approach."

No, usually it isn't, but my head was in that sand from January until mid-October, and if you don't mind I will choose to believe what I saw and witnessed with my own eyes, rather than your poorly formed opinions based on misinformation and political leanings.

Les: "You call this supporting the troops???"

What would you call it?

Telling them it's wrong for them to be there, making a sarcastic comment about Saddam's capture, and using the names of their fallen comrades to garner attention is not my idea of supporting them. You can thank them and many other thousands of military personnel that you have the freedom to make this kind of post, otherwise, one of the Saddams of the world would give you a first person view of the inside of a torture chamber.

Right or wrong we are in Iraq for the duration. The time for debate has passed and it's now time to show some solidarity and stand behind the decisions our government has made. It's time to let them know that we are 100% behind them and their willingness to fight and die to free a nation from tyranny and make the world a little safer for all of us.

I personally will stop to shake the hand and say thank you to every military person that I meet.

Thats "supporting the troops".

Les
USAF Retired And A Proud American

Les

I was family to one of men on that list, until my first wife and I divorced. I went to the viewing and hugged the parents. I shook hands with the soldiers brother. I cried a bit. Why? Because I grieved for his family and because it brought back old memories. I lost my only brother in Viet Nam. I saw my own parents grieve at the loss of a son.

Military personnel in war has to be one of the toughest jobs around, and for that I give my respect to them all.

Nightly Reader

LOL, you're a joke. It was you who were belittling the deaths of those soldiers. If anyone owes those families an apology it is you. YOU are the one who listed their names to serve a purpose that they probably don't agree with.

The comment about you padding the death toll is not ridiculous. It is exactly what you did. Over 100 of those names were no different than people who die anywhere else.

One of those names is from my area. Did you ask the family how they felt about you using it? Judging from what I know of the guy and his family I don't think so.

I hope there is such a thing as an afterlife and that every one of those dead haunt you for the rest of your life.

--------------
History teaches us that history has taught us nothing.

>Al: "Would you prefer another 3000 civilians die in an attack
>than those 400 servicemen who volunteered, knowing what they
>were risking?"
>Give us the evidence that shows Saddam had anything to do
>with the WTC attacks.


You seem to be under the mistaken impression that the World Trade Center attack is the only terrorist event in history. It wasn't. Saddam Hussein was a supporter of terrorism, providing logistical and economic support as well as training and shelter.

>
>"Yeah, I'm a cold-hearted bastard. Those are my friends and
>my brothers who are risking and sacrificing their lives to
>make the world a safer place. A sacrifice that you seem
>willing to throw away."
>
>I did not in anyway mean to belittle the sacrifice the troops
>and their families have made. They were asked to serve their
>country, and the have done so with honor. What I am against is
>why they were asked to do this in a war that has not been
>proven to be necessary.


"They were asked to serve their country"? No. They volunteered to serve their country. "Not proven to be necessary" - depends on whether you are willing to accept fundamentalist Islamics as a terrorist threat for all of our grandchildren's lives. I'm not. And that means the war was necessary. Look at a map.


>It is disrespectful to every one of the personnel on that
>list to suggest that we turn tail and walk away without seeing
>through the cause they gave their lives for."

>It was even more disrepectful that every one of the personnel
>on that list were asked to serve in a war based on a lie from
>their chief commander.

Lie? Make your charge clear. Oh, and if you are wrong? What will you do? Will you be as outspoken in admitting you were wrong as you have been in making baseless accusations that show you have little understanding of terrorism or how it is fought?

In the meantime, you just keep dishonoring those servicemembers whose service allows you the freedom to spew your crap.

>I did not in anyway mean to belittle the sacrifice the troops
>and their families have made.


But you did.

Anyone who posts a list this size and detailed making us read it over and over should french kiss my shorts in the back.

