Making Sausage

Nobody likes to watch sausage being made but we love it when it's finished. We cook it, we embrace it, and we eat it. And we forget the revolting process that produced it.

Watching developments in the war on terrorism and the current Iraq situation as reported by the media is a lot like watching sausage being made. Thanks to the media we see everything that's going on, at least as it is seen through the media's essentially anti-war prism. It gives us 20/20 hindsight that informs us that everybody could do a better job of handing things than the Bush administration and the military are handling them.

All the experts trotted out by the media tell us how much better a job they could do if they were running things - that they would be able to provide sausage without ever having to go through the ugly business of making it. But they never explain exactly how, resorting to their rear view mirrors to point out where the President went wrong and if they'd been in charge they would have done it right.

Wars are not pretty things to watch. They are waged in confusion, drenched in blood, and often won or lost by the want of a nail on one side or another. They are the equivalent of sausage making. Only when they are over and we have won, do we appreciate the result.

None of us want to see our loved ones sent off to distant places possibly to suffer or die. We don't want our economy to be dislocated or our attention distracted by disturbing scenes of warfare, especially when we have reached a point far enough away from 9/11 that we have forgotten why we're fighting.

The media, largely anti-Bush and anti-war, are taking a huge delight in describing every grisly part of the sausage making process - they can't wait to tell the American people how this administration policy went wrong or which general made this or that mistake. And it's all done from hindsight, after the fact when everything is suddenly clear.

For months now, the media and the Democrats have been insisting that the Iraq situation is a muddle and that the President has no real plans to deal with it and get us out of there. Over and over the networks and big media continued to demand that he explain his policy to the nation.

But when President Bush spoke to the nation Monday night, and explained his policy, where were the networks? Where were NBC, CBS or ABC? Running sitcoms and the other drivel they peddle as entertainment.

In that speech the President laid out his plan, told us what he wants to do, and explained his goals - how we'll reach the end of the sausage making.

Here was the explanation they couldn't wait to hear, but when they got it they weren't there to hear it, nor were their millions of listeners. And when they finally got around to reporting on the speech, they had nothing but criticisms to offer.

Their excuse? The White House never asked for network time. That's probably because they knew they wouldn't have gotten it. This was a major news event, one they had been asking for. If they were genuine news outlets one would have thought they didn't need to be asked.

But they have no problem in finding the time to allow their so-called experts to heap criticism and abuse on the President - a wartime president they don't like in the midst of a war they don't like.

So they set out to show us the ugly results of this war while they protect us from seeing the President explain what he is trying to do, and spelling out how he plans to do it. They also want to protect us from seeing the horror of the beheading of Nick Berg but they can't wait to show us, day after day, pictures of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by a tiny handful of decadent soldiers.

They want us to see the sausage being made - but they won't show us what it will be like after it's made.

Like the Democrats, the media want to make sure that President Bush will not be re-elected in November and they are willing to undermine the war effort if that's what it takes. They have launched a full court press against George Bush, and they have driven down his poll ratings and created a sense of unease and war weariness among the American people. They are trying to do what they did in Vietnam - help the other side win.

--- Mike Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, is heard on AM 700 KSEV in Houston.

1000 names (www.thousandreasons.org/wardead.html). They had to add Afghanistan to the Iraq totals to get that number (the website still only enumerates 808 deaths). They want to magnify the number of deaths. Of course, before the war they told us that there would be tens of thousands of American soldiers killed and millions of Iraqis killed. It turned out to be less than 1,000 Americans so far and only tens of thousands of Iraqis.

From the article, I was at least able to get the names of the men who were murdered by a traitorous American muslim who had risen to the rank of Sgt.:

763. Air National Guard Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, of Boise, Idaho. Died from wounds received by a March 22 grenade attack in a tent at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait. Assigned to the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, Boise, Idaho.
783. Army Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert, 27, of Williams Township, Pa. Killed in a grenade attack while sleeping in a tent at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait. Assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Note how the article made no mention of the AntiAmerican treachery. Just labeled it a "grenade attack".

Look at that list and you will also find many accidents among the causes (not combat injuries) as well as the occasional health related illness and industrial accidents like electrocution.

