4,000 Americans in Iraq
On March 24, the U.S. military passed a sad milestone: the 4,000th U.S. death in operations in Iraq, which led to a press release from the Armed Forces Press Services.
“Every single loss of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine is keenly felt by us in the department, by military commanders, by families and friends both in theater and at home,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said during an informal news conference.
Spc. Lerando J. Brown, 27, of Gulfport, Miss., died March 15 in Balad, Iraq, from injuries suffered in an incident currently under investigation. He was assigned to the 288th Sapper Company—bomb diffusal—223rd Engineer Battalion, Mississippi Army National Guard, Houston, Miss.
Whitman stressed that no casualty is more significant than another. “Each soldier, Marine, sailor or airmen is equally precious, and each loss of life is equally tragic,” he said.
Staff Sgt. Michael D. Elledge, 41, of Brownsburg, Ind. and Spc. Christopher C. Simpson, 23, of Hampton, Va. died Mar. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device during combat operations. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Whitman called attention to the sacrifices by coalition allies and by Iraqi forces. “Their sacrifices are just as tragic, and their contributions are equally valuable,” he said. “And our thoughts are with those families also.”
Sgt. Gregory D. Unruh, 28, of Dickinson, Texas, died March 19 in Mandali, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a vehicle accident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
Eight U.S. government civilians also have died in Iraq. More than 16,000 U.S. government civilians have deployed to Iraq since 2003.
Pvt. Tyler J. Smith, 22, of Bethel, Maine, died Mar. 21 at Forward Operating Base Falcon near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the base received indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Still, both coalition and Iraqi security force casualties are down significantly from May 2007, Whitman said, and since May 2006, Iraqi civilian casualties also have declined.
Sgt. Thomas C. Ray, II, 40, of Weaverville, N.C., Spc. David S. Stelmat, 27, of Littleton, N.H. and Sgt. David B. Williams, 26, of Tarboro, N.C. died March 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1132nd Military Police Company, North Carolina Army National Guard, Rocky Mount, N.C.
Al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremists will continue to try to hit coalition troops and indiscriminately kill Iraqi civilians in hopes of breeding a civil war, Whitman said.
Staff Sgt. William R. Neil Jr., 38, of Holmden, N.J., died in Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
“There are forces that do not want to see Iraq move forward with a representative government as a peaceful nation, and they can still inflict casualties—both on Iraqi civilians and coalition forces,” he told reporters.
Pfc. Antione V. Robinson, 20, of Detroit, Mich., died March 19 in Nawa, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when the vehicle he was repairing collapsed. He was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Suicide bombers continue to try and launch attacks and sometimes succeed. There are gun battles as coalition and Iraqi forces move into new areas and confront the extremists.
Tech. Sgt. William H. Jefferson, Jr., 34, of Norfolk, Va., died March 22 near Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
“Would we like to reduce these casualties to nothing? Of course,” Whitman said. “Are there still going to be casualties in the days ahead? Most unfortunately, there will be.”
The surge strategy has paid off, Whitman said. The surge of five U.S. brigade combat teams, support forces and Marines has provided the space and time needed for local and provincial governments to set up.
“It’s also given us the time necessary to develop the Iraqi security forces, which now are increasingly taking the lead for these security functions,” he said.
Posted by Bryan McKenzie at 07:24 AM. Filed under: Daily Screed •