All this reminds me of the "discussions" taking place in the late 1930s and early 1940s.Hitler was early a tinhorn leader in a German political party.He did not appear to be a threat to anyone.As his influence grew, some people became alarmed and suggested we do something about him.Charles Lindberg and others ridiculed the threat and defended Hitlers actions including the invasion and annexation of part of Czeckoslovakia.The argument was that he was making Germany a better place and most of all"He was not A THREAT TO THE USA".Sounds familiar doesn't it ???I was recruited in high school by The Beacon Peace Council and sent to a resort in New York State.While there a couple of days into the sessions with people my age from all over the world and in the middle of sessions that frequently repeated the mantra that Hitler was not A threat to The USA or the rest of the world,he invaded Poland.As a result the sessions adjurned.When I returned to my home town,I told the members of the BPC that I could not represent them or support their peace movement.They in turn repeated what the theme was."HE is not a threat to the USA so we should not get involved"
It is a Damn shame that we and others did not destroy this man before he was able to wreak all the havoc he created in the world.Saddam was a similar threat and we were right in removing him.A lot of the remarks in this thread are based on politics and fuzzy logic.No one is happy over the loss of life and anyone who has been there knows that war is to put it in real words" the shits" but sometimes sacrifice is needed .Some candidates are saying we should just get out.That is STUPID and not in the best interest of anyone.We should stay until we can remove our troops and leave behind a country ruled by a coalition of the Iraqui people.It would also be an insult to those who have given life and limbs in the fight.This is no time for political BS from either party!! The UN has not yet offered a ligitimate solution.They were almost supportive of the guy in spite of their tough sounding language

81 Newbee

81 Newbie,

You have a point. I can imagine MadDad at the end of December, 1941: "It isn't necessary to fight the Germans, they are no threat to us"... in late 1942: "We've wasted lives in North Africa in a completely unnecessary war"... in 1943: "There was no reason for us to invade Sicily or Italy, and no reason to lose all those people in the air over Europe or in traffic accidents in Britain"... Late June, 1944: "We have wasted thousands of lives on a lie. Hitler was no threat to the United States."... In mid-1945, as the Dachau and other camps were found: "It is immaterial, Hitler was no threat to us, this was an unnecessary war".

Those who refuse to learn from history are destined to repeat it.

4th ID is providing service in the ongoing traditions of the division.

Oh, and MadDad? Go tell these folks it was an unnecessary war...

Attachment #1, (jpg file)
Attachment #2, (jpg file)

Indeed. History is constantly repeating itself because humanity constantly forgets the brutal lessons that history tries to teach us. The U.S. was slow getting into WWII, partly because of a peace movement, and it took Pearl Harbor, a 911-like event, to wake us up to reality. But now days even with a 911 it appears that the peace movement just doesn't get it. Peace can only be bought at a price and the peace movement folks just don't have the spine or guts to pay it. (But I bet they'd complain if a dirty bomb was detonated in their city or someone poisoned their water supply).

Acadia

And to carry the analogy a step further, Germany was working on developing an atomic bomb. If the allies had delayed going to war against Hitler by another year, he very likely would have succeeded in developing and using atomic weapons, probably against Britain and Russia for starters. Chilling in hindsight isn't it. What would our world be like today if that scenario had occurred?

It's time to wake up to reality, regardless of how we got into this war, the world is a safer place without Saddam. We can engage in philosophical questioning of motives and leadership endlessly, as did the appeasers over half a century ago. The fact remains that our civilization exists today because we did not heed them in regard to Hitler. Perhaps our children will look back on our defeat of Saddam with the same realization.

Shelly

In addition to Hitler's work on the Atomic bomb, he had also built a special bomber that could fly across the Atlantic AND BACK without stopping for refueling, if I remember correctly it was named the New Yorker; if Hitler had succeeded in vaporizing London and Moscow, I wonder what target would've been next?

Acadia

Shelly,

I understand where you are coming from.
But, did you seriously feel threatened by Saddam before the war? If you did, it is only because the Bush administration was lying to us about Iraq's WMD's. Where is the threat if it NEVER EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

This is part of an article in the NY Times. I won't post all of it here because I don't believe you are interested in reading alternate viewpoints anyways. But if you want to read it, I'll be happy to post the rest.

Remember 'Weapons of Mass Destruction'? For Bush, They Are a Nonissue
By RICHARD W. STEVENSON

Published: December 18, 2003


ASHINGTON, Dec. 17 — In the debate over the necessity for the war in Iraq, few issues have been more contentious than whether Saddam Hussein possessed arsenals of banned weapons, as the Bush administration repeatedly said, or instead was pursuing weapons programs that might one day constitute a threat.

On Tuesday, with Mr. Hussein in American custody and polls showing support for the White House's Iraq policy rebounding, Mr. Bush suggested that he no longer saw much distinction between the possibilities.

"So what's the difference?" he responded at one point as he was pressed on the topic during an interview by Diane Sawyer of ABC News.

To critics of the war, there is a big difference. They say that the administration's statements that Iraq had chemical and biological weapons that it could use on the battlefield or turn over to terrorists added an urgency to the case for immediate military action that would have been lacking if Mr. Hussein were portrayed as just developing the banned weapons.

