U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq

As of Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, at least 4,367 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, 31,582 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 identifications:

Army Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney, 21, Cape Coral, Fla., died Nov. 29, 2009, south of Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a noncombat-related incident [a single gunshot wound to his head, according to family members]. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan

As of  Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2009, at least 855 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. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., 28, Chrisman, Ill., died Dec. 1, 2009, in FOB Michigan, Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor, 22, Jacksonville, Fla., died Dec. 1, 2009 in Garmsir district,  Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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Remember Their Sacrifice

Related links

Iraq Casualties

Afghanistan Casualties

Honor the Fallen

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Related report

Officials Release Details in Death of U.S. Marine from Minnesota

Dec. 6, 2009 

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Military officials have released more details in the death of a U.S. Marine from East Grand Forks, Minn. Ryan Pape, 23, was killed in a parachute training exercise at Camp Pendleton, the officials reported.

A Marine Corps statement said Pape, the son of Ron and Shar Pape, died Thursday night from injuries suffered during a low-level static line jump.

The reconnaissance Marine enlisted in 2005. His personal service awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

More details of the accident were not released. The incident is under investigation.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — December 9, 2008

Taliban ‘Noose Around Kabul’

One-year retrospective: One year ago today, I reported that a study by the International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) concluded that the Taliban insurgency was widening its presence in Afghanistan and “closing a noose around Kabul.” According to the report, titled “Struggle for Kabul: The Taliban Advance,” the Taliban “now holds a permanent presence in 72 percent of Afghanistan, up from 54 percent a year ago.”