11. Pfc. Owen D. Witt, 20, of Sand Springs, Mont., died May 24 in Ad Dawr, Iraq, when his armored high-mobility-multipurpose-wheeled vehicle rolled over. Witt was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
16. Cpl. Rudy Salas, 20, of Baldwin Park, Calif., died May 20, due a non-combat related vehicle accident in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
20. Pfc. Michael M. Carey, 20, of Prince George, Va., died May 18 in Iraq. He apparently fell into a canal and did not resurface. His remains were recovered on May 18. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
21. Staff Sgt. William D. Chaney, 59, of Schaumburg, Ill., died May 18, in Landstuhl, Germany due to a non-combat related injury. Initial reports indicate that Chaney was medically evacuated from Iraq to Germany for surgery due to a sudden medical condition. He died from complications after surgery. Chaney was assigned to the Army National Guard, Company B, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment, Chicago, Ill.
23. Spc. Marcos O. Nolasco, 34, of Chino, Calif., died May 18 in Baji, Iraq, as a result of an electrocution accident. Nolasco was assigned to Battery B, 1st Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, Bamberg, Germany.
** 29. Pfc. Brian K. Cutter, 19, of Riverside, Calif., was found unconscious on May 13, and was later pronounced dead in Al Asad, Iraq. Cause of death is under investigation. He was assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
34. Pfc. Michael A. Mora, 19, of Arroyo Grande, Calif., died May 14 in An Najaf, Iraq, when his military vehicle slid off the road and turned over. Mora was assigned to the Army's 3rd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Polk, La.
35. Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr., 20, of Colombia, Tenn., died May 15 as a result of non-hostile injuries in Kirkuk, Iraq. He was assigned to the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
36. Command Sgt. Maj. Edward C. Barnhill, 50, of Shreveport, La., died May 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Barnhill was assigned to the Army Reserve's 431st Civil Affairs Battalion, North Little Rock, Ark.
42. Sgt. Rodney A. Murray, 28, of Ayden, N.C., died May 9, in Iraq, in a vehicle accident between Baghdad and Scania when a Bradley Fighting Vehicle and his military vehicle collided. Sgt. Murray was assigned to the Army Reserve's 351st Military Police Company, Ocala, Fla.
46. Spc. Chase R.Whitham, 21, of Ore.died May 8, in Mosul, Iraq, while he was in a swimming pool when an electrical current charged the water. Spc. Whitham was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, , 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
49. Pfc. Brandon J. Wadman of West Palm Beach, Fla., died May 5 in Afghanistan when his vehicle rolled over. Pfc. Wadman was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery, Florida National Guard, West Palm Beach, Fla.
** 50. Cpl. Jeffrey G. Green, 20, of Dallas, Texas, was found deceased on May 5 in the Euphrates River, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Cause of death is under investigation. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
** 53. Cpl. Dustin H. Schrage, 20, of Brevard, Fla., was found deceased on May 6 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Cause of death is under investigation. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
54-57. The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died May 3, in Balad, Iraq, when their military vehicle left the road and flipped over in a canal. All soldiers were assigned to the 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany. Killed were:
1st Lt. Christopher J. Kenny, 32, of Miami, Fla.
Sgt. Marvin R. Sprayberry, III, 24, of Tehachapi, Calif.
Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl, 30, of Salisbury, N.C.
Pfc. Lyndon A. Marcus, Jr., 21, of Long Beach, Calif.
67. Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas, 36, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, died April 28 in Baghdad, Iraq, as the result of a vehicle accident. Thomas was assigned to Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
75. Spc. Phillip L. Witkowski, 24, of Fredonia, N.Y., died May 1, in Homberg, Germany, from non-combat related injuries sustained on April 30, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Spc. Witkowski was assigned to the Army's 7th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (Light) from Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii.
86. Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, 23, of Rapids City, Ill., died April 29, in Abu Gharb, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Sgt. Garrison was assigned to the 333rd Military Police Company, Illinois National Guard, Freeport, Ill.
90. Pfc. Marquis A. Whitaker, 20, of Columbus, Ga., died April 27 in Scania, Iraq, after falling from a bridge. His vehicle was hit from behind by a civilian truck and left hanging off the side of the bridge. Whitaker attempted to climb out of the vehicle but fell. Whitaker was assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.
98. Staff Sgt. Cory W. Brooks, 32, of Philip, S.D., died April 24, in Baghdad, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Brooks was assigned to the Army National Guard's 153rd Engineer Battalion, from Wagner, S.D.
101. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, 24, of Smithtown, N.Y. Bruckenthal was assigned to Tactical Law Enforcement Team South Detachment 403. Staff Sgt. Cory W. Brooks, 32, of Philip, S.D., died April 24, in Baghdad, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Brooks was assigned to the Army National Guard's 153rd Engineer Battalion, from Wagner, S.D.
107. Staff Sgt. Edward W. Carmen, 27 of McKeesport, Pa., died April 17, in Baghdad, Iraq when the track of the tank he was in broke, the driver lost control and the tank rolled off the bridge. Staff Sgt. Carman was assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 12th Armored Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
110. Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, 20, of Azusa, Calif, died April 20 north of Tallil, Iraq, when his truck went off the road and rolled over because of limited visibility and dangerous driving conditions. Pfc. Harris-Kelly was assigned to the 596th Maintenance Company, 3rd Corps Support Command, V Corps, Darmstadt, Germany.
