Unlike Mister Bush, I don't have the skills to parse the latest report on Iraq from the
Lancet (which has received some extensive discussion here). Experts are already disagreeing, and we amateurs can only examine the arguments about methodology and other such matters through our imperfect lenses. I read the report and extensive commentary about the
first Lancet Iraq mortality report in 2004. I don't plan on repeating.
Not because I don't care. However many Iraqis are dead as a consequence of this war concocted by the lying gang operating out of the White House and the Pentagon - the number is vast. Whether it's 150,000 or 600,000+, as the research published in the Lancet claims, the toll in Iraq continues to get ever more horrific.
Even those few-and-far-between justifiable wars are horrific. But this is a war and occupation built on grotesque lies, greed and a hegemonic political ideology that its vile fabricators dare to call visionary. They are not the first to do so, even in our own country. They just happen to be doing it now.
Unless you watch Al Jazeera, or see other Middle Eastern media, you won't see many faces or names of Iraqis being killed, directly and indirectly, by the war. If the brother of the vice president gets killed, we hear about it. But mostly, if we hear anything at all, it's a number that makes but a brief impression. Hundreds found dead in the Tigris. Forty found dead in a wrecked building outside Baghdad. Twelve killed by a car bomb. Every day, RubDMC reminds us and readers of other blogs that there are names and faces and family behind those numbers. Women and men and children who would yet be alive were it not for this forgery of a war.
Those who took America into Iraq under false pretenses are to blame for these deaths. Likewise for the deaths of the uniformed men and women whose faces appear below,
and the 2850 Coalition soldiers who preceded them. As well as the nearly 21,000 who have been wounded, many maimed for life.
Unless you've got kin or friends in Iraq, it's easy to let those numbers blur, just as with the Iraqi statistics. So, after the rise in the death count of U.S. soldiers in September, I began going to their hometown media to see what was being said about them.
I went wherever I could find a story, however brief. Newspapers whose names you know, and others you may never have heard of, like the Daily Freeman, the Daily Item, the Waco Tribune, the Pioneer Press, the Beaver County Times, the Star Beacon, I looked at a few TV stations. When all else failed, I went here.
In the list below, which includes all those who have lost their lives since September 1, grouped by age, the stories I found appear as the last link after each name. Especially if you aren't related to or don't know anybody in Iraq, I urge you to read a few of these.
You'll find the Marine of the Year for 2005 who graduated at the top of his police academy class, the sergeant who was last home to attend a funeral for another marine, the fellow on his second tour who called home to say he'd had a close call and then was killed later that day, the lance corporal who told everyone before he left that they should laugh instead of cry if he didn't return, the man who had joined the Young Marines detachment at age 11, the marine who worked search and rescue at ground zero in New York whose brother told a newspaper: "Everybody would like it over. I think at this point, we'd like to have our boys home. How many families have to go through this?"
Look at those faces. Read their stories. As you do, remember that for each one, there are thousands of dead Iraqis with their own stories.
As of today, it's been announced that these eight men have been added to the list of dead, but detailed information is pending: Julian Arechaga, Jeremy Monroe, Timothy Fulkerson, John Wood, Lawrence Parrish, Brandon Asbury, John Edward Hale, Brad Payne. [Update: Thanks to the efforts of Spread the Word: Iraq Nam, all eight of these and a new entry, Shelby Feniello, have been profiled.] Eight others have also died but names have not yet been released.
18 Years Old
Pfc. Jeremy R. Shank, 18. Hometown: Jackson, Mo. Killed Sept. 6 in Hawijah by small arms fire. Mayor orders Jackson's flags to half-staff for soldier
19 Years Old
Lance Cpl. Philip A. Johnson, 19. Hometown: Hartford, Conn. Killed in combat Sept. 3 in Al Anbar province. Enfield says goodbye to young Marine
Pfc. Nicholas A. Madaras, 19. Hometown: Wilton, Conn. Killed Sept. 3, in Baqubah by an IED. Family and friends pay respects to Wilton native killed in Iraq
Pfc. Anthony P. Seig, 19. Hometown: Sunman, Ind. Killed Sept. 9 in Baghdad from indirect enemy fire. Sunman Soldier Killed in Iraq.
Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Miller, 19. Hometown: Pearland, Texas. Killed in combat Sept. 14 in Al Anbar province. Third Generation Marine Killed
Pfc. Christopher T. Blaney, 19. Hometown: Winter Park, Fla. Killed Sept. 29 in Taji in a non-combat related incident. Winter Park soldier, 19, killed north of Baghdad
Lance Cpl. Edward M. Garvin, 19. Hometown: Malden, Mass. Widow says Marine didn't want her tears
Pfc. Shane R. Austin, 19. Hometown: Edgerton, Kan. Killed Oct. 8 in Ar Ramadi by a grenade.
20 Years Old
Pfc. Hannah L.McKinney, 20. Hometown: Redlands, Calif. Killed Sept. 4 in Taji when struck by a vehicle. Redlands woman, 20, dies in Iraq.
Spc. Kampha B. Sourivong, 20. Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa. Killed Sept. 30 in Al Asad by small arms fire. National Guard Soldiers Killed In Iraq
Lance Cpl. James Chamroeun, 20. Hometown: Union City, Ga. Killed in combat Sept. 28 in Al Anbar province. Kaneohe Marine is killed in Al Anbar
Lance Cpl. Rene Martinez, 20. Hometown: Miami, Fla. Killed in combat Sept. 24 in Al Anbar province. Marine from Miami-Dade killed in Iraq
Lance Cpl. Howard S. March Jr., 20. Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y. Killed in combat Sept. 24 in Al Anbar province. March Killed While Battling Enemy Forces
Cpl. Windell J. Simmons, 20. Hometown: Hopkinsville, Ky. Killed Sept. 23 in Taji by an IED. Soldier killed in Iraq remembered as leader
Pvt. Eric M. Kavanagh, 20. Hometown: Glen Burnie, Md. Killed Sept. 20 in Baghdad by an IED. Friends, family say farewell to 'gentle' soldier
Spc. Jared J. Raymond, 20. Hometown: of Swampscott, Mass. Killed Sept. 19 in Balad by an IED. A night of tears and tribute
Cpl. Marcus A. Cain, 20. Hometown: Crowley, La. Killed Sept. 14 in Baghdad by an IED. Jennings soldier killed in Iraq
Cpl. Benjamin S. Rosales, 20. Hometown: Houston, Texas. Killed Oct. 4 during combat in Al Anbar province. Houston Marine killed Wednesday in Iraq combat
Spc. Kristofer C. Walker, 20. Hometown: Creve Coeur, Ill. Killed Oct. 2 in Taji by an IED. Kristofer Walker
Spc. George R. Obourn Jr., 20. Hometown: Creve Coeur, Ill. Killed Oct. 4 in Taji by small arms fire. Peoria-area native dies serving in Iraq
21 Years Old
Lance Cpl. Cliff K. Golla, 21. Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. Killed Sept. 1 in Al Anbar province. Community honors fallen Marine
Pfc. Justin W. Dreese, 21. Hometown: Northumberland, Pa. Killed Sept. 2 in Yusifiyah by mortar fire. Local soldier killed
Pvt. Ryan E. Miller, 21. Hometown: Gahanna, Ohio. Killed in combat Sept. 3 in Al Anbar province. This time, Marine didn't make it safely back home
Pfc. Michael K. Oremus, 21. Hometown: Highland, N.Y. Killed in combat Oct. 2 in Baghdad. Small community in mourning over another war death
Pfc. Christopher T. Riviere, 21. Hometown: Cooper City, Fla. Died Sept. 26 of wounds received in Al Anbar province. Broward Marine killed in Iraq
Cpl. Casey L. Mellen, 21. Hometown: Huachuca City, Ariz. Killed by small arms fired Sept. 25 in Mosul. Memorial for AZ soldier
Cpl. Yull Estrada Rodriguez, 21. Hometown: Alegre Lajas, Puerto Rico. Killed in combat Sept. 20 during in Al Anbar province. Bomb kills Kaneohe Marine in Iraq
Sgt. Adam L. Knox, 21. Hometown: Columbus, Ohio. Killed by small arms fire Sept. 17 in Baghdad.. Soldier killed in Iraq always had OSU in mind
Cpl. Cesar A. Granados, 21. Hometown: Le Grand, Calif. Killed Sept. 15 in Baghdad by an IED. Slain soldier was 'big teddy bear,' coach says
Sgt. Jennifer M. Hartman, 21. Hometown: New Ringgold, Pa. Killed Sept. 14 in Baghdad by an IED. Hundreds bid farewell to 'hero'
Spc. Jeffrey P. Shaffer, 21. Hometown: Harrison, Ark. Killed Sept. 13 in Ar Ramadi by an IED. Parents of fallen Iraq soldier say their son didn't die in vain
Cpl. Johnathan L. Benson, 21. Hometown: North Branch, Minn. Died Sept. 9 from combat wounds suffered on June 17 in Al Anbar province. Marine, hurt in June in Iraq, dies
Pfc. Vincent M. Frassetto, 21. Hometown: Toms River, N.J. Killed in combat Sept. 7 in Al Anbar province. Shore Marine killed in Iraq
Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas, 21. Hometown: Seekonk, Mass. Killed in combat Sept. 4 in Al Anbar province. Seekonk Marine Reservist Killed.