I seem to recall Clinton's administration tossing some missiles into Iraq for much the same reasons. If there was no threat and it is ONLY because of the Bush administration, why did Clinton send in those missiles?
Seems many people have seen Saddam as a threat for a long time. Just because he may not have been a direct threat to someone in the US does not make him a threat to nobody.

Just because there have been no chemical weapons found does not mean there weren't any. How much anthrax would it take? How easy would it be to hide that in a desert? Are you forgetting his troops who were equipped to handle an anthrax attack? Do you suppose they were equipped in case the US would use it or in case the person who was threatening to use it made good on the threat? You are also failing to question where the anthrax that he was known to have has gone.

Just because you and some reporters are not privy to all the information in the world does not mean the information you have is the complete story.

This reminds me of the last time I was out hunting. I saw some divers. My friend said they were greebs which aren't legal to shoot. I looked at them in the binoculars, they had bills like ducks, they swam like ducks. I finally got my friend to agree to shoot them. He didn't try too hard because he was convinced they were greebs. I got mine down.
You know what? It looked like a duck, it acted like a duck, it was a duck.

--------------
History teaches us that history has taught us nothing.

And the media continues to ignore what has been found.

TONS of radioactive isotopes. TONS.

Mustard Gas was dumped into the Tigres in such large quantities during the advance of the 3d Infantry Division that it set off sensor equipment all the way down the river's length. Mustard Gas is a Chemical Weapon and one of the weapons that Saddam claimed not to have.

And the possession of WMD was not the only point made in why the US went to war with Iraq. To say it was is spin, and nothing else. The REASONs given for the invasion of Iraq included failure to comply with UN resolutions (and evidence that such failure occurred was evident on day 1 of Operation Iraqi Freedom).

That IDIOT Clinton tossed some missiles into Iraq to divert attention from his IMPEACHMENT

Well yeah, but he did have reason beyond that, just not the will to complete the job. Probably all of his missile tossing had diversion aspects to them (at least the ones I remember) but they did have an excuse to be tossed. Otherwise the diversion would've drew more valid criticisms.

--------------
History teaches us that history has taught us nothing.

By the way, Myk..you may find this article interesting. Your point was better aimed than you might have realized.

http://www.aerotechnews.com/Commentary.htm#Commentary004

Following that logic, all citizens of major cities should flee their town, sign up for the military, and ask to be stationed in Baghdad.

Why don't you start, MadDad? Let me know what service and I'll make sure a reception committee is waiting to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

I'm too old to join. You?

BTDT, the Army can have me back anytime they want.

> ... NEVER EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

And I suppose Saddam really murdered all those Kurds years ago by spitting at them.

Acadia

Here's an fascinating article that includes some eye-opening quotes.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/527uwabl.asp

Pointman

Mad Dad,
CAn you edit your initial post to remove all of those names? We got the point. Besides being disrespectful to the soldiers, it makes it hard for us still using dial up modems to follow this thread.
Thank you.

Dave

Dell 8300 Dimension
Pentium 4
W XP Home


www.woodenpropeller.com

>it makes it hard for us still using dial up modems
>to follow this thread.


Dave, THANK YOU!!

Acadia

No, I won't. The only reason I would edit that list is to add the names of those killed since it was posted (besides that, it can't be edited any longer). Sorry they are such a bother for you to read.

Oh, and BTW, I hope I am wrong. I hope that all terrorists attacks here and abroad stop. I hope all the service men and women still there return home safe and sound, and all who are sent in relief do the same. I hope we find WMD's so that all of you can go to sleep every night knowing that that old asshole Maddad was wrong. I hope we find that there really was a reason to go to war. I hope that there is proven beyond a doubt a direct link between Osama and Baghdad. I hope that all Muslims learn to accept the US, and realize how terrible their acts of hatred toward us and people of other nations are.

Too bad that you don't really mean what you just editied, you have already dishonored our soldiers and their familes. I sleep well at night knowing we did the right thing, I am just sorry that you get to enjoy the fruits of these soldiers labor, you don't deserve it.



Ed W.

>Too bad that you don't really mean what you just editied, you
>have already dishonored our soldiers and their familes. I
>sleep well at night knowing we did the right thing, I am just
>sorry that you get to enjoy the fruits of these soldiers
>labor, you don't deserve it.
>
>
>
>Ed W.