118. Spc. Marvin A. Camposiles, 25, of Austell, Ga., died April 17, in Samarra, Iraq, when he was electrocuted while performing routine generator maintenance. Spc. Camposiles was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
120. Staff Sgt. Jimmy J. Arroyave, 30, of Woodland, Calif., died April 15, due a non-combat related vehicle accident northeast of Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion 1, Combat Service Support Group 11, 1st Force Service Support Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
124. Spc. Frank K. Rivers, Jr., 23, of Woodbridge, Va., died April 14, in Mosul, Iraq when he collapsed during physical training. Spc. Rivers was assigned to the Army's 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.
** 200. Emad Mikha, 44, of Sterling Heights, Mich., died April 3, in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. At this time, the cause of his death is unknown.
210. Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, 45, of Conway, N.H., died March 30, in Somara, Iraq, when the military vehicle he was riding in rolled over. Ferguson was assigned to the Army's 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, Colo.
213. Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Jallah Jr., 49, of Fayetteville, N.C., died due to a non-combat cause on March 28, in Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. He was medically evacuated from Afghanistan to Washington, D.C. via Landstuhl on Feb. 16. Jallah was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
214. Pfc. Sean M. Schneider, 22, of Janesville, Wis., died March 29 as the result of a vehicle accident near Baghdad. Pfc. Schneider was assigned to the 115th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
216. Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, 37, of Manhattan, N.Y., died March 27, due to a non-combat related incident at Camp Wolverine, Kuwait. He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
218. LCpl. James A. Casper, 20, of Coolidge, Texas, died March 25 due to a non-combat related incident at Al Asad, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
221. Spc. Clint Richard Matthews, 31, of Bedford, Pa., died March 19, in Baji, Iraq, from injuries sustained when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle went over a 60-foot embankment and flipped over on March 17. He was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, from Schweinfurt, Germany.
222. Pfc. Bruce Miller, Jr., 23, of Orange, N.J., died March 22, in Mosul, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. He was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash.
224. 1st Lt. Michael W. Vega, 41, of Lathrop, Calif., died March 20 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., from injuries sustained when his military vehicle rolled over in Diwaniyah, Iraq, on March 11. Vega was assigned to the 223rd Military Intelligence Company, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Army National Guard, based in Sacramento, Calif.
* 225. Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, 19, of Riverton, Kan., died March 21 near Samarra, Iraq during a unit weapon test-firing incident. Kreider was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Schweinfurt, Germany.
228. Pfc. Jason C. Ludlam, 22, of Arlington, Texas, died March 19 in Ba'qubah, Iraq, when he was electrocuted while laying telephone wires. Ludlam was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Vilseck, Germany
231. Spec. Doron Chan, 20, of Highland, New York, died March 18, near Balad, Iraq, when his convoy vehicle was cut off by a civilian vehicle. The military vehicle swerved, crossed into oncoming traffic, and flipped over. Chan was assigned to the Army Reserve's 411th Engineer Brigade, New Windsor, New York.
235. Pfc. Ernest Harold Sutphin, 21, of Parkersburg, W.Va., died March 18 in Landstuhl, Germany, from injuries sustained in a vehicle incident in Kirkuk, Iraq, on March 11. Pfc. Sutphin was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
239. Spc. Tracy L. Laramore, 30, of Okaloosa, Fla., died March 17, in Baji, Iraq, of injuries sustained when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle went over an embankment and flipped over in the river. Spc. Laramore was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, Schweinfurt, Germany.
** 240. First Lieutenant Michael R. Adams, 24, of Seattle, Wash., died March 16, in Al Asad, Iraq, when the barrel of the .50 caliber weapon mounted on his tank struck him. Lt. Adams was a member of the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
241. Sgt. William J. Normandy, 42, of Augusta, Ga., died March 15, in Camp Virginia, Iraq (north of Kuwait City), of non-combat related injuries. Sgt. Normandy was assigned to the Army National Guard, 1st Battalion, 86th Field Artillery, from Montpelier, Vt.
242. Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen, Sr., 52, of Augusta, Ga., died March 16, in Camp Virginia, Kuwait (north of Kuwait City), of non-combat related injuries. Master Sgt. Thigpen was assigned to the Army National Guard, 151st Signal Battalion, from Greenville, S.C.
I don't even know if these next 2 should be on the list since they were civilians. If we include their deaths then surely we must include the Halliburton contractors who were murdered. And what of freelance contractors like Nick Berg?
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Department of the Army civilians who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The civilians who were both assigned to the Coalition Provisional Authority, based in Arlington, Va., died March 9 in Al-Hillah, Iraq. Killed were:
** 251. Fern L. Holland, 33, (home of record not available).
** 252. Robert J. Zangas, 44, of Prince William County, Va.
Women's Rights Activist Fern L. Holland was killed in Iraq on Tuesday night. Holland, who worked tirelessly in Iraq to help Iraqi women achieve their rights, became one of the first American civilian employees of the Coalition Provisional Authority to be killed in Iraq. According to KOTV, Holland's family believes she was targeted because of her work on the Iraqi Constitution to ensure an equal role for women in the country's new system of governance. In fact, Holland wrote an email to an old coworker stating "if I die...know that I'm doing precisely what I want to be doing," reports the Washington Post.