Spc. Justin R. Jarrett, 21. Hometown: Jonesboro, Ga. Killed Oct. 2 in Taji by an IED. Jonesboro Soldier Dies in Iraq
Cpl. Carl W. Johnson II, 21. Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa. Died Oct. 7 in Mosul of injuries by an IED. Soldier, due home in Jan., killed in Iraq
22 Years Old
Sgt. Jason L. Merrill, 22. Hometown: Mesa, Ariz. Killed Sept. 3 in Baghdad by an IED. School to remember soldier
Cpl. Robert F. Weber, 22. Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio. Killed Sept. 30 south of Mosul in a vehicle roll-over. Delhi soldier killed in Iraq crash
Sgt. Allan R. Bevington, 22. Hometown: Beaver Falls, Pa. Killed Sept. 21 in Ar Ramadi by an IED. Beaver Falls soldier receives final salute
Cpl. Bobby T. Callahan, 22. Hometown: Jamestown, N.C. Killed Sept.19 in Baghdad in a vehicle roll-over. High Point family recalls son killed in Iraq
Spc. Harley D. Andrews, 22. Hometown: Weimar, Calif. Killed Sept. 11 in Ar Ramadi by an IED. Soldier killed by bomb was disillusioned by war, mother says
Sgt. Luis A. Montes, 22. Hometown: El Centro, Calif. Died Sept. 7 in Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of burn suffered in Abu Ghraib Sept. 1 from an IED. Army Sgt. Luis Montes, 22, El Centro; Dies of Burn Injuries in Explosion
Sgt. Chase A. Haag, 22. Hometown: Portland, Ore. Killed Oct. 1 in Baghdad by an IED. From 'bold' student to soldier
Spc. Raymond S. Armijo, 22. Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz. Killed Oct. 2 in Taji by an IED. PHOENIX SOLDIER AND 3 OTHERS ARE KILLED BY EXPLOSIVE DEVICE IN IRAQ
Cpl. Nicholas A. Arvanitis, 22. Hometown: Salem, N.H. Killed Oct. 6 in Bayji by enemy fire. Salem soldier, Cpl. Nicholas Arvanitis, killed in Iraq
23 Years Old
Pfc. Edwin A. Andino II, 23. Hometown: Culpeper, Va. Killed Sept. 3 in Baghdad by an IED. Culpeper Soldier Killed In Action
Sgt. Joseph W. Perry, 23. Hometown: Alpine, Calif. Killed Oct. 2 by small arms fire in Muhallah. 9/11 inspired man to serve his country
Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Cosgrove III, 23. Hometown: Cedar Knolls, N.J. Killed in combat Oct. 1 in Al Anbar province. Hanover Marine killed in Iraq - Whippany Park graduate Chris Cosgrove recalled as ultimate team player by school officials
Cpl. Aaron L. Seal, 23. Hometown: of Elkhart, Ind. Killed in combat Oct. 1 in Al Anbar province. Military funeral in Osceola planned for Cpl. Aaron Seal.