So Ed, what you are saying is that he dishonored these soldiers because he doesn't feel this war was justified enough for them to die???? So he isn't allowed to have an opinion on the matter??? And BECAUSE he doesn't feel exactly the same way you do about it he doesn't deserve "the fruits of these soldiers"??? So, could you whip out your crystal ball, Ed, and tell us all just exactly WHAT the fruits of this war will be??? What about the MANY soldiers who want OUT OF IRAQ? There are plenty of them. Maybe those particular soldiers would like to be "supported" in their efforts to go home to their families. A few letters for you to read compliments of http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

December 5, 2003

What Is Patriotism?

I have been in the military for 18 years, both in an active and reserve status. I have a great love and devotion for this country. I wouldn't have endured the often long periods of separation from my family and other sacrifices inherent in a military career if I didn't. I feel fortunate to be a U.S. citizen and am honored to serve my country.

I am a patriot. The dictionary defines patriotism as a love for, or devotion to, one's country. But nowhere does this definition mention agreement with the president or governmental policy. I'm both saddened and frustrated when some question the patriotism of those who speak out against the policies of this president and his administration.

I am a "citizen-soldier." As a soldier I am committed to following orders from the commander in chief and his officers, and I take this commitment seriously. As a citizen, I display my patriotism in other ways. My devotion to our country leads me to question this president's path. My love for this country leads me to advocate a change in it.

This president launched a pre-emptive strike against Iraq in response to perceived threats based upon highly questionable "evidence". This is a most dangerous precedent. Now we've committed troops and mountains of resources to the region for an indefinite period. Our children and grandchildren will be saddled with the monetary costs of this war while many of my compatriots are paying the ultimate price daily. It's my right and responsibility as a citizen of this country to question this policy and do all I can to change our path. True patriotism doesn't put a leader or party affiliation ahead of what's best for our country. True patriotism requires that we speak and act to further our country's best interests.

Don Howard
Freedom, New York


December 14, 2003

Spec-4 Marshall L. Edgerton was 27years old. He was from Rocky Face, Georgia. He was assigned to , 82nd Airborne Division. We are based in Fort Bragg, N.C. Marshall was killed December 11th when he was escorting a delivery truck into the 82nd Headquarters in Ramadi, Iraq. The news told you that a furniture truck blew up outside the compound, and that our excellent defenses prevented a lot more people from being killed. That's a load of sh*t. The truck blew up inside the compound, and the reason only 15 people were hurt and one American killed is plain luck. They make us get on every vehicle that enters the compound, and plenty of vehicles come. It's like playing Russian roulette.

We understand water trucks and gasoline trucks. We need that stuff, even though there are still plenty of ways they could detonate one of those too. Let me tell you what was being delivered though, and what Marshall Edgerton died for. A general is decorating his office here. It's a nice office, a luxury office you might say. And it needed a carpet to go with all the new furniture. Now while the grunts and we can get along with field tables and folding chairs, of course the general has to trick out his office like he's a Roman caesar or something. So these furniture trucks come onto our compound when we already know that a lot of people out there want to kill us. This truck was loaded with carpet.

Marshall came to Iraq to die for a general's carpet. Marshall's family will grieve so a general could have carpet. What we really need here are big trucks that can haul away all the bullshit. And a few to get our asses back to an airport.

Don't give my name or email address. The truth can get you in a lot of trouble here.

Anonymous


November 19, 2003

Just to let everyone know...

There are units that could be home right now. Units that have no job to do here, so they spend their days going to the PX, hanging out in the MWR tents or sleeping. Many units whose missions were complete put in paperwork to get home. Since the Army wants to play a numbers game, they give them sh*t details to keep them busy. One year boots on ground, whether you're needed or not! These are Guard and Reserve personnel who want to get back to their lives. Instead, they have many of them working for the civlian contractors here. Cheap labor for KBR! I don't know the exact numbers, but my job requires me to make rounds around this base. I see the same units, same faces everyday. Just hanging out, watching TV or movies, or doing details that the civilian contractor is supposed to be doing.

I came over here with the mindset that we were doing the right thing. Now, I wonder what the hell is going on. I have lost all faith in my leadership all the way to the top. 23 years I have in this military, and it turns my stomach to see the political BS that has become the norm. Our unit will loose 90% of it's personnel when we return home. Private contractors, members of our unit are loosing thier businesses, I myself have missed promotions. We all knew what we were getting into intially, but the lies and deceit have taken thier toll on the morale of everyone. I'm not pissed because I'm here, I'm pissed about being lied to. Lied to by a command group that I placed my confidence in.

Anonymous

My apologies to anyone who has dial-up for the length of this post.