U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq

As of Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at least 4,316 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, 31,368 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department’s weekly tally.

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U.S. Troop Casualties in Iraq

Latest identifications:

Army Capt. Kafele H. Sims, 32, Los Angeles, died June 16, 2009 in Mosul, Iraq, in a non-combat incident. He was assigned to the 18th Engineer Brigade, Schwetzingen, Germany. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Army Sgt. Joshua W. Soto, 25, San Angelo, Texas, died June 16, 2009 in COB Adder, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss Texas.

Army Spc. Chancellor A. Keesling, 25, Indianapolis, Ind., died June 19, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq in a non-combat incident. He was assigned to the 961st Engineer Company, Sharonville, Ohio. The circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation [suspected military suicide].

U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan

Maj. Sean Birchall, 33, born in Vanderbijl Park, South Africa, died June 19, 2009 of wounds sustained in an IED attack on his armored vehicle while on patrol in Basharan, near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, British Army.

As of Monday, June 22, 2009, at least 637 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 Spc. Jonathan C. O’Neill, 22, Zephyr Hills, Fla., died June 15, 2009 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered June 2 in Paktya, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, followed by small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Stewart, Ga.

Army National Guard Master Sgt. Kevin A. Dupont, 52, Templeton, Mass., died June 17, 2009 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered March 8 in Kandau, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 79th Troop Command, Massachusetts Army National Guard, Rehoboth, Mass.

Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton, 26, Carlyle, Il., died June 19, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois National Guard, Marion, Ill.

Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, East Peoria, Il., died June 19, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, Aurora, Ill.

Army National Guard 1st Sgt. John D. Blair, 38, Calhoun, Ga., died June 20, 2009 in Mado Zayi, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard, Lawrenceville, Ga.

Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey J. Garber, 43, Hemingford, Neb., died June 20, 2009, apparently of natural causes, aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the North Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations in the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. The incident is under investigation.

Army Sgt. Ricky D. Jones, 26, Plantersville, Ala., died June 21, 2009 in Bagram, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked by indirect fire. He was assigned to the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Polk, La.

Army Sgt. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas, 27, Germantown, Md., died June 21, 2009 in Bagram, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked by indirect fire. He was assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

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