1st Lt. Ashley L. (Henderson) Huff, 23. Hometown: Belle Mead, N.J. Killed Sept. 19 in Mosul, by a suicide bomber. Former Montgomery resident killed in Iraq
Cpl. Russell M. Makowski, 23. Hometown: Union, Mo. Killed Sept. 14 in Taji by an IED. Bomb blast in Iraq kills soldier from Union
Sgt. David T. Weir, 23. Hometown: Cleveland, Tenn. Killed Sept. 14 in Baghdad by a rocket-propelled grenade. David T. Weir
2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez, 23. Hometown: Fort Washington, Maryland. Killed Sept. 12 in Al Kifl by an IED. West Point Mourns a Font Of Energy, Laid to Rest by War
Sgt. David W. Gordon, 23. Hometown: Williamsfield, Ohio. Killed Sept. 8 in Baghdad by an IED. Iraq victim brought home for final rest
Lance Cpl. Shane P. Harris, 23. Hometown: Las Vegas, N.M. Killed in combat Sept. 3 in Al Anbar province. Slain Marine devoted to `God and country'
24 Years Old
Staff Sgt. Angel D. Mercado-Velazquez, 24. Hometown: Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico. Killed Sept. 1 in Yusifiyah from mortar fire. Killed soldier from Caribbean
Pfc. Satieon V. Greenlee, 24. Hometown: Pendleton, S.C. Killed Oct. 2 in Baghdad from small arms fire. Comrades remember soldier as team motivator
Pfc. Henry Paul, 24. Hometown: Kolonia Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Killed Sept. 26 in Baghdad in a vehicle roll-over. 4:30 p.m. -- Soldier from FSM dies in Iraq
Sgt. James R. Worster, 24. Hometown: Broadview Heights, Ohio. Died Sept. 18 from a non-combat related incident in Baghdad. Army medic, 24, dies in Iraq
Sgt. Clint E.Williams, 24. Hometown: Kingston, Okla. Killed Sept. 14 in Baghdad by an IED. Oklahoma Army sergeant killed by a bomb in Iraq
Spc. Timothy R. Burke, 24. Hometown: Hollywood, Fla. Killed Oct. 4 in Taji from small arms fire. Prayers failed gentleman GI
25 Years Old
Staff Sgt. Joe A. Narvaez, 25. Hometown: San Antonio, Texas. Died Oct. 2 in Baghdad during combat. Fallen Germany-based soldiers identified
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, 25. Hometown: Garden Grove, Calif.. Monsoor was a SEAL assigned to a West-Coast based command. Died Sept. 29 during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. Garden Grove resident and SEAL dies in combat.
Pfc. Kenneth E Kincaid, IV, 25. Hometown: Lilburn, Ga. Killed Sept. 23 in Riyadh by an IED. Schofield may have lost fourth soldier
Staff Sgt. Daniel Isshak, 25 Alta Loma, Calif. Killed Oct. 3 in Tikrit from injuries suffered from small arms fire sustained in Hawija. Fallen soldier with `craziest laugh' honored by comrades
Staff Sgt. James D. Ellis, 25. Hometown: Valdosta, Ga. Died Oct. 2 in Taji of injuries by an IED. Soldier raised in Mississippi killed in Iraq, grandma says
26-30 Years Old
Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker, 29 Hometown: Tulsa, Okla. Killed in combat Sept. 4 in Al Anbar province. From Tulsa World: Local Police Officer Killed in Iraq.
Sgt. Mario Nelson, 26. Hometown: of Brooklyn, N.Y. Killed Oct. 1 in Hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. From CBS: Family Of Fallen Brooklyn (NY) Soldier Mario "Big Mo" Nelson Wants War Over.
