Deadly Afghan Year Takes Toll on 101st Airborne

Nearly one in five American soldiers killed in 2010 has been part of the Screaming Eagles

Soldiers pay their final respects to 13 fallen soldiers during the monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony at the Family Resource Center at Fort Campbell, Ky., on Dec. 8, 2010. The famed 101st Airborne Division shows the scars of the U.S. surge in Afghanistan. In the deadliest year so far for the NATO coalition, nearly one in five American soldiers killed in 2010 has been part of the Screaming Eagles. (Photo credit: Jake Lowary / AP)

By Kristin M. Hall

December 26, 2010

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — The 101st Airborne Division, a force in America’s major conflicts since World War II, is seeing its worst casualties in a decade as the U.S. surge in Afghanistan turns into the deadliest year in that war for the NATO coalition.

The Army division known as the Screaming Eagles, created ahead of the 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy, has lost 104 men this year — or about 1 in 5 American deaths in Afghanistan. That is close to a toll of 105 divisional deaths in Iraq during a 2005-2006 deployment that was its deadliest year in combat since Vietnam.

The 20,000-strong division from Fort Campbell has been fighting in two of Afghanistan’s most violent regions, the south and the east, since it began deploying in February under President Barack Obama’s plan to roll back the Taliban with more troops. This is also the first time the division has deployed in its entirety since Gen. David Petraeus led them during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. …

On average, 11 Fort Campbell soldiers have died each month in combat since March. …

This month the division lost six soldiers in a building leveled by an explosives-packed vehicle at a southern Afghanistan base. In November, six other soldiers were shot and killed by a gunman from the Afghan Border Police during a training mission in eastern Afghanistan. …

An internal White House review of war strategy released this month showed that the addition of 30,000 U.S. troops this year has halted Taliban momentum in many parts of Afghanistan, but tough combat is expected to continue for years. …

Full story

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6/6/2011 Update

Helicopters carrying U.S. Army soldiers from the 1-320 Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, take off from Combat Outpost Terra Nova as the soldiers head home following a 10-month deployment in the Arghandab Valley north of Kandahar, April 23, 2011. (Photo credit: Bob Strong / Reuters file)

Army’s 101st pays high price for Afghan surge year (AP, June 5, 2011) — The division known as the Screaming Eagles lost 131 soldiers, the most killed in a single deployment for the unit since Vietnam, with many more wounded or injured. The 101st has been a force in America’s major conflicts since World War II, when it was first formed for the 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy. … Full story

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IRAQ UPDATE

Deadly Blasts in Iraq’s Anbar Province

Iraqi policemen inspect a crater after a double attack near the main entrance of Ramadi’s government compound. (Photo credit: EPA)

The Associated Press and Reuters via MSNBC.com
December 27, 2010

RAMADI — Twin suicide bombings rocked a government compound in Iraq’s western city of Ramadi on Monday, killing 17 people, a deputy interior minister said.

Insurgents frequently go after government targets in an effort to destabilize the U.S.-backed Iraqi authorities, as American troops prepare to leave by the end of next year.

It was the second attack this month on the compound, which houses the provincial council and the police headquarters for Anbar province, and the third bombing there in the past year.

“The death toll is 17 killed and between 50 and 60 wounded,” Lieutenant General Hussein Kamal, a deputy interior minister, told Reuters.

Anbar Governor Qassim Mohammed said the first blast happened when a minibus exploded outside the compound and the second was caused by a suicide bomber on foot, disguised as a policeman. …

The last attack on the government compound in Ramadi happened on December 12, when a suicide car bomber killed 13 people and wounded dozens. In December 2009, twin suicide blasts killed at least 24 and wounded more than 100 just outside the provincial government headquarters. …

Full story

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Related reports on this site

Coming Home from Iraq (Dec. 4, 2010)

Coming Home (April 10, 2010)

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — December 27, 2009

Pat Forte Update

Pat Forte with sister Cathy and son Nico at the 2008 Lung Run/Walk. (Family photograph)

One year ago today, I reported that Pat Forte fought back courageously after suffering a setback around Easter 2009 with a relapse of thymic carcinoid, sustained by his strong Christian faith, the prayers and support of friends, and excellent medical care at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — December 27, 2008

A Christmas Story

Pat Forte with his son Nico
(Photo: University of Minnesota Foundation)

Pat Forte’s CaringBridge site

Two years ago today, on Dec. 27, 2008 I reported on Pat Forte’s achievements as Sartell hockey coach while battling life-threatening thymic carcinoid.