* 254. Spc. Edward W. Brabazon, 20, of Philadelphia, Pa., died March 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-hostile gunshot wound. Brabazon was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
256. Capt. Gussie M. Jones, 41, of Louisiana, died March 7 in Baghdad, Iraq, as a result of a non-combat cause. As medical surgical nurse in support of area operations, Jones was assigned to the 31st Combat Support Hospital, Fort Bliss, Texas.
260. Spc. David E. Hall, 21, of Uniontown, Kan., died Feb. 25 in Kabul, Afghanistan, in a non-hostile accident. Hall was assigned to 805th Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve, Raleigh, N.C.
261. Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. Bacon, 45, of Wagram, N.C., died Feb. 20 in Ad Dujayl, Iraq, when he was struck by a recovery vehicle while he was assisting a disabled vehicle. Bacon was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 4th Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
The Department of Defense announced today it has changed the status of 1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, 28, of Cambridge, Md., from duty status whereabouts unknown to a non-hostile casualty.
267. Mooney was listed as duty status unknown on Jan. 25 in Mosul, Iraq, when his helicopter went down in the Tigris River during a search for a missing soldier. On Feb. 14, his remains were recovered. Mooney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation (Fort Drum), however, in support of mission requirements, he was attached to 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
269. Pvt. Bryan N. Spry, 19, of Chestertown, Md., died Feb. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle rolled into a water-filled ditch. Spry was assigned to Company A, 2-504th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
275. Master Sgt. Jude C. Mariano, 39, of Vallejo, Calif., died Feb. 10 in Doha, Qatar. He died from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Mariano was assigned to the 615th Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
278. Army Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, 24, of Quakertown, Pa., died Oct. 1, 2003, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington D.C. Ramos died of non-combat related injuries. She was assigned to the 3rd Armor Medical Company, Medical Troop Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
279. Army Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 39, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Nov. 8, 2003, at WRAMC. On Oct. 31, 2003, Jimenez fell and was injured. She was taken to the 28th Combat Support Hospital and later evacuated to Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center. Subsequently, she was moved to WRAMC where she later died. Jimenez was assigned to the 2nd Squadron Combat Support Aviation (Maintenance), 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.
280. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David Sisung, 21, of Phoenix, Ariz., died June 6, 2003, while in the Persian Gulf. Sinsung died of a non-combat related injury. He was assigned to the USS Nimitz, home ported in San Diego, Calif.
281. Air Force Master Sgt. David A. Scott, 51, of Union, Ohio, died as a result of a non-hostile cause on July 20, 2003, in Doha, Qatar. He was assigned to the 445th Communications Flight, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
288. Pfc. Armando Soriano, 20, of Houston, Texas, died on Feb. 1 in Haditha, Iraq. Soriano was traveling in a two-vehicle convoy on a supply route when weather conditions caused his vehicle to slide off the road and roll over. He died as a result of his injuries. Soriano was assigned to the howitzer battery, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo. The unit is currently attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
* 308. Staff Sgt. Roland L. Castro, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, died Jan. 16, in Camp Cedar II, Iraq, of a non-hostile gunshot wound. Castro was assigned to Battery A, 1st Battalion, 12th Field Artillery, based at Fort Sill, Okla.
313. Sgt. Keicia M. Hines, 27, of Citrus Heights, Calif., died on Jan. 14 when she was struck by a vehicle on Mosul Airfield in Mosul, Iraq. Hines was assigned to the 108th Military Police, Combat Support Co., Fort Bragg, N.C.
315. Sgt. Roy A. Wood, 47, of Alva, Fla., was killed on Jan. 9 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Wood was fatally injured when the vehicle he was traveling in near Kabul hit another vehicle. Wood was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Army National Guard based in Starke, Fla.
328. Sgt. Dennis A. Corral, 33, of Kearney, Neb., died on Jan. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was in a convoy going to the Baghdad International Airport when his vehicle went out of control and rolled over. Corral was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
332. Spc. Justin W. Pollard, 21, of Foothill Ranch, Calif., died on Dec. 30 in Baghdad, Iraq Pollard died as a result of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. Pollard was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based in Fort Carson, Colo.
335. Sgt. Curt E. Jordan, Jr., 25, of Green Acres, Wash., died on Dec. 28 near Bayji, Iraq. Jordan died of non-combat injuries. Jordan was assigned to the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Wheeled), 555th Combat Engineer Group, based in Fort Lewis, Wash.
337. Spc. Michael G. Mihalakis, 18, of San Jose, Calif., died on Dec. 26, 2003, in Baghdad, Iraq. Mihalakis died as a result of injuries sustained in a non-combat vehicle accident at the Baghdad International Airport. Mihalakis was assigned to the 270th Military Police Company, 49th Military Police Battalion, 100th Troop Command, California Combat Support Command, Army National Guard, based in Fairfield, Calif.
341. Sgt. Michael E. Yashinski, 24, of Monument, Colo., died on Dec. 24, 2003, in Kirkuk, Iraq. Yashinski died of injuries sustained while running a communication wire. Yashinski was assigned to the 501st Forward Support Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy.
346. Sgt. Theodore L. Perreault, 33, of Webster, Mass., died on Dec. 23, 2003, in Camp Bulkeley, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Perreault died of non-combat related injuries. Perreault was assigned to 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
347. Spc. Todd M. Bates, 20, of Bellaire, Ohio, was on a river patrol on the Tigris River Dec. 10 south of Baghdad, Iraq, when his squad leader fell overboard. Spc. Bates dived into the water and did not surface. He was originally listed in a duty status whereabouts unknown status. Bates’ body was subsequently recovered and his status changed to deceased on Dec. 23. Spc. Bates was assigned to the 135th Military Police Company, Army National Guard, based in Brookpark, Ohio.
350. Sgt. Glenn R. Allison, 24, of Pittsfield, Mass., died on Dec. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq. Allison died during physical training. Allison was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, N.Y.
353. Spc. Nathan W. Nakis, 19, of Corvallis, Ore., died on Dec. 16 in Mosul, Iraq. Nakis was in a convoy returning to Mosul when he lost control of his vehicle after driving through an oil-soaked area. Nakis was assigned to Company B, 52nd Engineer Battalion (Heavy), Army National Guard, based in Albany, Ore.
354. Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin, 21, of Mansfield, Ohio, died Dec. 15 at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Souslin died of non-combat related injuries. He was assigned to the 440th Signal Company, 22nd Signal Brigade, V Corps, Darmstadt, Germany.
356. 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, 3rdArmored Cavalry Regiment based in Fort Carson, Colo.
* 359. 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, 319thAirborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
362. Army Staff Sgt. Aaron T. Reese, 31, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Died south of Baghdad when he was patrolling the Tigris River and fell overboard. Assigned to the 135th Military Police Company, Army National Guard based in Brookpark, Ohio.
363. Army Spc. Joseph M. Blickenstaff, 23, of Corvallis, Ore. Killed in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq, when his vehicle flipped into a canal. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
364. Army Staff Sgt. Steven H. Bridges, 33, of Tracy, Calif. Killed in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq, when his vehicle flipped into a canal. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
365. Army Spc. Christopher J. Rivera Wesley, 26, of Portland, Ore. Died in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq, when his vehicle flipped into a canal. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based in Fort Lewis, Wash.
369. Army Chief Warrant Officer Clarence E. Boone, 50, of Fort Worth, Texas. Died in Kuwait City, Kuwait, as a result of a non-combat related injury. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas.
376. Army Spc. Thomas J. Sweet II, 23, of Bismarck, N.D. Died in Junction City, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries. Assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.
377. Army Spc. David J. Goldberg, 20, of Layton, Utah. Died in Qayyarah, Iraq, from a non-combat related injury. Assigned to C Company, 52nd Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), U.S. Army Reserve, 43rd Area Support Group, based in Fort Carson, Colo.
379. Army CW2 Christopher G. Nason, 39, of California. Died near Mosul, Iraq, from injuries sustained in a vehicular accident. Assigned to A Company, 306th Military Intelligence Battalion, Ft. Huachuca, Ariz.
381. Army Cpl. Darrell L. Smith, 28, of Otwell, Ind. Died in Baghdad when his vehicle overturned, fell into a river and he drowned. Assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, based in Washington, Ind.
383. Army Pfc. Damian S. Bushart, 22, of Waterford, Mich. Killed in Baghdad when a tank collided with his vehicle. Assigned to A Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Armstrong Barracks, Germany.
384. Army Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 24, of Pikeville, Ky. Killed in Balad, Iraq, when the vehicle he was driving flipped over into a canal trapping him inside the vehicle. Assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Carson, Colo. * 389. Army Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, 27, of Kaysville, Utah. Died in Baghdad from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
* 391. Army Capt. James A. Shull, 32, of California. Died in Baghdad from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Assigned to Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
* 411. Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey, 46, of Nashville, Tenn. Died in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Assigned to the 1175th Transportation Company, Army National Guard, Tullahoma, Tenn.
452. Army Pvt. Algernon Adams, 36, of Aiken, S.C. Died at Forward Operating Base St. Mere, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Assigned to the 122nd Engineer Battalion, Army National Guard, Edgefield, S.C.
* 457. Army Pfc. Steven Acosta, 19, of Calexico, Calif. Died in Baqubah, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Assigned to C Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
466. Army Spc. John P. Johnson, 24, of Houston. Died in Baghdad of non-combat related injuries. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
467. Army Pvt. Jason M. Ward, 25, of Tulsa, Okla. Died in Baghdad of non-combat related injuries. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
468. Army Spc. Paul J. Bueche, 19, of Daphne, Ala. Died in Balad, Iraq, when the tire he was changing on a Black Hawk helicopter exploded (Note: over inflated?). Assigned to the 131st Aviation Regiment, Army National Guard, Birmingham, Ala.
476. Army Pfc. Jose Casanova, 23, of El Monte, Calif. Died in Baghdad when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his military vehicle. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
477. Army Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, 19, of Valdosta, Ga. Drowned near Al Asad, Iraq. Assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based in Fort Carson, Colo.
478. Army Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Died in Baghdad when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his military vehicle. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg, N.C.
489. Army Pfc. Charles M. Sims, 18, of Miami. Drowned in Baghdad. Assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, Fort Stewart, Ga.
* 493. Army Spc. Dustin K. McGaugh, 20, of Derby, Kan. Died in Balad, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Okla.
494. Army Sgt. Andrew Joseph Baddick, 26. Died when he tried to rescue another soldier whose vehicle had entered a canal near Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq, and drowned. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C.
496. Army Pfc. Kristian E. Parker, 23. Died of non-combat related injuries at Camp AS Sayliyah, Qatar. Assigned to the 205th Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army National Guard, Slidell, La.
497. Army Sgt. Darrin K. Potter, 24, of Louisville, Ky. Killed near Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq, when his vehicle left the road and went into a canal. Assigned to the 223rd Military Police Company, U.S. Army National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
498. Army Spc. Lisa M. Andrews, 24, of Lenexa, Kan. Died while on leave from her unit near Overland Park, Kan., when she was struck by a civilian vehicle as she was walking across U.S. Highway 69. Assigned to the 129th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, based in New Century, Kan. Note: THIS ONE HAPPENED IN AMERICA!!! "Bush lied, soldiers died" my eye!!!
500. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, 43, of Nashua, N.H. Died at Shuabai Port, in Kuwait, when he was struck by a forklift. 502. Assigned to the 379th Engineer Company, U.S. Army National Guard, based in Bourne, Mass.
Army Spc. Michael Andrade, 28, of Bristol, R.I. Died from injuries sustained when a 5-ton truck struck the side of his vehicle in Balad, Iraq. Assigned to the 115th Military Police Company, U.S. Army National Guard, Cranston, R.I.
* 503. Army Spc. Paul J. Sturino, 21, of Rice Lake, Wis. Died in Quest, Iraq, from a non-combat weapons discharge. Assigned to B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.
508. Army Capt. Brian R. Faunce, 28, of Philadelphia, Pa. Killed in Al Asad, Iraq, when his military vehicle crossed under some low laying power lines and he reached up and grabbed the lines. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.
* 512. Army Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, 27, of Flagstaff, Ariz. Died in Telafar, Iraq, from a non-combat weapons discharge. Assigned to C Company, 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