1st Lt. James N. Lyons, 28. Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. Killed Sept. 27 in Baghdad by a sniper. Local soldier killed in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Edward C. Reynolds, Jr., 27. Hometown: of Groves, Texas. Killed Sept. 26 in Baghdad in a vehicle roll-over. Family Mourning The Loss Of Their Loved One Who Was Killed In Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Jose A. Lanzarin, 28. Hometown: Lubbock, Texas. Killed Sept. 26 in Ar Ramadi by an IED. Fallen Soldier Wanted To Help Others
Sgt. Velton Locklear, III, 29. Hometown: of Lacey, Wash. Killed Sept. 23 in Riyadh by an IED. Soldier killed in Iraq recently lived in Lacey
Sgt. 1st Class Charles J. Jones, 29. Hometown: of Lawrenceburg, Ky. Killed Sept. 20 in Baghdad from a non-combat related incident Kentucky Guard medic dies in Iraq quarters
Sgt. Christopher M. Zimmerman, 28. Hometown: Stephenville, Texas. Killed in combat Sept. 20 in Al Anbar province. Marine rejoins, is killed in Iraq
Capt. Matthew C. Mattingly, 30. Hometown: Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Killed Sept. 13 in Mosul by small arms fire. Ohio paratrooper shot down in Iraq
Spc. David J. Ramsey, 27. Hometown: Tacoma, Wash.. Medically evacuated from Iraq on Aug. 24 and died from a non-combat related incident on Sept. 7 in Spanaway, Wash. Another Fort Lewis soldier killed in Iraq
Sgt. John A. Carroll, 26. Hometown: Ponca City, Okla. Killed Sept. 6 in Ar Ramadi by small arms fire. Soldier originally from Pittsburgh killed in Iraq
Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher G. Walsh, 30. Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. Killed in combat Sept. 4 in Al Anbar province. Obituary: Christopher G. Walsh
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Rojas, 27. Hometown: Hammond, Ind. Killed Oct. 3 in Baghdad by a sniper. Hammond soldier dies in Iraq
31-40 Years Old
Staff Sgt. Eugene H.E. Alex, 32. Hometown: Bay City, Mich. Died Sept. 2 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries suffered Aug 30 in Baghdad from small arms fire. Stryker on extended duty dies in Iraq
Sgt. Ralph N. Porras, 36. Hometown: Merrill, Mich. Killed Sept. 2 in Yusufiyah from mortar fire. Merrill grieves
Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Henkes II, 32. Hometown: Portland Ore. Killed Sept. 3 by an IED.
He always knew he wanted to be a soldier.
Capt. Justin D. Peterson, 32. Hometown: Davisburg, Mich. Killed Oct. 1 in Al Anbar province in a non-hostile vehicle accident. San Jose Marine Dies in Crash
Sgt. David J. Davis, 32. Hometown: Mount Airy, Md. Killed Sept.17 in Baghdad by an IED. Fort Wainwright soldier killed in Iraq was newlywed 'country boy'
Petty Officer 2nd Class David S. Roddy, 32. Hometown: Aberdeen, Md. Killed in combat Sept. 16 in Al Anbar province. Locally-based sailor killed in Iraq
Sgt. Aaron A. Smith, 31. Hometown: Killeen, Texas. Killed Sept. 14 in Baghdad by an IED. Baumholder remembers three soldiers killed in Iraq
Cpl. Alexander Jordan, 31. Hometown: Miami, Fla. Killed Sept. 10 in Baghdad by small arms fire. Soldier from South Dade killed in Iraq
Sgt. Germaine L. Debro, 33. Hometown: Omaha, Neb. Killed Sept. 4 in Balad by an IED. Germaine Debro
Pfc. Dean R. Bright, 32. Hometown: Roseburg, Oregon. Killed Oct. 4 in Taji by small arms fire. A fallen soldier is mourned
Staff Sgt. Christopher O. Moudry, 31. Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Killed Oct. 4 in Taji by small arms fire. Soldier killed in Iraq tried to 'whitewash' his peril, family says
41-50 Years Old
Staff Sgt. Scott E. Nisely, 48. Hometown: Marshalltown, Iowa. Killed Sept. 30 in Al Asad by small arms fire. National Guard Soldiers Killed In Iraq
Lt. Col. Marshall A. Gutierrez, 41. Hometown: of New Mexico, died on Sep. 4 in Camp Virginia, Kuwait, from non-combat related injuries. Second Las Vegas soldier dies in Middle East
Sgt. Denise A. Lannaman, 46. Hometown: Bayside, N.Y. Died Oct 1. at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from a non-combat related incident. Queens sarge killed in Kuwait
More than 50 Years Old
Staff Sgt. Carlos Dominguez, 57. Hometown: Savannah, Ga. Killed Sept. 23 in Taji by an IED. Carlos Dominguez
Master Sgt. Robb G. Needham, 51. Hometown: Vancouver, Wash. Killed Sept. 20 in Baghdad by a sniper. Vancouver soldier on third tour of duty killed by sniper in Iraq
Other Coalition Fatalities:
Dane MNF soldier killed in Basra combat
Martin Hjorth
Dennis Grady
Lance Cpl. Kim Wadim
Lance Corporal Massimo Vitaliano
Gunner Lee Thornton
Gunner Stephen Robert Wright
Gunner Samuela Vanua