U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq

As of Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, at least 4,431 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to iCasualties.org.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, more than 32,000 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department’s latest available tally.

U.S. Troop Casualties in Iraq

Latest identification:

Army Pfc. David D. Finch, 24, Bath Springs, Tenn., died Dec. 8, 2010 in Wasit province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan

As of Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, at least 1,350 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan as a result of the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to iCasualties.org.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 9,256 U.S. service members have been wounded as of Nov.  30, 2010, according to iCasualties.org.

Latest identifications:

Marine Sgt. Matthew T. Abbate, 26, Honolulu, Hawaii, died Dec. 2, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class James E. Thode, 45, Kirtland, N.M., died Dec. 2, 2010 in Sabari District, Khowst Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1457th Engineer Battalion, 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Utah National Guard, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Marine Lance Cpl. Lucas C. Scott, 20, Peebles, Ohio, died Dec. 3, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Army Staff National Guard Sgt. Vincent W. Ashlock, 45, Seaside, Calif., died Dec. 4, 2010 in Khost province, Afghanistan, in a noncombat-related incident. He was assigned to the 890th Engineer Battalion, 168th Engineer Brigade, Mississippi National Guard, Lucedale, Miss.

Marine Sgt. Nicholas J. Aleman, 24, Brooklyn, N.Y., died Dec. 5, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Paktia province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the Deployment Processing Command-East, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Army Staff Sgt. Jason A. Reeves, 32, Odessa, Texas, died Dec. 5, 2010 in Gardez District, Paktia Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 66th Military Intelligence Brigade, Hohenfels, Germany.

Marine Pfc. Colton W. Rusk, 20, Orange Grove, Texas, died Dec. 6, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Cpl. Derek A. Wyatt, 25, Akron, Ohio, died Dec. 6, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Sgt. Jason D. Peto, 31, Vancouver, Wash., died Dec. 7, 2010 from wounds received Nov. 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Army Sgt. James A. Ayube II, 25, Salem, Mass., died Dec. 8, 2010 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an insurgent attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Marine Lance Cpl. Michael E. Geary, 20, Derry, N.H., died Dec. 8, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Army Spc. Kelly J. Mixon, 23, Yulee, Fla., died Dec. 8, 2010 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an insurgent attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

——

Remember Their Sacrifice

Related links

Iraq Casualties

Afghanistan Casualties

Honor the Fallen

——

FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — December 10, 2009

Where is Osama bin Laden?

An undated file picture of Osama Bin Ladin at an undisclosed location inside Afghanistan. (Image: CNN)

One year ago today, I reported what we know about Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts, based on information from U.S. intelligence sources, and featured personality profiles of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri developed at the Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics.

——

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Two Years Ago — December 10, 2008

Iraq: Intel and Policy Failure

Video

Bush is history (MSNBC, Dec. 9, 2008) — Countdown’s Keith Olbermann lists why White House talking points designated to cast President Bush in a positive light actually serve as a reminder of the president’s many faults and shortcomings. (04:51)

Two years ago today, on Dec. 10, 2008, I reported that Thomas Fingar, Bush administration deputy director of national intelligence for analysis, had suggested the Iraq war was as much the failure of policymakers as the product of the flawed intelligence on which they relied. Fingar’s assessment reveals that decision-making on Iraq was marred by a strong sense of time pressure, a tendency among decision makers to seek concurrence on Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction, and a directive leadership style in the White House — all of which are well-established causes of groupthink.