HONORING THE FALLEN: US Military KIA, Iraq & Afghanistan/Pakistan – March 2009

(11 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

First Photos of Fallen Soldier Ends 18-Year Ban – 4.05.09

An airman stands next to the coffin containing the body of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers as it is lowered from a plane upon its return to the U.S. at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware April 5, 2009. Myers, of Hopewell, Virginia, died April 4 near Helmand province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. For the first time since the Obama administration reversed an 18-year-old ban on news coverage of returning fallen soldiers, the military allowed media to cover to cover the arrival tonight of an airman killed in Afghanistan. Collapse

(Joshua Roberts/REUTERS)

I wish to thank the families who allowed the press photo’s showing the respect the fallen receive and the real cost of war!!

I, (name), 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.)

We Serve the Nation, not just our families nor communities nor political parties, a Nation that does little in Sacrifice!!

Iraq, Rapidly becoming the Forgotten War!!

There have been 4,583 coalition deaths — 4,266 Americans, 2 Australians, 1 Azerbaijani, 179 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, 1 Czech, 7 Danes, 2 Dutch, 2 Estonians, 1 Fijian, 5 Georgians, 1 Hungarian, 33 Italians, 1 Kazakh, 1 Korean, 3 Latvian, 22 Poles, 3 Romanians, 5 Salvadoran, 4 Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, 2 Thai and 18 Ukrainians — in the war in Iraq as of January 6, 2008, according to a CNN count. { Graphical breakdown of casualties }. The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country’s governments. The list also includes seven employees of the U.S. Defense Department. At least 31,135 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Nelson M. Lantigua 20 2nd Battalion, 10 Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Miami, Florida Died as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq, on March 31, 2009

Staff Sgt. Raphael A. Futrell 26 13th Military Police Detachment, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command Anderson, South Carolina Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 25, 2009

Sgt. Jose R. Escobedo Jr. 32 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Albuquerque, New Mexico Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iskandariya, Iraq, on March 20, 2009

Spc. Gary L. Moore 25 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion Del City, Oklahoma Died of wounds sustained when an exploside device struck his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 16, 2009

Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone 21 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force  Ocala, Florida Died as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq, on March 10, 2009

1st Lt. Daniel B. Hyde 24 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Modesto, California Died of wounds sustained when an explosive device struck his unit vehicle in Tikrit, Iraq, on March 7, 2009

Pfc. Jessica Y. Sarandrea 22 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Miami, Florida Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her forward operating base with mortar fire in Mosul, Iraq, on March 3, 2009

Sgt. Jeffrey A. Reed 23 411th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade Chesterfield, Virginia Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a grenade in Taji, Iraq, on March 2, 2009

Afghanistan – The Still Forgotten War – and The Third Front Pakistan!!

There have been 1113 coalition deaths — 669 Americans, 10 Australians, 152 Britons, 116 Canadians, 3 Czech, 21 Danes, 18 Dutch, 3 Estonians, 1 Finn, 25 French, 26 Germans, 2 Hungarian, 13 Italians, 1 Latvian, 1 Lithuanian,  3 Norwegians, 9 Poles, 3 Portuguese, 9 Romanians, 1 South Korean, 25 Spaniards, 2 Swedes — in the war on terror as of December 1, 2008, according to a CNN count. Below are the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose deaths have been reported by their country’s governments. The troops died in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or were part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. At least 2,737 U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.

Lt. Florence B. Choe 35 Navy officer assigned to Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan El Cajon, California One of two sailors killed when an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on personnel at Camp Shaheen in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, on March 27, 2009

Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV 26 Navy officer assigned to Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan Narragansett, Rhode Island One of two sailors killed when an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on personnel at Camp Shaheen in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, on March 27, 2009

Pfc. Adam J. Hardt 19 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Avondale, Arizona Died of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak province, Afghanistan, on March 22, 2009

Cpl. Michael W. Ouellette 28 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Manchester, New Hampshire One of two Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 22, 2009

Cpl. Anthony L. Williams 21 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Oxford, Pennsylvania One of two Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 22, 2009

Trooper Jack Bouthillier 20 Royal Canadian Dragoons Hearst, Ontario, Canada One of two Canadian soldiers killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Shah Wali Khot district northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 20, 2009

Cpl. Tyler Crooks 24 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada One of two Canadian soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near a dismounted patrol in Zhari district west of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 20, 2009

Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Geary 22 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Rome, New York Died while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on March 20, 2009

Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes 22 Royal Canadian Dragoons Ripples, New Brunswick, Canada One of two Canadian soldiers killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Shah Wali Khot district northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 20, 2009

Master Cpl. Scott Francis Vernelli 28 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada One of two Canadian soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near a dismounted patrol in Zhari district west of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 20, 2009

Sgt. Brett Till 31 Incident Response Regiment, Australian Special Forces Task Group Sydney, Australia Killed when a roadside bomb exploded as he was trying to disable it in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, on March 19, 2009

Cpl. Mathew Hopkins 21 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Brisbane, Australia Killed when his patrol was attacked by 20 Taliban fighters 7.5 miles (12 km) north of Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, on March 16, 2009

Sgt. Christopher P. Abeyta 23 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Midlothian, Illinois One of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Kot, Afghanistan, on March 15, 2009

Staff Sgt. Timothy L. Bowles 24 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base Tucson, Arizona Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a roadside bomb near Kot, Afghanistan, on March 15, 2009

Spc. Norman L. Cain III 22 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Oregon, Illinois One of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Kot, Afghanistan, on March 15, 2009

Cpl. Dean Thomas John 25 A Squadron, Light Aid Detachment, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Neath, Wales One of two British soldiers killed when their Jackal patrol vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb west of Garmsir in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 15, 2009

Cpl. Graeme Stiff  24 A Squadron, Light Aid Detachment, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Münster, Germany One of two British soldiers killed when their Jackal patrol vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb west of Garmsir in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 15, 2009

Sgt. Robert M. Weinger 24 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Round Lake Beach, Illinois One of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Kot, Afghanistan, on March 15, 2009

Cpl. Nicolas Belda 23 27e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (27th Mountain Infantry Battalion) Albi, Midi-Pyrénées, France Killed when the VAB armored vehicle he was driving was struck by an anti-tank rocket during an operation 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 14, 2009

Lance Cpl. Christopher Harkett 22 Company C, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment Pontardawe, Swansea, Wales Killed by an explosion that occured during a foot patrol near Musa Qaleh in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 14, 2009

Staff Sgt. Archie A. Taylor 37 2nd Intelligence Battalion, 2nd MEF Headquarters Group, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Tomball, Texas Died as a result of a non-hostile incident in Kabul province, Afghanistan, on March 14, 2009

Pfc. Patrick A. Devoe II  27 40th Cavalry Regiment4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division Auburn, New York Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Kandau Kalay, Afghanistan, on March 8, 2009

Trooper Marc Diab 22 Royal Canadian Dragoons, attached to 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Vigo, Spain Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his armored vehicle during a patrol in the Shah Wali Kot district northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 8, 2009

Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown 38 The Lincoln and Welland Regiment St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada One of two Canadian soldiers killed along with a Canadian airman when a roadside bomb detonated near their armored vehicle during a patrol in the Arghandab district northwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 3, 2009

Cpl. Dany Olivier Fortin 29 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3 Wing Baie-Comeau, Québec, Canada   Killed along with two Canadian soldiers when a roadside bomb detonated near their armored vehicle during a patrol in the Arghandab district northwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 3, 2009

Cpl. Kenneth Chad O’Quinn 25 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland, Canada One of two Canadian soldiers killed along with a Canadian airman when a roadside bomb detonated near their armored vehicle during a patrol in the Arghandab district northwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 3, 2009

Sgt. Simone A. Robinson 21 634th Brigade Support Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard Dixmoor, Illinois Died on March 1 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of wounds sustained when a roadside bomb exploded near her security post on January 17, 2009, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Hidden Casualties Of War: Suicide

Military Suicides at a 30-Year High

Spike in army vet suicides calls for changes

The dual wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to a variety of international and national glitches, many of which were predicted before the wars even began. However, one of the more unanticipated consequences has been a sharp increase in military suicides.

John Violanti, a UB research professor and Vietnam War veteran, is currently preparing a study to change the way army veterans’ mental health is examined. Violanti hopes that the U.S. Army will use the study’s method on 3,600 soldiers returning from war in August, in order help to reduce and keep down the recent spike in suicides among the veterans..>>>>

18 deaths in February investigated as possible suicides

Thursday Mar 5, 2009

As many as 18 soldiers killed themselves in February, Army officials announced March 5.

