U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq

As of Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, at least 4,349 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 31,527 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department’s weekly tally.

U.S. Troop Casualties in Iraq

Latest identification:

Army National Guard Maj. Tad T. Hervas, 48, Coon Rapids, Minn., died Oct. 6, 2009 at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard, Rosemont, Minn.

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Related report

MN Soldier Who Died in Noncombat Incident Was Shot

WCCO
Oct. 13, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota National Guard soldier who died of noncombat injuries in Iraq last week was found with a gunshot wound to the head, the military said Tuesday in a statement that did little to clear up the mystery surrounding his death.

Maj. Tad Hervas, 48, of Coon Rapids, died Oct. 6 at a base in Basra, where he was serving with the 34th Infantry Division, known as the Red Bulls.

In its statement Tuesday evening, the division provided few other details on the circumstances of his death.

“An investigation is being conducted by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command on the cause of death,” the statement said. “A thorough investigation — which will include forensics, weapons testing, and an analysis of circumstances prior to his death — will determine a conclusion after all factors have been considered.”

The major’s father, Ned Hervas, said that was more information than the National Guard had shared with him as of Tuesday evening. He said an investigator had called him earlier Tuesday and told him he had nothing new to report.

“We think nothing will come out until after the funeral” (on Saturday), Ned Hervas said.

Capt. Paul Rickert, a spokesman for the Rosemount-based 34th Infantry Division, said he had no further information beyond the statement, citing the ongoing investigation.

Ned Hervas said the wait for answers has been tough for his family.

“We lost a son, and they’re going to do a very proper military funeral,” he said. “That’s what we’re concerned about. After that’s over, then we’ll find out.”

Tad Hervas, a military intelligence officer, died just a few days after returning to Basra from a trip home. It was his second tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard. He also served in the Air Force during the first Gulf War. The major was not married and had no children.

Visitation is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Washburn-McReavey Funeral Chapel in Coon Rapids and one hour before his 10 a.m. funeral Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, with burial afterward at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. 

U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan

As of Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, at least 794 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.

Latest identifications:

Army Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, Tucson, Ariz., died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Contingency Outpost Keating with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, Kincheloe, Mich., died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Contingency Outpost Keating with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, Applegate, Calif., died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Contingency Outpost Keating with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, 30, South Portland, Maine, died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Contingency Outpost Keating with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, Lovettsville, Va., died Oct. 3, 2009 in FOB Bostick, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25 Savannah, Ga., died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Contingency Outpost Keating with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, Villas, N.J., died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Contingency Outpost Keating with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, Reno, Nev., died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Contingency Outpost Keating with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Spc. Kevin O. Hill, 23, Brooklyn, N.Y., died Oct. 4, 2009 at Contingency Outpost Dehanna, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 576th Mobility Augmentation Company, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, Shiprock, N.M., died Oct. 7, 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of wounds suffered Sept. 8 when insurgents attacked his unit in Ganjigal Valley, Afghanistan, using small arms and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor, 27, Bovey, Minn., died Oct. 9, 2009 at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. He was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. [video report]

Army National Guard Spc. George W. Cauley, 24, Walker, Minn., died Oct. 10, 2009 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device on Oct. 7 in Helmand province. He was assigned to the 114th Truck Company of the Minnesota Army National Guard in Duluth, Minn.

Marine Lance Cpl. Alfonso Ochoa Jr., 20, Armona, Calif., died Oct. 10, 2009 in Bakwa district while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

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Remember Their Sacrifice

Related links

Iraq Casualties

Afghanistan Casualties

Honor the Fallen

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — October 13, 2008

After the Primary Election: Day 34

One year ago today, on the 34th day after losing my 2008 primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, I reported that while the United States was focused on the war in Iraq, Latin America had swung to the left and rival powers had moved into the vacuum created by Bush administration neocon policies focused on the Middle East, leaving the U.S. in its weakest position in decades with respect to Latin American influence.

Demonstrators write “Out Yankees” on a wall outside the U.S. Palmerola military base in Honduras during a protest against American military presence in Latin America on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008. (Photo credit: Edgard Garrido / Reuters file)