516. Army Sgt. Henry Ybarra III, 32, of Austin, Texas. Died in Balad, Iraq, when he was changing the tire on a military truck and the tire exploded. Assigned to D Troop, 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, Illesheim, Germany.
519. Army Spc. Jarrett B. Thompson, 27, of Dover, Del. Died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., from injuries received in Iraq when a civilian vehicle cut in front of his convoy and struck his military vehicle. Assigned to the 946th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Lewes, Del.
523. Army Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno, 43, of Waipahu, Hawaii. Died in Kuwait City when he was hit by a truck while changing his vehicle's tire. Assigned to the 257th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Las Vegas, Nev.
524. Army Sgt. Sean K. Cataudella, 28, of Tucson, Ariz. Died in Ba'qubah, Iraq, when the military vehicle he was driving hit an embankment and rolled into a canal. Assigned to the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
528. Army Lt. Col. Anthony L. Sherman, 43, of Pottstown, Pa. Died in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait as a result of a non-combat related injury. Assigned to the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, U.S. Army Reserves, based in Philadelphia, Pa.
530. Army Spc. Ronald D. Allen Jr., 22, of Mitchell, Ind. Died near Balad, Iraq, from injuries suffered in a vehicular accident while conducting convoy operations. Assigned to the 502nd Personnel Service Battalion, 43rd Area Support Group, Fort Carson, Colo.
* 531. Army Pfc. Pablo Manzano, 19, of Heber, Calif. Died in Logistical Support Area Dogwood, Iraq, as a result of a non-combat weapons discharge. Assigned to B Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, V Corps, Bamberg, Germany.
532. Army Pfc. Vorn J. Mack, 19, of Orangeburg, S.C. Died near the Hadithah Dam, west of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when he jumped into the Euphrates River to take a swim and did not resurface. His body was found downstream by a search party the following day. Assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
533. Army Spc. Stephen M. Scott, 21, of Lawton, Okla., died in Baghdad as a result of non-combat injuries. Assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
* 534. Army Pfc. Michael S. Adams, 20, of Spartanburg, S.C. Died in Baghdad while participating in a small arms fire exercise on the range when a bullet ricocheted and ignited a fire in the building and he died as a result of injuries sustained during the fire. Assigned to 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
537. Army Sgt. Kenneth W. Harris, Jr., 23, of Charlotte, Tenn. Fatally injured in Scania, Iraq in a two-vehicle accident on the main supply route. Assigned to the 212th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Chattanooga, Tenn.
539. Army Spc. Craig S. Ivory, 26, of Port Matilda, Pa. Died from a non-combat related cause in Homberg University Hospital, Germany, where he was sent after being medically evacuated from Kuwait on Aug. 12. Assigned to the 501st Forward Support Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy.
542. Army Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., 37, of Guilford, Conn. Died in his sleep of a pulmonary embolism in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. Army Reserves, Fort Meade, Md. Note: Bush's fault, not.
547. Army Sgt. Floyd G. Knighten, Jr., 55, of Olla, La. Died in Iraq as a result of a non-combat related cause while in a convoy from Camp Bilad heading to Camp Pennsylvania. Assigned to the 1087th Transportation Support Company, Army National Guard, Fort Polk, La.
543. Army Pfc. Daniel R. Parker, 18, of Lake Elsinore, Calif. Died in Mosul, Iraq, when he was thrown from his vehicle when the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle in another lane. Assigned to B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
546. Army Spc. Levi B. Kinchen, 21, of Tickfaw, La. Died in Baghdad; a fellow soldier tried to wake him and noticed he was not breathing. Assigned to 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.
547. Army Sgt. Floyd G. Knighten, Jr., 55, of Olla, La. Died in Iraq as a result of a non-combat related cause while in a convoy from Camp Bilad heading to Camp Pennsylvania. Assigned to the 1087th Transportation Support Company, Army National Guard, Fort Polk, La.
548. Army Pvt. Matthew D. Bush, 20, of East Alton, Ill. Died in Camp Caldwell, Iraq; a fellow soldier tried to wake him and noticed he was not breathing. Assigned to F Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
549. Army Pfc. Brandon Ramsey, 21, of Calumet City, Ill. Died in Tallil, Iraq, when the vehicle he was riding in during a convoy escort mission rolled over during a chase of a suspicious vehicle, fatally injuring him. Assigned to the 933rd Military Police Company, U.S. Army National Guard, Chicago, Ill.
550. Army Pfc. Duane E. Longstreth, 19, of Tacoma, Wash. Died in Baghdad as a result of non-combat related injuries. Assigned to Company B, 307th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C.
553. Army Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga, 20, of Bellville, Texas. Died at Homburg University Hospital in Germany. Assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment, Fort Polk, La. His death was unrelated to the recent cases of pneumonia in Southwest Asia.
554. Army Sgt. Leonard D. Simmons, 33, of New Bern, N.C. Died in Mosul, Iraq of a non-combat related cause. Assigned to C Company, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
555. Army Spc. Farao K. Letufuga, 20, of Pago Pago, American Samoa. Died in Mosul, Iraq when he fell from the top of a building while performing guard duty. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
556. Army Staff Sgt. David L. Loyd, 44, of Jackson, Tenn. Died in a Kuwaiti hospital after he experienced severe chest pains while on a mission. Assigned to the 1175th Transportation Company, Army National Guard, Brownsville, Tenn.
Note: 557. on that list is a non-entry (sort of makes up for the death that was not numbered).
* 560. Army Spc. James I. Lambert III, 22, of Raleigh, N.C. Killed in Baghdad when he was struck by a stray bullet fired during what was believed to be a celebratory event by local nationals. Assigned to the 407th Combat Support Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C.
562.Army Sgt. Nathaniel Hart Jr., 29, of Valdosta, Ga. Died in Tillil, Iraq, of injuries he received when his vehicle went off the road and rolled over. Assigned to the 416th Transportation Company, 260th Quartermaster Battalion, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
Note: 563 and 569 on that list are non-entries (padding out the ranks?)
575. Army Sgt. Juan M. Serrano, 31, of Manati, Puerto Rico. Died in Baghdad when he was changing a tire on a military vehicle; it fell on him, inflicting a fatal head injury. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Armor, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.
582. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby, 29, of Phoenix City, Ala. Died in Baghdad when the vehicle he was riding in rolled over. Assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gillen, Ga.
* 585. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, 26, of Gering, Neb. Killed in Al Hamishiyah, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Assigned to the Naval Medical Center San Diego, Fourth Marine Division Detachment.