Of the 18 cases in February, two are confirmed as suicides and 16 others remain under investigation. About 90 percent of such pending cases typically are ruled suicides.

Seventeen of the soldiers were male; one was female. Of the deaths, 14 occurred in the U.S. and four overseas.

Last month’s numbers are higher than the previous February, when 11 soldiers’ deaths were confirmed as suicides.>>>>>>>

Civilian Casulties – Iraq

Just Foreign Policy Issues

Over a million {*1,320,110} Iraqis are estimated to have been killed as a result of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation. Learn More and Take Action»

*Estimate, click for explaination

.

To

John Hopkins School of Public Health { October 11, 2006 report } puts the count at 650,000, with a range from 400,000 to 900,000.

Exact Count of Civilian Casulties may never be known, as is the case in every conflict, especially an Invasion by another Country. For it is the Innocent Civilians and those Defending their Countries {of which All would be counted if this land were ever invaded} who suffer the most, during and long after!

Iraq Refugees UNHCR: UNHCR Global Appeal 2008-2009 – Iraq Situation

Filetype: PDF (116k)

All the Deaths, Maimings and Destruction are the Blood on All Our Hands, No One can escape the Guilt!

February 2009***January 2009***December 2008***November 2008***October 2008***September 2008***August 2008***July 2008***June 2008***May 2008***April 2008***March 2008***Febuary 2008***January 2008***December 2007***November 2007***October 2007***September 2007***August 2007***July 2007***June 2007***May 2007***April 2007***March 2007***Feb. 2007***Jan. 2007***2006***2005***2004***2003

The War in Iraq Costs, the rolling tabulation, over $611,000,000,000 and continually counting!

You can view other Honor Rolls of the Fallen I have posted on my site {links above}, or from the CNN link at top and the other sources that you might use or know about.

As Of April 6th 2009, There Are 92 Pages w/5 ‘Silent Honor Rolls’ Each, Number Of Casulties Varies With Each ‘Silent Honor Roll’; Many now have numbers in the teens and twenties, click on graphic.

97 percent of U.S. deaths in Iraq have occurred after George W. Bush declared an end to “major combat.”

“Mission Accomplished!”

The Rand Corporation Terrorism Report the press release here, you can get the  full document here or a summary of the research brief here

I’m Still Tortured by What I Saw in Iraq

Matthew Alexander who is writing under a pseudonym for security reasons

I learned in Iraq that the No. 1 reason foreign fighters flocked there to fight were the abuses carried out at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Our policy of torture was directly and swiftly recruiting fighters for al-Qaeda in Iraq. The large majority of suicide bombings in Iraq are still carried out by these foreigners. They are also involved in most of the attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. It’s no exaggeration to say that at least half of our losses and casualties in that country have come at the hands of foreigners who joined the fray because of our program of detainee abuse. The number of U.S. soldiers who have died because of our torture policy will never be definitively known, but it is fair to say that it is close to the number of lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. How anyone can say that torture keeps Americans safe is beyond me — unless you don’t count American soldiers as Americans.

MSNBC Countdown Video Commentary

Americans, including officers like myself, must fight to protect our values not only from al-Qaeda but also from those within our own country who would erode them. Other interrogators are also speaking out, including some former members of the military, the FBI and the CIA who met last summer to condemn torture and have spoken before Congress — at considerable personal risk.

We’re told that our only options are to persist in carrying out torture or to face another terrorist attack. But there truly is a better way to carry out interrogations — and a way to get out of this false choice between torture and terror.

“How anyone can say that torture keeps Americans safe is beyond me — unless you don’t count American soldiers as Americans.”

Matthew Alexander who is writing under a pseudonym for security reasons

“Torture is the tool of the lazy, the stupid, and the pseudo-tough. It’s also perhaps the greatest recruiting tool that the terrorists have.”

Major General Paul Eaton

Those who take some sort of relief in the “We are fighting them over there so we won’t be fighting them here!”, Better Rethink their Future, or rather their Childrens Future!!

“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is,”  – George W. Bush, Texas Gov., 1999

“If ever forgetful of her past and present glory, she will cease to be the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Francis Scott Key 1874

“Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, ‘the greatest,’ but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.”

Sydney J. Harris

” What does it matter to the dead, the orphan, and the homeless whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?”

– Mohandas K. Gandhi

The Failed Policies will Haunt Us and the World for Decades!!