U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq 

As of Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, at least 4,331 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, 31,460 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department’s weekly tally. …

Latest identification: 

Army Staff Sgt. Johnny R. Polk, 39, Gulfport, Miss., died July 25, 2009 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade on July 23, 2009 in Kirkuk, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.  

U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan 

As of Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, at least 690 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: 

• Mississippi Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Granado, 42, Fairfax, Va., died Aug. 2, 2009 in Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Jackson, Miss.
• Mississippi Army National Guard Capt. Ronald G. Luce Jr., 27, Fayetteville, N.C., died Aug. 2, 2009 in Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Jackson, Miss.
• Mississippi Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Severin W. Summers III, 43, Bentonia, Miss., died Aug. 2, 2009 in Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Jackson, Miss.
• Army Pvt. Patrick S. Fitzgibbon, 19, Knoxville, Tenn., died Aug. 1, 2009 in Mushan Village, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades. He were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
• Army Pfc. Richard K. Jones, 21, Person, N.C., died Aug. 1, 2009 in Mushan Village, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades. He were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. 
• Army Cpl. Jonathan M. Walls, 27, West Lawn, Penn., died Aug. 1, 2009 in Mushan Village, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades. He were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. 
• Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory A. Posey, 22, Knoxville, Tenn., died July 30, 2009 of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan F. Stroud, 20, Cashion, Okla., died July 30, 2009 of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Remember Their Sacrifice

Related links

Iraq Casualties

Afghanistan Casualties 

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago Today — August 4, 2008 

On the Campaign Trail: Day 21

One year ago today, on the 21st day of my campaign against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann for the Republican nomination as House of Representatives candidate in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District,  I reported an informative candidate profile by St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter Dennis Lien and drew attention to the sacrifice of National Guard citizen soldiers serving in Iraq and the families they leave behind.