586. Army Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, 30, of Utah. Died in Baghdad as a result of non-combat injuries. Assigned to the 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation (Forward), Hanau, Germany.
588. Marine Lance Cpl. Cory Ryan Geurin, 18, of Santee, Calif. Died in Babylon, Iraq, when he fell approximately 60 feet from a palace roof where he was standing post. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
590. Army Cpt. Paul J. Cassidy, 36, of Laingsburg, Mich. Died in Camp Babylon, Iraq, as a result of non-combat injuries. Assigned to the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion in Wisconsin.
591. Army Sgt. Jaror C. Puello-Coronado, 36, of Pocono Summit, Pa. Died at Camp Edson, Iraq, when the operator of a dump truck lost control and struck him while he was manning a traffic point. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 310th Military Police Battalion, in Uniondale, N.Y.
592. Army Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, 20, of Montreal, Mo. Died in Homburg Hospital, Germany, from a non-combat cause. Assigned to the 203rd Engineer Battalion, in Joplin, Mo. Note: Pneumonia.
593. Army Spc. Christian C. Schulz, 20, of Colleyville, Texas. Died in Baqubah, Iraq, as a result of non-combat injuries. Assigned to the 3rd Troop, 67th Armor Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
596. Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, 20, of Moreno Valley, Calif. Killed in Kuwait in a vehicle accident. Assigned to 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
597. Army Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, of Eagle Pass, Texas. Died in Balad, Iraq as a result of non-combat injuries. Assigned to B Company, 64th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.
598. Army Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling, 38, of Elkhart, Ind. Died of non-combat related causes in Kuwait. Assigned to Company C, 1-152nd Infantry, Tell City, Ind.
599. Army Pvt. Robert L. McKinley, 23, of Kokomo, Ind. Died of non-combat related causes in Homberg, Germany. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-101st Air Assault, Fort Campbell, Ky.
601. Army Staff Sgt. Barry Sanford, Sr., 46, of Aurora, Colo. Died of non-combat related causes in Balad, Iraq. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Support Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.
605. Army Pfc. Corey L. Small, 20, of East Berlin, Pa. Died from a non-combat related cause. Assigned to the 502 Military Intelligence Company, 2 ACR, Fort Polk, La.
607. Army 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, 51, of Bethlehem, Pa. Killed on a highway in Iraq when his vehicle ran into a ditch while trying to avoid a civilian vehicle. Assigned to the 352nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Riverdale, Md.
612. Army Spc. Corey A. Hubbell, 20, of Urbana, Ill. Died in Camden Yards, Kuwait from a non-combat related cause. Assigned to Company B, 46th Engineer Battalion, Fort Rucker, Ala.
* 613. Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, 22, of Kingman, Ariz. Died in Karbala, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Assigned to the Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment, 29 Palms, Calif.
616. Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory E. MacDonald, 29, of Washington, D.C. Died in Iraq when the light armored vehicle he was traveling in rolled over. Assigned to Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Frederick, Md.
617. Army Spc. Cedric L. Lennon, 32, of West Blocton, Ala. Died in Baghdad from a non-combat related cause. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.
624. Army Sgt. Michael L. Tosto , 24, of Apex, N.C. Died at Camp Wolf, Kuwait from a non-combat-related cause. Assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Smith Barracks, Germany.
626. Army Spc. Joseph D. Suell, 24, of Lufkin, Texas. Died in Todjie, Iraq, from a non-combat related cause. Assigned to Headquarters and Service Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.
* 627 Marine Pfc. Ryan R. Cox, 19, of Derby, Kan. Died as a result of wounds received from a non-combat weapon discharge near An Najaf, Iraq. Assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
628. Army Staff Sgt. Andrew R. Pokorny, 30, of Naperville, Ill. Killed in Al Asad, Iraq when his armored personnel carrier threw a track causing the vehicle to roll over. Assigned to 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 3rd Armor Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
629. Army Spc. John K. Klinesmith Jr., 25, of Stockbridge, Ga. Died in Fallujah, Iraq. He was last seen wading in a lake on a palace compound June 12 and his body was later found in the lake during a search. Assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
634. Army Sgt. Travis L. Burkhardt, 26, of Edina, Mo. Killed in Baghdad during an escort mission when the vehicle he was in hit a curb along the road and rolled over. Assigned to 170th Military Police Company, Fort Lewis, Wash.
637. Marine Sgt. Jonathan W. Lambert, 28, of Newsite, Miss. Died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany as a result of injuries he suffered when his military vehicle rolled over on May 26 in Iraq. Assigned to the Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
638. Army Spc. Michael T. Gleason, 25, of Warren, Pa. Killed in Mosul, Iraq, when the vehicle he was traveling in swerved to avoid colliding with a civilian vehicle and turned over. Assigned to the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C.
639. Army Spc. Kyle A. Griffin, 20, of Emerson, N.J. Killed in Mosul, Iraq, when the vehicle he was traveling in swerved to avoid colliding with a civilian vehicle and turned over. Assigned to the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C.
640. Army Spc. Zachariah W. Long, 20, of Milton, Pa. Killed in Mosul, Iraq, when the vehicle he was traveling in swerved to avoid colliding with a civilian vehicle and turned over. Assigned to the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C.
** 641. Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley, 39, of Utica, Miss. Died in Baqubah, Iraq due to non-combat related circumstances that are under investigation. Assigned to 588th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
645. Sgt. Keman L. Mitchell, 24, of Hilliard, Fla. Killed in Kirkuk, Iraq when he jumped into a deep body of water and failed to resurface. He was evacuated to a forward surgical team and was pronounced dead on arrival.
646. Army Pvt. Kenneth A. Nalley, 19, of Hamburg, Iowa. Killed in Samawah, Iraq, escorting a convoy in a military vehicle when a heavy equipment transporter crossed the median and struck his vehicle. Assigned to the 501st Military Police Company, Wiesbaden, Germany.
647. Army Staff Sgt. Brett J. Petriken, 30, of Mich. Killed in Samawah, Iraq, escorting a convoy in a military vehicle when a heavy equipment transporter crossed the median and struck his vehicle. Assigned to the 501st Military Police Company, Wiesbaden, Germany.
651. Army Spc. Nathaniel A. Caldwell, 27, of Omaha, Neb. Killed in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle rolled over while responding to a civilian call. Assigned to the 404th Air Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
652. Army Lt. Col. Dominic R. Baragona, 42, of Niles, Ohio. Killed in Iraq when a tractor-trailer jackknifed on the road and collided with his military vehicle. Assigned to the 19th Maintenance Battalion, Fort Sill, Okla.

656. Marine Sgt. Kirk Allen Straseskie, 23, of Beaver Dam, Wis. Drowned in a canal near Al Hillah, Iraq, when he attempted to rescue the crewmembers of a Marine helicopter that went down in the canal. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
658. Marine Cpl. Douglas Jose Marencoreyes, 28, of Chino, Calif. Killed in Iraq when the large transport truck he was riding in rolled over. Assigned to the Light Armored Vehicle Air Defense Battery, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
* 659. Army Spc. Rasheed Sahib, 22, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Killed in Balad, Iraq, when another soldier's weapon discharged while he was cleaning it and struck Sahib in the chest. Assigned to the 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
661. Army Spc. David T. Nutt, 32, of Douglas, Ga. Killed in a car accident in Mosul, Iraq, when an Iraqi civilian vehicle cut his loaded 5-ton truck off. Nutt swerved, hit the median and his vehicle overturned. Assigned to the 494th Transportation Company, Ft. Campbell, Ky.
666. Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Smith, 20, of Anderson, Ind. Killed in a non-hostile vehicle accident in Kuwait. Assigned to Detachment 1, Communications Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, Peru, Ind.
667. Marine Lance Cpl. Cedric E. Bruns, 22, of Vancouver, Wash. Killed in a non-hostile vehicle accident in Kuwait. Assigned to the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, Eugene, Ore.
* 672. Army Pvt. Jason L. Deibler, 20, of Coeburn, Va. Killed by a non-combat weapon discharge in Kuwait. Assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, based at Smith Barracks, Baumholder, Germany.
* 673. Army Sgt. Sean C. Reynolds, 25, of East Lansing, Mich. Killed when he fell off a ladder and his M4 rifle accidentally discharged. Assigned to the 74th Long-Range Surveillance Detachment 173rd Airborne Brigade, in Camp Ederle, Italy.
674. Army Pfc. Jesse A. Givens, 34, of Springfield, Mo. Killed when the riverbank his tank was positioned on in Al Habbaniyah, Iraq, gave way and fell into the river. Assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
675. Army 1st Sgt. Joe J. Garza, 43, of Robstown, Texas. Killed when he fell out of military vehicle and was struck by a civilian vehicle in Baghdad. Assigned to 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
* 676. Army Spc. Narson B. Sullivan, 21, of North Brunswick, N.J. Killed by a non-combat weapon discharge. Assigned to 411th Military Police Company, Fort Hood, Texas.
677. Army 1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco, 26, of Delano, Calif. Killed when his vehicle rolled over while traveling through rough terrain. Assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
679. Army Spc. Roy Russell Buckley, 24, of Portage, Ind. Killed when he exited the passenger compartment of a military truck he was riding in, climbed into the trailer and did not return. He was discovered lying on the side of the road with serious injuries. Medical aid was summoned and he was pronounced dead. Assigned to the 685th Transportation Company, based in Hobart, Ind.
680. Army Cpl. John T. Rivero, 23, of Tampa, Fla. Killed when his military vehicle turned over in Kuwait. Assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Division, Eustis, Fla.
683. Marine Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzalez, 25, of Hileah, Fla. Killed in a non-hostile accident when a commercial refueler collapsed at Logistics Supply Area Viper in southern Iraq. Assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS)-273, Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG)-27, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.
684. Army Spc. Richard A. Goward, 32, of Midland, Mich. Killed when his truck entered a dust cloud and rear-ended the truck in front of him in Iraq. Assigned to the 1460th Transportation Company, Midland, Mich.
* 685. Army Pfc. Joseph P. Mayek, 20, of Rock Springs, Wyo. Killed by an AP round that was discharged from an M2 Bradley vehicle. Assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, Smith Barracks, Germany.
* 686. Marine Cpl. Jason David Mileo, 20, of Centreville, Md. Killed by gunfire after being mistaken for an enemy soldier in the vicinity of Baghdad. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
* 687. Army Spc. Gil Mercado, 25, of Paterson, N.J. Killed in a non-combat weapon discharge. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.
712. Army Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, 20, of Lake Charles, La. Killed when his vehicle fell into a ravine. Assigned to the 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga.
713. Army Spc. Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, 33, of Lewiston, Maine. Killed when his vehicle fell into a ravine. Assigned to the 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga.
716. Army Pvt. Devon D. Jones, 19, of San Diego. Killed when vehicle fell into a ravine. Assigned to the 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga.
721. Army Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, 40, of Hinesville, Ga. Killed when his vehicle ran off the road into a canal in Iraq. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
726. Marine Pfc. Chad E. Bales Metcalf, 20, of Coahoma, Texas. Killed in a non-hostile vehicle accident during convoy operations east of Ash Shahin, Iraq. Assigned to 1st Transportation Support Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
732.5 (not numbered on list!) Marine Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, 26, of Durham, N.C. Killed in a non-hostile accident west of Nasiriyah, Iraq, when his vehicle apparently snagged low-hanging power lines. Assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
* 735. Marine Pfc. Christian Daniel Gurtner, 19, of Ohio City, Ohio. Killed in southern Iraq by an accidental discharge of a personal weapon, unclear whether his own or someone else's. Assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
* 742. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, 22, of Lansdale, Pa. Killed in non-combat weapon discharge at Camp Coyote, Kuwait. Assigned to Bridge Company B, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, Folsom, Pa.
743. Army Spc. William A. Jeffries, 39, of Evansville, Ind. Evacuated from Kuwait and died as a result of a sudden illness in Rota, Spain. Assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment, Indiana Army National Guard.
752. Marine Lance Cpl. William W. White, 24, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Killed in a non-hostile vehicle accident in Iraq. Assigned to the 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
754. Army Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon, 32, of Fayetteville, N.C. Killed when a Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled off a cliff in a non-hostile accident in Iraq. Assigned to the 2-7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
758. Marine Maj. Kevin G. Nave, 36, of White Lake Township, Mich. Killed in a non-hostile vehicle accident in Iraq. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
761. Marine Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr., 31, of Richmond, Va. Killed during convoy operations when his tank plunged off a cliff into the Euphrates River. Assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.
762. ine Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, 20, of Santa Rosa, Calif. Killed during convoy operations when his tank plunged off a cliff into the Euphrates River. Assigned to 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.
764. Marine Cpl. Evan James, 20, La Harpe, Ill. Drowned while trying to cross the Saddam Canal in southeastern Iraq. Reservist with the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, Peoria, Ill.
765. Marine Sgt. Bradley S. Korthaus, 28, of Davenport, Iowa. Drowned while trying to cross the Saddam Canal in southeastern Iraq. Assigned to Engineering Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, Peoria, Ill.
* 782. Marine Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski, 26, of Buffalo, N.Y. Killed by an accidental discharge of a .50 cal machine gun in Iraq. Assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
784. Army Reserve Spc. Brandon S. Tobler, 19, of Portland, Ore. Killed in a non-hostile vehicle accident in Iraq. Assigned to the 671st Engineer Brigade, Portland, Ore.
799. Marine Sgt. Nicolas M. Hodson, 22, of Smithville, Mo. Killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Among the first deaths ever reported in these situations are people being backed over by a forklift or the like. When the national media chooses to run that sort of a story, they reveal their bias.

This does not diminish the role these men and women played in the conflict in Iraq. They died serving America, some gave their lives trying to rescue others (for example a man overboard). I just don't like to see their deaths exploited by the left as being "Bush's fault". I'll be bookmarking this thread so I don't have to compile this information again.

* these incidents could be friendly fire, depends on the "firearm discharge".

With people dying of injuries sustained in Guantanamo Bay and Kuwait (and one woman being hit by a vehicle while crossing US69 back in the States), some of these clearly are not war deaths in the traditional sense, how many people died on bases in America last year?

Watching some WWII US military films, it is clear that even the number of casualties was considered classified information because it let the enemy know how successful an attack had been.

I compile not to diminish the sacrifices these people made, I did it to counter the treasonous propaganda of loudmouthed pundits like Michael Moore who insist that the war has turned and the enemy in Iraq "will win".

I count 209 accidents and there are another 65 who died in non-combat helicopter accidents on that list (take offs, collisions).

That 808 isn't so dramatic when you realize that 274 of them (33.91%) were accidents. This is WITH some warcrimes being committed (false surrenders, attacks on ambulances, attacks from hospitals...). When will Lumpy Riefenstahl speak about these atrocities committed by his side?

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